Camper shell with swing open doors: Opinions

[SixLug]

Anyone have a camper shell that has swing open doors like the Snugtop Outback, or one of the many commercial shells that have them? I love the idea, but I am looking for some real world feedback on the pros and cons of this setup. I don't carry overly long items that a tailgate would offer extra support for. I don't sit on my tailgate so often that I would lose a seat. I have two dogs, and I feel this might make their entry and egress a little easier. I would think it would make reaching things in the back easier as well.

Any opinions at all are welcome. I am in the market and am currently looking at the BrandFX commercial composite low profile shells with 60/40 doors.

Thanks.

 

[chet6.7]

There are some comments on barn door on a couple of pages in the thread linked.
A tailgate makes a good table,a porch,helps when carrying longer items.Barn doors are eaiser to get in and out of.I haven't measured it lately, but I think my tailgate is about 36" high,that's a big step up for me.
https://expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/ovrlnd-camper-topper.193394/page-6

 

[SixLug]

Thank you for the link. What an awesome rig that guy is making but holy moly those are expensive. Good info in that link though. I didn't think about width between doors for sheets of plywood so that is a good question to ask. I think the benefits of doors outweigh the benefits of a tailgate. I have a Dodge 2500 Megacab and the tailgate on that thing is way up there.

 

[s.e.charles]

https://jalopnik.com/heres-exactly-how-the-2019-gmc-sierras-six-way-tailgate-1823447722

 

[Martinjmpr]

Well, as someone who went from a pickup to an SUV I miss having a tailgate and would hate to give it up.

 

[ethan1911]

I have swing open doors on mine and love how useful it is. Easy to open and makes it a little more like an suv I think.

 

[Explorerinil]

Have you looked at caravan camper shells? They are the absolute best.

 

[bajavanadu]

I have swing open doors on mine and love how useful it is. Easy to open and makes it a little more like an suv I think.

What tire carrier is that? How is it mounted? Very cool rig!

 

[ethan1911]

What tire carrier is that? How is it mounted? Very cool rig!

Thanks, it’s from a mid 90s Nissan Pathfinder I had to modify the mounts now it bolts through the shell to 1/4 inch steel plate that’s on the bed. I’m 150lbs and can sit on the tire wile it’s open and nothing gives.

 

[SixLug]

Have you looked at caravan camper shells? They are the absolute best.

I have. They are insanely expensive though (to me anyway...everything is relative). I'm out on the BrandFX unit as well...stripped down with no inner shells or anything, it was $5100.00 plus freight, plus paint to match the truck. At that price point I would want to go for something like the OVRLND units.

I have been thinking about this more and more and really want this kind of setup. I don't think it would be that hard to build a frame and modify a standard composite shell and make my own doors. Now I am looking for a used shell that I can do this to.

 

[ethan1911]

I have. They are insanely expensive though (to me anyway...everything is relative). I'm out on the BrandFX unit as well...stripped down with no inner shells or anything, it was $5100.00 plus freight, plus paint to match the truck. At that price point I would want to go for something like the OVRLND units.

I have been thinking about this more and more and really want this kind of setup. I don't think it would be that hard to build a frame and modify a standard composite shell and make my own doors. Now I am looking for a used shell that I can do this to.

Look at the boxes on electrical and plumbing trucks there fairly common in salvage yards. Mines an ARE and cost $2000 new I bought it from my local u pull yard for $300.

 

[SixLug]

Look at the boxes on electrical and plumbing trucks there fairly common in salvage yards. Mines an ARE and cost $2000 new I bought it from my local u pull yard for $300.

I have seen a lot of them for sale locally as well. My main hang up is that I want side windows and no internal shelving or storage boxes, and that is what is hard to find in those commercial shells. That, and I would prefer a composite shell to a thin gauge metal one.

 

[SixLug]

And I don’t mean for that to sound like a knock against “thin metal ones”. After a lot of researching on these shells, it just seems the consensus is that composite ones can take a bit more abuse while not showing it as much.

 

[Regcabguy]

Have you looked at caravan camper shells? They are the absolute best.

Yep. Just today I saw an 2500 Dodge ram with a Caravan Camper. He had painted the whole rig a Mideast tan color.

 

[slowtwitch]

I like tailgates and a topper lift gate for shade. If you have a platform in the bed, makes a nice backrest. I would only do barn doors if I had a nice table on a swing away. I'd also be paranoid about them popping open, and spilling gear.