Fiberglass Toppers/Caps
- Thread starter 18seeds
- Start date
Martinjmpr
Wiffleball Batter
With a full size rig like yours you can probably get away with a cab-high shell. I had to go with a high-rise in my Tacoma and I love it.
If you aren't too picky about color or about a few scratches or nicks, search for a used topper on Craigslist. New toppers for full size trucks start around $1000 and only go up from there. You can get a used one for a couple hundred if you shop around.
Final note about CL: While you should search the "auto parts" section for toppers for sale, also make sure you post in the "wanted" section that you are looking for one. I found both of my toppers by posting a "wanted" ad and getting a response from someone who had a topper but who didnt' want to take the time to post an ad themselves.
If you aren't too picky about color or about a few scratches or nicks, search for a used topper on Craigslist. New toppers for full size trucks start around $1000 and only go up from there. You can get a used one for a couple hundred if you shop around.
Final note about CL: While you should search the "auto parts" section for toppers for sale, also make sure you post in the "wanted" section that you are looking for one. I found both of my toppers by posting a "wanted" ad and getting a response from someone who had a topper but who didnt' want to take the time to post an ad themselves.
Martinjmpr
Wiffleball Batter
18seeds said:
No brands that I'm aware of but be very careful of polycarbonate or thermoplastic shells masquerading as fiberglass. The polycarb shells (one common maker is "Brahma") are much lighter and more flexible than fiberglass but they are also much weaker, prone to cracking, cannot bear any weight and break down in sunlight.
Stay far, far away from polycarbonate toppers!
FAW3
Adventurer
I got my Leonard alum top off of Craigslist for $50.00. I use my truck with the cap on some hunting/camping in the fall and early winter and my off road use is mainly graded forest roads - light 4x4 use at best. My camping set up is just a "roll-a-cot" brand cot (fits great with no middle leg tight up against the side of truck; most cots have a middle leg in the way) ,and some plastic storage bins, water jug, stove, portable table, folding chair, etc. Maybe 10+ nights a year in the truck and for this reason have not done a platform build or other neat fixes I have read about here. I do run a fan and a light.
I would offer that the advantage of the Alum cap is weight. I can lift it off myself, which I do several times a year when I need to carry bulk mulch/gravel, etc. Downside is it is noisy in any rain and without the fan running, condensation is a problem...I need to insulate the inside ceiling, but do not want the extra weight of carpet, might use 1/4" closed cell foam like sleeping pads and spray adhesive - perhaps this fall.
If I was leaving the cap on the truck all the time, I suggest a fiberglass cap is the way to go.
Last thing is that due to my normal "light" off road operation, I can just wedge things in and I am good to go...but once I did go a little wilder and found out that anything really "off road" requires some good compartmentalizaton and secure restraint to avoid damage/mess...if it sounds bad "back there", it is.
Frank
95 Chevy 4x4 1500-SB
Leonard Cap
I would offer that the advantage of the Alum cap is weight. I can lift it off myself, which I do several times a year when I need to carry bulk mulch/gravel, etc. Downside is it is noisy in any rain and without the fan running, condensation is a problem...I need to insulate the inside ceiling, but do not want the extra weight of carpet, might use 1/4" closed cell foam like sleeping pads and spray adhesive - perhaps this fall.
If I was leaving the cap on the truck all the time, I suggest a fiberglass cap is the way to go.
Last thing is that due to my normal "light" off road operation, I can just wedge things in and I am good to go...but once I did go a little wilder and found out that anything really "off road" requires some good compartmentalizaton and secure restraint to avoid damage/mess...if it sounds bad "back there", it is.
Frank
95 Chevy 4x4 1500-SB
Leonard Cap
masterplumber
Observer
Before I got my FW popup I had an ARE fiberglass topper with a headliner that I loved - still miss the lighter weight & being able to go more places. ARE garranties them even offroad which is a plus. It was loaded & $1200 new - I sold it with a Yakima rack all in excelent condition for $500 - wished I'd kept it.
Martinjmpr
Wiffleball Batter
Bella PSD said:Yes, I would stay away from Leer caps.
I have had 3 ARE caps, all been very good. I now have a ARE Z cap with the frameless glass. As stated above, Snugtop is also very good.
You just sold the best cap going (Flip Pac)!
Louie
If it were me I'd avoid anything with the frameless glass door. The problem is if that door breaks you're looking at $250 minimum to have it replaced. OTOH a flat glass door with an aluminum frame can be replaced for a lot less (and the aluminum frame means it's less likely to get a jarring blow that will break the glass.) Just something to consider.
I had a Leer with the all-glass rear door and while it looked nice I wasn't particularly impressed with it. It leaked a bit and I was always afraid it would break and cost me $$ to replace (actually, I got the shell for $150 because the previous owner had broken the glass.)
I loved my Raven shell (made by Glasstite.) I think my current shell is a Raven also (it sure looks like it!) but it doesn't have any badges on it so I'm not sure. Works very well, though, and the carpeted headliner is a nice touch!
Here it is - and all for $300 on CL!
bat
Explorer
View attachment 21183View attachment 21181 It is nice to have the extra room for sitting but it also has a little bit more flex than cab high
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Larry
Bigassgas Explorer
I have had great luck with my SnugTop cab-hi unit. I am not a very big guy so the cab-hi leaves gives plenty of room for me. The truck gets bounced around and flexed pretty hard with gear on the roof rack with no signs of cracking….so far. Wish I would have gotten a Flip-Pac though.
