Camper Shells: your experiences and suggestions

[Overlandtowater]

I just picked up a older snug top for my '82 toyota longbed pickup it came off of a 91 it has that rubber boot that seals against the cab. I figure I will fiber glass the front closed and put a window in it. I plan on building a rack to go on top, and I also need to bob my bed 12" to fit the shell. The last rack I built it went on a 91 ford rager and I just drilled holes in the top of the shell and run the bolts through to tighten it down also did the same thing with my F150's cab :Wow1: but I have used some stuff called through the roof and have never had a leak no matter how much I wheel and its clear too so you dont have to worry about it getting on the paint around the holes... and my two penny's say shells are wonderful things.

 

[Dale]

Not really, only if a warm or cold front is passing through does the wind pick up around here. I have a 5'x8' tarp I attach to the roof rack which runs over top of the netting and hatchback then has two poles which are staked into the ground

I take it there is no wind where you are? :hehe:

I will take a look around and see what I can find to make something. I thought there might be something already on the market but maybe not.

Cheers!

:bike_rider:

 

[onelow1ton]

I got an are cx cap for my truck and here is a pic of it and a roof basket I'm going to mount on it

 

[bigwapitijohnny]

Snugtop Snugpro...

All,

I have recently finished my cabinet project for the Snugtop SnugPro shell. It has been a very functional addition to my rig. I would buy this shell again without hesitation. I chose this shell because I have tow mirrors and a rearview camera...LOVING my rig...:wings:

My next project is to put a rack on it with a Shady Boy awning and other tools. Then put up my dual battery system in the cabinet somewhere ~ location to be determined soon...

Regards,

BWJ

 

[Rattler]

So articulate,
Any updates as to how the topper is holding up0 to the RTT mounted on it? I am thinking about going this route in a couple years (maybe sooner). Our boy is still small enough to fit between us in the RTT though. I do like the idea of the commercial units though. Soooo many cool options.

 

[Metcalf]

After my recent Moab Willys shakedown run I have to throw another vote in for a dead simple hard side camper setup....

Mine has pretty much just boiled down to.......

-Hard camper shell, $100 snugtop off CL
-Piece of plywood on the floor of the bed covered in marine carpet to make the floor flat
-Old 4" thick Futon mattress ( rolls or folds up to get out of the way, doesn't pop, warm and comfortable )

When the wind started going about 50mph the last night in moab, all the tent campers around me where eyeing my truck like vultures I think. I might have slept in a little later then most with the wind gently rocking me to sleep.....

Having an enclosed space that is very weather resistant is NICE! As long as you don't pack the back of the truck with a metric ton of carp its just so simple it works. I can usually stack at least 4-6 of the cheap plastic storage bins at the front of the bed and still have plenty of room to sleep. Keeping everything as simple as possible works best.....

 

[onelow1ton]

Pix of my are cx with my camping lab rtt on top

 

[Athabasca]

Beautiful, What I want for my F250. What did you pay for the Snugpro?

All,

I have recently finished my cabinet project for the Snugtop SnugPro shell. It has been a very functional addition to my rig. I would buy this shell again without hesitation. I chose this shell because I have tow mirrors and a rearview camera...LOVING my rig...:wings:

My next project is to put a rack on it with a Shady Boy awning and other tools. Then put up my dual battery system in the cabinet somewhere ~ location to be determined soon...

Regards,

BWJ

 

[sapper]

I love the new Snugpro units but I sent them a bunch of emails and never got any feedback from them. I also contacted them via thier facebook page and requested info on thier available options and got nothing. I was actually considering replacing my commercial canopy (in my sig) with one. I find the looks of a commercial canopy doesn't appeal to everyone as much as the snugpro would but it is the most functional canopy I have ever owned and I can weld it if there is ever an issue.

 

[CUWIRE]

I have a 2003 Chevy S-10 with an older shell that is not fully sealed. I am wondering if anyone has tried to use air flow and high pressure air in the shell to keep dust from entering the shell. I love to drive in the country but the fine dust permeates though every little opening. I am wondering if a hole or scoop in the front of the shell that would build up the pressure in the shell as one travels would prevent the dust from entering the shell. Has anyone tried this method? Did it work?

 

[sourdough]

I've had this ARE aluminum shell on my '02 Tacoma since new. It's been very useful. Almost as reliable as my truck. Top has 154,000 and only replaced a door hinge. Nothing on the Tacoma LOL

 

[KELLEVRA]

f250

here my 97 f250 powerstroke with a steel contractors box. This is a budget build. So far I've got about 1700 bucks in it
and the list of things to do is long but its ready for travel:smiley_drive:

 

[mkitchen]

This shell has been on the truck for 41 years

I like my shell but I have yet to build up the inside as I want. Hopefully by the 2013 Expo, I will have it done. It is tall enough that I can build a tall set of drawers and still have room to sit up on the bed.

 

[2scars]

Love mine...

...in the middle. We all slept in our beds for the Moab trip this year, I had my lady with me, there was enough room. I will, however, be springing for an RTT before long to have better access to things in the truck bed. I had the cooler set into the bed platform and it was difficult to remove without two guys to be able to sleep. But, I needed somewher to put the CO2 tank also, which then meant that both my heavy cooler and my heavy co2 tank were at the very end of the truck, bad for loadout, good for access.

 

[TheAlmightySam]

^ Do you have any details on how your awning is set up, particularly how it attaches to the shell?