Camper Top

[The Swiss]

I will be looking for a camper top, hardtop, camper shell or however they are called for my 2006 Tacoma Double Cab. As I am a complete newbie in this field, and as a search did not really offered the answers I was looking for, here some questions:
- What should I specially be looking for?
- Any brand (Leer, SnugTop etc) better than other?
- Any brand to stay away from?
- Where to buy?

Thanks for your imput!

 

[robert]

Snugtop is probably the best but they are more expensive and hard to find on the east coast. I went with an A.R.E. and so far have been happy with it. I looked at a few others including Leer but I wasn't as impressed with their quality.

 

[Jonathan Hanson]

We have an A.R.E. as well and are very impressed with it.

 

[kcowyo]

I've had two of Raider's Vagabond model toppers and been real happy with them. I found them to cost a little less than some other big name manufacturers but they have a great warranty and nice features like a carpeted headliner and side access windows.

linky - Raider Truck Toppers

 

[BajaTaco]

I would vote for ARE or SnugTop. I highly recommend the win-doors for the side, with sliding windows/screens, and also the drop-down front window. I do not recommend a shell with no front window and a boot.

 

[bigreen505]

Another thumps up for ARE. While I'm no expert, I'm not sure if other companies do the windoors or not. I have only seen them on ARE tops.

I do not recommend a shell with no front window and a boot.

I'm not sure I understand what you are trying to say. What do you recommend? Window + boot, no boot? Also, would you explain why you don't recommend that option, for those of us who are pickup newbies and may want a Taco in the future.

 

[The Swiss]

Thanks y'all. Does anybody have a website fore ARE? Google does not bring up anything smart (within the first couple pages).

 

[BKCowGod]

This looks to be the right one...

 

[The Swiss]

This looks to be the right one...

Thankyouverymuch!

 

[BajaTaco]

I'm not sure I understand what you are trying to say. What do you recommend? Window + boot, no boot? Also, would you explain why you don't recommend that option, for those of us who are pickup newbies and may want a Taco in the future.

Sorry, poor choice of wording on my part. What I am trying to say is that I do not recommend the use of a camper shell that has no front window, and is supposed to seal against the cab of the truck using a boot. The reason I don't recommend that option is that you will be increasing the risk of water and dust ingress via the boot, and if you have a truck bed that can flex independently of the cab (like on a ladder frame truck) then the boot can/will rub on the cab and cause paint damage. The risk associated with trying to properly seal the boot is exacerbated if the body at the back of the cab is contoured for a 3rd brake light, with the contours located anywhere close to the perimiter to be sealed by the boot (I know this from experience).

 

[Jonathan Hanson]

I agree with Chris on the boot. And I wish Roseann and I had known about the side windoors - after seeing Chris's they're obviously a huge convenience. Even though he never did find the mouse turds Mario and I snuck in through his.

 

[BajaTaco]

... he never did find the mouse turds Mario and I snuck in through his.

YES I DID. I found them on the Secret Pass trip! :ar15:

 

[Jonathan Hanson]

Heh heh.

We were cracking up during the ARB jack experiment, because we could picture the little piles we had carefully arranged rolling everywhere!

 

[goodtimes]

I believe ARE is the only company currently offering the vented windoors...several other companies offer the non-vented versions....but being able to open the vent at night to get the optimum ventilation for the weather conditions would be really nice.

 

[paulj]

The screened sliding windows of ARE tops appear to be similar to the ones I had on my Wildernest - which is built on a Guidon fiberglass shell. I didn't need to open those windows when the Wildernest was open, but they were handy on occasion when I slept in the bed with 'nest closed. However, an equally good way of getting ventilation is a tent enclosure for the open tailgate.

http://www.tentsontrucks.com/midsize.html
http://www.eatel.net/~dacinc/DAC/campertoptent.html

paulj