Why does no one use a high truck shell?

[Buddha.]

I’ve got a cab high aluminum contractor topper. Heavy enough two guys can barely move it. Side doors, not side windows. If I have to back up out of a parking spot it’s a giant blind spot, I just go back and pop the door up so I can see. It’ll close itself the first bump I hit.
I wish I had the vent/window/screen things but I only paid $400 for this.

 

[Regcabguy]

I have an old F250 that I want to convert to an overland rig. I am considering one of the high rise camper shells, like the Leer 122 or the ARE TW. I see almost no one using those taller shells. Why is that?

They're too practical. People prefer the cool cab high ones where if you build a sleeping platform it's the equivalent of being in the MRI machine.
Get what you want.

 

[Regcabguy]

View attachment 663492

Hybrid. Has the taller hatch, but tapers to the cab.

Looks fine to me. Heck of a lot easier to get/out of.

 

[chet6.7]

If I were to do it again,I would not get ladder racks, opt for increased interior height instead and have the cap all the same height. ARE quality is not good, the welds are crap. I wish Callen was still around, the one I had on a previous truck was a better shell.

 

[Grassland]

View attachment 663506
If I were to do it again,I would not get ladder racks, opt for increased interior height instead and have the cap all the same height. ARE quality is not good, the welds are crap. I wish Callen was still around, the one I had on a previous truck was a better shell.

Good to know. I had ARE on my consider list for next fleet truck

 

[tyler.96]

Forum user Rawlk has a high top shell on his 2nd gen Ram. Also built drawers and a sleeping platform with considerable headroom.

 

[greg.potter]

My first "overlander" was a 1970-something F-150 with an insulated high top cap that was about 16-18 inches higher than the truck cab and built simply like a box. I can't remember who the manufacturer was, but it was free - a cast-off from my father. The rear wall was removable and had regular man door mounted in the middle of it that opened sideways. I put a bed platform in that let two people sleep E-W in it and built a wind deflector for the front of it to improve the aerodynamics a bit. It took me all over western NA including my first trip to Moab, winter ice climbing trips and a few ski safaris. It sure was ugly, but it was very practical.

The weirdest part is that I didn't even know that I was "overlanding"!

 

[phsycle]

Why no one uses high rise shells:
It earns the user zero Instagram followers.

It had been proven years ago that stickers, large wings, and obnoxiously loud exhausts add HP in Civics.
Same laws apply to Rotopax, RTT’s, and ceiling full of patches. Instant Insta followers.

 

[Tex68w]

Forum user Rawlk has a high top shell on his 2nd gen Ram. Also built drawers and a sleeping platform with considerable headroom.

Former? What happened to the guy? Cool 2nd Gen, it's a shame he doesn't post anymore, would have been good to see where this build went from here.

The younger crowd definitely doesn't care for toppers as it is let alone the high top models that remind them of their grandfathers truck haha. I wasn't a huge fan of the aesthetics of campers in general until I finally owned one myself and fell in love with the functionality of it. I'd prefer to go with a metal commercial topper but the one I like the best (RSI Smart Cap) doesn't offer them for 8ft long beds. RLD Designs has them but they look kind of awful on the long bed and it's throwing me off. IMHO Snugtop makes the best glass shell but I am leaning towards an ARE CX HD with the internal frame in order to gain more roof top payload capacity and durability. I am torn between t-handle metal doors instead of windoors simply from a security stand point but it's hard to argue against the ability to get a cross wind breeze through actual windows. The 8ft beds are really kind of short changed here in this arena as there aren't as many options for them out there.

 

[trailscape]

Love mine.. It's been modified quite a bit over the past six years. I don't know which brand it was. Probably ARE or Century I think.

I think the weak point is the rear doors. They experience the most movement and flex. I personally, came to really dislike the side windows as you can see.

I coated the top half in Herculiner. 300 watts of solar, two ARB awnings. Side vent, Fantastic fan, 1" insulation all around.

 

[Mekcanix]

I love mine on my truck its a Leer classic cab high, I dont sleep in mine. I also have a bed slide so its much easier to put in my gear for camping. And my wife also says its for a old man truck

 

[Todd780]

It seems to me that toppers are not stylish. I have one on my F150 and love it. My wife tells me they are for old men. I think the higher the topper, the older the owner. At least according to what I see when I'm driving around.

Yeah, I am told I'm not allowed to have a canopy on my truck for that reason. Nor am I allowed to put a box of kleenex on my dash.

(Even though there is a perfect spot for it...)

 

[Hillbilly Heaven]

[QUOTE="Todd n Natalie, post: 2930232, member: 54525"
Nor am I allowed to put a box of kleenex on my dash.

(Even though there is a perfect spot for it...)
[/QUOTE]
OH NO I am an old man!

 

[Todd780]

[QUOTE="Todd n Natalie, post: 2930232, member: 54525"
Nor am I allowed to put a box of kleenex on my dash.

(Even though there is a perfect spot for it...)

OH NO I am an old man!
[/QUOTE]
I fail to see how that's a bad thing.

I still think a canopy and a kleenex box on the dash would be convenient.

 

[TripLeader]

Yeah, I am told I'm not allowed to have a canopy on my truck for that reason. Nor am I allowed to put a box of kleenex on my dash.

(Even though there is a perfect spot for it...)

I can go one level deeper on this.

My wife told me she would not have dated me if I had a topper on my truck when we first met.