Anyone Have One Of Those New Style Truck Caps?

[Eric Patterson]

Kris

Thanks for the input. I'm going with a traditional top. The cost, leakiness, and other reviews convinced me to stick with a fiberglass top. I do agree, they look very cool.

 

[Jeff Reardon]

Tod

I'm still pissed about it. I blame myself but didn't leave before telling the seller they should have paid attention to the details and given me correct information to base my decision. I think he didn't know there was a difference between an access cab and regular cab. But I was very specific when I corresponded with him that I was after a cap for a regular cab and asked the very question.

I get that this is about finding the right thing, but the effective additional costs of a 10 hour round trip and all the driving miles have to be factored into any great buy that far away. That said, I bought my MMB scull on pretty much a whim in Delaware--I just decided that Maine-built boat had to come home from exile and be salvaged from a lousy glassing job--and drove it all the way home on a trailer I knew nothing about. Oh, to be young and stupid enough to do such things again. LOL! For the record, I will never again pull a trailer on the Garden State Parkway or the Mass Pike. Chatanooga traffic has nothing on Jersy and Mass drivers around an inexperienced trailer driver towing a trailer with no turn signals.

 

[Eric Patterson]

Jeff

In this case the cost of the used one was 1/5th a new one and it wasn't going to have to be repainted. I gambled on the owner and lost. I don't have time to burn again so am ordering a new one. I don't mind hitting the road for used machinery or unique items because some things can't be found new. But for common items I usually like new unless the cost savings is considerable and in the case of the cap it was or was supposed to be. Life goes on...

I don't doubt the traffic is worse in those areas. I lack patience to live in such a place. It didn't help when I was stuck in traffic on the way home knowing I was empty handed.

 

[davidwalton]

You know the type I'm talking about. The boxy metal ones with side doors. Not work boxes like a repairman uses, rather more for camping and off-roading. Some of the popular brands are Alu-Cab, GoFastCamper, Smartcap and RLD Designs. I'm in the market for a camper and am probably going with a traditional fiberglass model like Leer or ARE, but these new black boxy metal ones have got me thinking maybe there is a better mousetrap now available. Below is a flyer in case you don't know what I'm talking about. Curious if anyone here can compare one of these tops to ones that have been around for decades.


Alu-Cab Top

Four Wheel Campers makes one called the Project M.

 

[ChadW]

I bought a used ARE for my tundra. It took over a year to find one, and then I took it to a local body shop for paint match. I looked at new, but the idea of spending 4K on a fiberglass topper made my toes curl. I have $1,400 in my used one, after paint match.

I built a pullout drawer with a sleeping platform for my "truck caper," and my wife made curtains. It allows me to pull my boat and camp in relative comfort. My little 5.5' bed sucks but it's better than the tent camping I was doing prior.

I don't know how old my ARE is, but it leaks everywhere. It leaks from the lower corners of the front and side windows as well as from the rear hatch. I've tried a few things to stop the leaking, including throughly cleaning and replacing some of the weather striping. It still leaks a little.

Out of frustration, I called the local ARE dealer and they wanted $125.00 an hour, with a 3hr minimum, plus material, to reseal all the windows. They told me there was no guarantees they would could completely seal the topper and some leaking is to always be expected.

When it's not raining, it works great.

 

[Huntindave McCann]

They told me there was no guarantees they would could completely seal the topper and some leaking is to always be expected.

Are the windows leaking or is the leak between the widow frame and the topper? The windows sit in a channel in the extruded widow frame. These channels should have drain slots to allow the water to drain to the outside. If these slots are plugged the water could build up in the channel and overflow into the inside.
It the leak is between the window frame and the topper shell, it is a simple procedure to remove all the screws around the perimeter, clean all the surfaces, apply a bead of silicone to the mating surface and reinstall the window frame assembly.

 

[ChadW]

Are the windows leaking or is the leak between the widow frame and the topper? The windows sit in a channel in the extruded widow frame. These channels should have drain slots to allow the water to drain to the outside. If these slots are plugged the water could build up in the channel and overflow into the inside.
It the leak is between the window frame and the topper shell, it is a simple procedure to remove all the screws around the perimeter, clean all the surfaces, apply a bead of silicone to the mating surface and reinstall the window frame assembly.

My topper has the frameless windows. The rear half of the window cranks open from the inside out. I'm sure there is a procedure for window removal, however I can't find it anywhere. I believe the front half may be glued in and the rearward portion hinges on a "soft hinge."

It's leaking on the bottom corner of the swing-out wing window, right where a drain slot should be. This model doesn't have drain slots. I could caulk the wing window, but it would look terrible. ARE Z Series.

 

[Eric Patterson]

The search ended last night. I was literally minutes away from placing an order for a new top after months of searching for one that fits my reg cab Tacoma. With all the access and double cabs out there and very few reg cabs my search was proving fruitless. I submitted a request for quote with ARE and while waiting for the quote I searched FB MP one more time and there was a new listing in Chattanooga for an ARE with windoors on both sides. My desired config. Pictures showed the cap on a double cab Tacoma and my eye, now keen after studying the caps for months, detected something wrong. There was a big gap at the roof where the cap meets the cab. Ah hah! Someone put a reg cab top on a double cab. I left work and hit the road for Chattanooga. When we dropped the top on my truck I was ecstatic. Truck cap harmony. A reg cab top was reunited with a reg cab. The hard part is over. Now all I need is to paint tbe top to match.

 

[Linhardt]

Great to here and great luck you had.

I too know the woes of searching for a used top. I recently purchased a used but new to me 2018 Tundra Double Cab SR5 in white back in April. I have been searching FB Marketplace for a topper that would fit it. It is quite frustrating because of you really cannot refine your search for just a topper that fits a double cab tundra.

You really cannot make sense of how the search works. You can add key words to your search and even put them in quotes to emphasize it but it seems you still get just a random list of toppers listed that are close to you. Most not even close to what you are looking for. So you have to carefully look through the listing to ensure it fits what you need.

I really wish FB marketplace would beef up their Marketplace in both search and how you add listings so that it requires makes, models, etc of the vehicles the items fit. Relying on Joe Schmoe to get detailed in their description does not work. Listings mostly have some of the worst descriptions ever. Literally just saying "Truck Topper $500" and nothing else. It is very frustrating to me.

 

[Eric Patterson]

Anthony. I agree 100%! MP search engine SUCKS!!!! It wastes so much of your time with items that don't match your search terms. Craigslist is really good but nobody uses it anymore. Some say scammers killed it but MP has those too. I hate FB MP so much my son and I are developing a new website just for duck hunters that will allow them to escape the time dump MP is. More to come on this.

 

[Jeff Reardon]

The search ended last night. I was literally minutes away from placing an order for a new top after months of searching for one that fits my reg cab Tacoma. With all the access and double cabs out there and very few reg cabs my search was proving fruitless. I submitted a request for quote with ARE and while waiting for the quote I searched FB MP one more time and there was a new listing in Chattanooga for an ARE with windoors on both sides. My desired config. Pictures showed the cap on a double cab Tacoma and my eye, now keen after studying the caps for months, detected something wrong. There was a big gap at the roof where the cap meets the cab. Ah hah! Someone put a reg cab top on a double cab. I left work and hit the road for Chattanooga. When we dropped the top on my truck I was ecstatic. Truck cap harmony. A reg cab top was reunited with a reg cab. The hard part is over. Now all I need is to paint tbe top to match.

Congrats! If the colors are complementary, go 2-tone and save a paint job.

 

[Eric Patterson]

Jeff

Truck is red and the top is white but it could use a new coat of paint so I'll paint it to match. The carpet on the inside is going away too. I'm going to have it sprayed with truck bed liner in a nice light white. These old eyes need all the help they can get.

 

[NickR]

Glad it finally came tog for you Eric!

Just for discussion, a question for anyone who cares to provide input… Why not buy a Toyota 4Runner and treat it like a pickup with a topper?

I did that with a Chevy suburban, was the best rig I’ve had. Currently have a pickup with a 5.75’ box and topper… pretty tough to sleep in and pretty tough to deal with fishing rods.
i do like the topper for ventilation when the dog is back there- wouldn’t really work to stick a dog in a SUV on a hot September prairie hunt.

I’m starting to consider the next vehicle and I’m torn between suv, pickup w/o topper, pickup w/ topper

 

[Carl]

Glad it finally came tog for you Eric!

Just for discussion, a question for anyone who cares to provide input… Why not buy a Toyota 4Runner and treat it like a pickup with a topper?

I did that with a Chevy suburban, was the best rig I’ve had. Currently have a pickup with a 5.75’ box and topper… pretty tough to sleep in and pretty tough to deal with fishing rods.
i do like the topper for ventilation when the dog is back there- wouldn’t really work to stick a dog in a SUV on a hot September prairie hunt.

I’m starting to consider the next vehicle and I’m torn between suv, pickup w/o topper, pickup w/ topper

This is why I am sticking to an SUV! I love the look and utility of a 4 door pickup but the bed length is a killer.
My test is can I fit an 8' fishing rod, and unless you buy full size regular cab pickup, the answer is no.
I'll be sticking to my Honda Pilot until the wheels fall off.

 

[Vince Pagliaroli]

This is why I am sticking to an SUV! I love the look and utility of a 4 door pickup but the bed length is a killer.
My test is can I fit an 8' fishing rod, and unless you buy full size regular cab pickup, the answer is no.
I'll be sticking to my Honda Pilot until the wheels fall off.

AMEN Carl! No leaks, no problems when the back hatch is up in the rain & snow, plenty of room, tie downs, roof racks, and lighting where ya need it. Right now my 2006 Honda Pilot has 164,250 miles on it have invested in restoring things that needed to be done and it's good to go and takes me where I want to be.

This is my second 2006 Honda Pilot. The first one saved my life when I was rear ended while at a dead stop by a driver doing 60mph. The Pilot was totaled. The Pilot absorbed the impact in such a safe way that the hatch could still be opened and no glass breakage anywhere. The impact was distributed in such a way as to be as safe as possible. I went to the hospital and the driver that hit me went to jail. We searched for another 2006 Pilot and found one close by, and the restoration began slow but sure. Right now the Pilot is in full fly fishing mode, ceiling rod racks, Jet Sled to hold gear especially when wet, etc. By November 1st it will be in full hunting mode. My camp on wheels with one helluva good cab heater.

I had a new 1988 Toyota 4 Runner from then until 2005 when it died. It was my Space Ship cuz it took me very far to many great places. The Pilot is not the off road vehicle that the 4 Runner was but in many ways I prefer the Honda Pilot. It is Geezer Friendly and the 4WD works very well for the places I like to go. Don't need no damn sand bags in the bed come winter time......HHHEeeeeeHHHEeeeeeHHHEEeeeeee

UNTIL THE WHEELS FALL OFF FOR REAL.


Salud!

 

[tod osier]

Jeff

Truck is red and the top is white but it could use a new coat of paint so I'll paint it to match. The carpet on the inside is going away too. I'm going to have it sprayed with truck bed liner in a nice light white. These old eyes need all the help they can get.

I really like carpet on the inside. I don't think I'd have one without, but I'm sure bed liner is much nicer than CSM.

 

[Eric Patterson]

I like carpet too, but this one has a bad amateur carpet job. The simplest fix is to tear it out and spray bedliner. I like this because the bedliner we will use is white thus making the interior brighter while I'm in there getting ready to hunt long before sunrise.

 

[tod osier]

I like carpet too, but this one has a bad amateur carpet job. The simplest fix is to tear it out and spray bedliner. I like this because the bedliner we will use is white thus making the interior brighter while I'm in there getting ready to hunt long before sunrise.

Makes sense. I would NOT EVER want to attempt carpeting one of those. All the complex curves and inside corners. I'm frankly amazed how nice mine have looked from the factory.