I have never had a truck with a cap/shell. My family of four car camping setup the last few years has been everything under a tonneau that is flat on the bed. That has worked really well for us and forced us to make good gear decisions in terms of both how we pack and more importantly what to leave at home. We're starting to push the limits now on locations. We're going further into the mountains on longer trips. Last year we ran into some hellacious rainstorms and the tonneau was admirable but not completely water tight (plus it's getting old). We need something a little more solid in hardcore bear country. I want to take a couple of trips where we can use our (four) Sea Eagle kayaks. I think it's time to upgrade to a truck cap. What are the less obvious things to think about when selecting the cap for this purpose? I'd love to hear the voice of experience here before I go shopping.
Well I got a Leonard aluminum cap for my F-150 about 10 years ago. Paid $600 or so. I don't think they offer that one anymore, but it does the job. I had to pull all the screws out of the roof last fall and recaulk them because it was starting to leak around them. Also had to replace the brake light on the liftgate when I smashed it taking something out of the bed. For me, the big consideration was cost. A cheap cap covers the bed and keeps the water out just as well as a pricey one IMHO. I did notice a decrease in gas mileage (maybe about 5%) when I replaced the tonneau cover with the cap. I love mine. I do need some canoe/kayak racks for the top. I'm probably going to build a set out of wood, that I can remove so they're not up there causing drag all the time. My $0.02.
10 years is pretty damn good. Most vehicles don't get to 10 years in New England so that's not quite as much of a worry.
I have used caps for 40 years, aluminum and now fiberglass. I rarely take them off. Buy one that is cab height and it will increase your fuel mileage. There are usually backing plates molded into the roof for attaching roof racks. You can spend as much as you want. All seem to have some weaknesses like the windows which can eventually leak. The sliders are often separated by thin pieces of aluminum held together with pop rivets. Look carefully at these areas and ask about getting problems fixed down the road. I bought a cap from a local factory. The windows leak and the slider attachment fell off. "Make an appointment and will fix it for you for $75 an hour." There were some people shopping in the "showroom." When I finished my discussion with the rep the other people left without buying anything.
Good post by ppine! How about one of the windowless "utility" type tops? Just solid sides and a hatch in the back above the tailgate. Security wise they cant steel what they cant see and no windows to leak. Coz
I'm not that concerned with theft. If someone wants to break into a vehicle they always can. And when we're camping most of our stuff is out in the open anyway.
topper I finally put a topper on my truck after some deliberation. i have had them on trucks in the past and loved them. I do alot of hunting, fishing and camping with and without the rest of my family. it is nice to be able to throw everything in the bed and lock them up. it also backs up as a nice camping spot if i am deep in the woods without my camper. i need to put a roof rack on it so i haul my canoe around without the camper.
Hi... The last shell I had I bought used. Fiberglass, and had a rear entry similar to a house's door, just not as high. It served me very well. Previous to that, I had an aluminum shell...the top was at cab roof height. Somewhat awkward to get around in, but adequate for a work truck at the time. It also served me very well.
Coz, Not a bad idea but steel tops cost a lot and are heavy. They are really hard to take off. I like the windows for driving in traffic.
A cap is well worth it, years ago I had an old beater truck that was always good to me, including the shell which was a blessing for me both out of the woods and in it. For me I could tuck just about everything we needed in there when we were child free, and during normal trips out just being able to have a truck "when you need it" plus the extra cover "when you really need it" made it worth it. I doubt I would ever own another truck without a cover. Check prices, double check that the cap will fit and find something reasonably priced.
I bought a cap about two weeks ago. Still waiting for it to get into the shop from which I bought it. Bought a Leer fiberglass cap with a full curved glass door (no frame) and a passenger side window that both raises to get in and slides to the side. More than I had budgeted but meh. This allows us to bring the four Sea Eagles with us. That's a really big addition when we're talking trips into the lakes region of NH. And now I should be able to set up a small food management system when we're camping just inside the bed. Now instead of having to pull everything out and then put it all away at night we can set up some plastic drawers and a slot for the cooler. When it gets dark we can just lock it up and the bears should move on to an easier target. The tonneau isn't bear proof do that was always a bit of a pain to do at dusk. I'll put up some pics once it's on and also if I come up with something for the food management worth showing.
Back in my pre Peggy days I was a 4WD pickup with a shell kinda guy. I used it for base camp, cr camping and road tripping coast to coast for years. Now we have a suv and an ultra lite 18 ft camper. to do the same thing with. My advise on a camper shell is get one with a rubber boot that seals to the cab of the pickup. Get a sliding glass back window installed by the camper place. You can slide the window open and reach or even crawl into the shell from the cab of the truck. mVery handy in bad weather or just fishing a sandwich outa an ice chest.
The Tacoma must have a smaller than average sliding rear window, I guess. I could never fit through that thing. My skinny 11 year old, maybe, if we didn't mind bruising his ribs.
True that that was a hundred lbs ago. Dont let this chubby old fool, fool ya though. Last time home we locked our selves outa the house. I slid in through a unlocked window to open Peggy the door. I just called her and got her to measure the opening, as I tholught it aint much if any bigger than the back glass iin my ole truck. The window opens 14" high is 28" wide and its also 45" off the floor. I slid in and through that lst month.:tinysmile_fatgrin_tNot sure why I felt I hddda defend my post though, rest assured if I say it, it happened.
I never lock my shell. Figure if they really want in they will get there. And if it's locked, They'll bust the shell and I'll lose my stuff anyway. Never had a problem though. Maybe it's that "Insured by Smith and Wesson" sticker on the back. And again, maybe it's because they really don't want all my old junk stuff.:tinysmile_twink_t2:
I'm not all that concerned about people. It's the bears I want to discourage. The shell will do it unless one climbs up on top and caves it in or cracks it. I've seen that with old/cheap shells.
The very first pickup I bought had a shell on it the next day. For you doughters the sliding window is an adaption sold by camper places the window is recessed into the cab somewhat allowing the slides to slide far past the edge of the wondow opening almost the whole space. My shells were never bout security from man or beastie they were about weather. Which in Cajun country can be torential. As my camping experience slowly evolved from back pack to truck shell to pop up to its current state of SUV and 18 ft ultra lite money sponge:tinysmile_hmm_t2: I am not now or ever have been "skeered" It's always been about comfort convience and weather..
