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Topic: Truck caps
Posted By: nycsteve on 06/30/17 04:52am

Any opinions on quality brands? The 2 big ones, A.R.E. and Leer , preferances? Anything else out there?




Posted By: brulaz on 06/30/17 06:01am

nycsteve wrote:

Any opinions on quality brands? The 2 big ones, A.R.E. and Leer , preferances? Anything else out there?


Mine is Century, apparently owned by Leer? Many of the same options.
It's a good cap. As good as the Leer we had on our previous truck.

I got the glass "windoors" that open up along the sides. They are great, improving visibility and access, especially with my 8' bed.[emoticon]
And the roof rack tracks were important for us also.

2014 ORV Timber Ridge 240RKS,8500#,1250# tongue,44K miles
690W Rooftop + 340W Portable Solar,4 GC2s,215Ah@24V
2016 Ram 2500 4x4 RgCab CTD,2507# payload,10.8 mpgUS tow

Posted By: valhalla360 on 06/30/17 06:46am

If you will take the cap off ever, I really prefer the aluminium ones. They don't look as slick as the fiberglass but the two of us could easily move the aluminium one by ourselves (in a pinch I could do it by myself). The Fiberglass needs two strong guys or 3-4 weaker people.

No strong opinions on brand.

Tammy & Mike
Ford F250 V10
2021 Gray Wolf
Gemini Catamaran 34'
Full Time spliting time between boat and RV


Posted By: IdaD on 06/30/17 06:57am

I have a softopper. Not good for a full time cap, but perfect for our purposes. I use it a half dozen times a year when we're on a family trip and we need covered "trunk" space. Then the rest of the year it just sits in our garage or shop. Takes about 10 minutes to install and 5 to remove. The only issue it had was the clear vinyl on the rear flap shattered on one trip when it was about -15. I was able to tape it up to get it home and they replaced it for me, but you do need to be careful opening it in cold weather (I wasn't careful - my fault).

If you only want a part time cap it's a great option. If you're wanting your truck to make like an SUV all the time I'd probably go with an ARE or Leer.

2015 Cummins Ram 4wd CC/SB


Posted By: colliehauler on 06/30/17 07:28am

I have owned two Leer toppers with no problems, would not hesitate to purchase another. Have not owned a ARE but understand they are good quality as well.

Posted By: RedRocket204 on 06/30/17 07:46am

nycsteve wrote:

Any opinions on quality brands? The 2 big ones, A.R.E. and Leer , preferences? Anything else out there?


Just want to mention of one to avoid, SnugTop. I bought a brand new, very pricey SnugTop and it looked really nice, but the quality turned out to be bad in multiple places. Worst of which were the leaks and didn't help that I lived on the north Oregon coast at the time. I had to spend my own time fixing leaks as the dealer was too stupid to correct the leaks after multiple attempts. That didn't include the canopy's third LED tail light that ultimately leaked and there was condensation inside that light where 1/3 of it stopped working... which that light could not be easily removed to try and reseal it. The back 1/3 hinged windows rattled badly, the tailgate closure weather stripping only lasted 2-3 years.

SnugTop = looks good, horrible product execution, steer clear!


valhalla360 wrote:

If you will take the cap off ever, I really prefer the aluminium ones. They don't look as slick as the fiberglass but the two of us could easily move the aluminium one by ourselves (in a pinch I could do it by myself). The Fiberglass needs two strong guys or 3-4 weaker people.


I did this for my very heavy 8 ft fibergalss canopy and it worked very well, was very easy and I did not need anyone else to remove the canopy. youtube - How to remove a pick-up truck cap with one person and simple hardware

* This post was edited 06/30/17 07:53am by RedRocket204 *

I love me some land yachting

Posted By: campinginthewoods on 06/30/17 08:47am

I have had 2 leer toppers and both have the windoors and love that I can access the front of the bed from the sides and I also got the slider window and it also folds in so I can clean the windows in between.

"Our family is a circle of love and strength.
With every birth and every union, the circle grows. Every joy shared adds more love.
Every crisis faced together makes the circle stronger. "

Posted By: Campfire Time on 06/30/17 09:19am

My truck had a Century top when I bought it. Really well made and a nice cap. I'm not a fan of caps so we sold it and bought an Extang Solid fold tonneau cover.

Chuck D.
“Adventure is just bad planning.” - Roald Amundsen
2013 Jayco X20E Hybrid
2016 Chevy Silverado Crew Cab Z71 LTZ2
2008 GMC Sierra SLE1 Crew Cab Z71 (traded)


Posted By: DutchmenSport on 06/30/17 09:24am

Mine is a Century also. It's a commercial cap. Its now on it's 3rd long bed Silverado. After all these years, it's still a great cap. I love the inside side panel shelves, which are the full length of the bed. Centruy ... click here.

Lumber for leveling, under tires, jacks... lots of lumber. We often park on very unlevel campsites!

[image]

Other side. Supplies: Electric cords, drill, tools, floor jack, rope, bungie cords, straps, and other things:

[image]

And the bed of the truck is still free for:

35 gallon water container for transporting water when not on full hook-up or have accessible water within 200 feet. Blue Tote for dumping, air compressor, dog stroller, tool box, water transfer pump, firewood, hoses, and 7 foot ladder, spare tire for the camper (as I don't carry it on the trailer bumper any more), and more:

[image]

[image]

If I ever have to replace it, I'm getting another one like it.

I did remove the ladder rack, which we used to transport our canoe, when we purchased our last truck. The truck bed rails were higher than the last truck, and the ladder rack make the top too tall to fit in my garage. So I removed the ladder rack on the top, now it fits in my garage door with no problem.

Posted By: brulaz on 06/30/17 09:39am

Can't see the pictures in the above post?

Here's a pic of my 8' fibreglas Century with the WinDoors open:
[image]

This model doesn't come with shelves so I built some bins along the sides and back. Easy access. And good visibility if I don't pile things up too much.

Posted By: samsontdog on 06/30/17 09:58am

Make sure you buy from a Company that has been in business a long time as I bought from a Company that went out of business. The rear window on the door that raised up shattered in a million pieces and no glass Company would or could replace it. I had a Company make a Plexiglas window for $326.00 with no guarantee. If the Company that built my shell was still in business I could have ordered the glass or the entire back window and frame. I had a Leer before
and they are good Toppers

samsontdog">">

Posted By: stufarmer on 06/30/17 10:24am

I've been buying Toppers since the 70's. Like my trucks, always Ford XLT or Lariats. I've wanted the best quality and looking one's available at the time. Gem Top and Glasstite were my favorites for years. My latest few have been Jasons. I'm a fan of the way they fit the back of the cab and how they sit on the bed rails. More like they're a part of the truck.

Posted By: Double_Haul on 06/30/17 10:30am

I'm really happy with my ARE MX shells. Had one on my 2004 and now on my 2016. Very well built and very clean looking.

2016 Chevy 2500HD LTZ Crew Cab, Duramax
2005 Terry 270FQS
2006 North River 20' Seahawk


Posted By: campingken on 06/30/17 12:09pm

Last summer we bought a new Leer model 100XR cap. We optioned it with the pet window screens, roof rack rails, fold down coat hangers, removable (for cleaning) front window with a slider, and a cell phone etc. charging statement.

The fit and finish is great. The only complaint that we have is that we upgraded to the single center handle rear window opener. It allows you to open it with open hand but you cannot close and latch the rear cap window from the inside. We had to rig a strap so that we can close it from the inside when we sleep in it.

Ken & Kris + Heidi the dog
Sequim, Wa.
2003 Dodge 3500 SRW 4x4 diesel
2017 Trails West Sierra Select 2 Horse slant load trailer

Posted By: nycsteve on 06/30/17 02:48pm

Thanks for all the input!

Posted By: WNYBob on 06/30/17 04:08pm

I disagree with IdaD! I leave my Softopper on year round! And I live in Buffalo, NY where we get plenty of snow (I've brushed off over a foot off the top).

My cap is over 10 years old and still looks new!

Posted By: mitw44 on 07/02/17 05:51pm

I love my ARE cap on my F250. It has the carpeted interior, side sliding windows with screens, and inward folding window in the front for cleaning the glass. I also had LED rope lights added inside.

I also have a heavy duty bed slide, which makes like much easier.

2009 F 250 XLT SC 4x4 3.73 LS 5.4L V8
2017 Forest River Salem Cruise Lite 171 RBXL

Posted By: Eeyore59 on 07/19/17 07:28pm

I've had many trucks and never wanted a cap for ease of loading big and heavy things. Now we have a travel trailer and I'm considering one, both for towing aerodynamics, and to cover things that ultimately end up in the bed when traveling. So I want something that's easy to remove. Today I went to a ARE dealer near by and the first thing that strikes me is that they want to wire lights in the cap and a high brake light. That is going to hamper removal, not to mention I'm not a fan of them messing with my trucks wiring. So what do people think? I thought about the soft caps, but I don't think they are going to help aero much. Thoughts?

Posted By: Bedlam on 07/19/17 09:43pm

DutchmenSport wrote:

Mine is a Century also. It's a commercial cap. Its now on it's 3rd long bed Silverado. After all these years, it's still a great cap. I love the inside side panel shelves, which are the full length of the bed. Centruy ... click here.

Lumber for leveling, under tires, jacks... lots of lumber. We often park on very unlevel campsites!

[image]

Other side. Supplies: Electric cords, drill, tools, floor jack, rope, bungie cords, straps, and other things:

[image]

And the bed of the truck is still free for:

35 gallon water container for transporting water when not on full hook-up or have accessible water within 200 feet. Blue Tote for dumping, air compressor, dog stroller, tool box, water transfer pump, firewood, hoses, and 7 foot ladder, spare tire for the camper (as I don't carry it on the trailer bumper any more), and more:

[image]

[image]

If I ever have to replace it, I'm getting another one like it.

I did remove the ladder rack, which we used to transport our canoe, when we purchased our last truck. The truck bed rails were higher than the last truck, and the ladder rack make the top too tall to fit in my garage. So I removed the ladder rack on the top, now it fits in my garage door with no problem.

I had the same model with side doors and two full height barn doors in the back. I sold it for close to what I paid after seven years and it looked great even though it always sat outside.

Chevy Sonic 1.8-Honda Passport C70B-Host Mammoth 11.5-Interstate Car Carrier 20-Joyner SandViper 250-Kawasaki Concours ZG1000-Paros 8' flatbed-Pelican Decker DLX 8.75-Ram 5500 HD


Posted By: colliehauler on 07/19/17 09:48pm

Eeyore59 wrote:

I've had many trucks and never wanted a cap for ease of loading big and heavy things. Now we have a travel trailer and I'm considering one, both for towing aerodynamics, and to cover things that ultimately end up in the bed when traveling. So I want something that's easy to remove. Today I went to a ARE dealer near by and the first thing that strikes me is that they want to wire lights in the cap and a high brake light. That is going to hamper removal, not to mention I'm not a fan of them messing with my trucks wiring. So what do people think? I thought about the soft caps, but I don't think they are going to help aero much. Thoughts?
By law a third brake light is required. I doubt they would circumvent the law for liability reasons. Mine has quick connect if I would ever remove it. I can tell by the bug pattern that it helps with aerodynamics. I never check mpg so can't help you there. My Leer is the high top model, front is level with cab then increase in height.

Posted By: srt20 on 07/19/17 10:26pm

Eeyore59 wrote:

I've had many trucks and never wanted a cap for ease of loading big and heavy things. Now we have a travel trailer and I'm considering one, both for towing aerodynamics, and to cover things that ultimately end up in the bed when traveling. So I want something that's easy to remove. Today I went to a ARE dealer near by and the first thing that strikes me is that they want to wire lights in the cap and a high brake light. That is going to hamper removal, not to mention I'm not a fan of them messing with my trucks wiring. So what do people think? I thought about the soft caps, but I don't think they are going to help aero much. Thoughts?


Yep, its the law to have a 3rd brake light. If a topper blocks the factory light, the topper must have one.

Wiring is simple. They tap into the the left rear brake light. Thats all thats needed. But on mine, I also tapped into the trailer plug for a constant power and have lights in my topper. It came with one, but its old school and dim, so I added a LED strip down the middle.

My wires unplug near the bottom of the topper. Very simple and easy.


I have a Century fiberglass. Its a good topper. I bought it because I new the guy that was the topper dealer. He said they were good toppers. He was right.

Im not a fan of the looks of a truck with a topper, but it sure is handy and Im glad I have it.

Posted By: brulaz on 07/20/17 06:18am

Eeyore59 wrote:


...
the first thing that strikes me is that they want to wire lights in the cap and a high brake light. That is going to hamper removal, not to mention I'm not a fan of them messing with my trucks wiring.
...


Both caps I've had were installed with easy-to-use wiring disconnects. Not an issue.

Tapping into the truck's wiring should also not be an issue if the installer is competent. But I've had one install that worked ok, but was pretty marginal. Ask them how they plan to do it, where the wires are run, whether they'll be drilling anywhere, and so forth.

Posted By: steve-n-vicki on 07/20/17 09:13am

I have a ranch fiberglass topper , under the drivers side of the cab was a 3rd brake light tape out wire, commonly known as a body builders access wire for the 3rd brake light , I have a 2 wire quick disconnect at the back of the topper if I need to remove it, ask the truck dealer where the tape out wire is they should be able to tell you

Posted By: Eeyore59 on 07/20/17 11:16am

Thanks Everyone,

I never thought about liability, not that the high stop light matters much with the travel trailer behind it. I saw on one of the cap websites a reference to a university study that showed an average MPG gain of 1.5 with a cap over an open bed. Takes a long time to justify a cap based on that alone. I tend to tow fast, I work a lot and get precious little time off, so when I have time off I tend to want to get there. I'm typically towing at 75 MPH so aero will matter. If I towed at 60 I'd gain 1.5 MPG or more, well maybe when I retire.

Posted By: Eeyore59 on 07/20/17 11:31am

Steve-N-Vicki,

How do you like your Ranch topper? I just got a very good quote on a "Echo" model. It is their bottom of the line, but the price is good and maybe it's a little lighter.

Posted By: srt20 on 07/20/17 12:55pm

BTW I have used my truck with and without the topper.

I have notice 0 difference in mpg.

Same with the tonneau cover on my wifes truck.


Air under the truck and trailer along with backdraft makes much more difference than air over the top.

Posted By: Eeyore59 on 07/20/17 06:42pm

Well good or bad the decision is made. I bought a Leer 100XL. Started out looking at the cheapest caps, but there are differences. The ARE I liked had some features I liked better, but there were things I liked about the Leer better too. Kind of a horse a piece feature wise, but the Leer was $500 less. The dealer I bought from also handled Centry and they told me that they are the same company and in the case of the cap I bought they were supposedly the exact same cap except logos. They however didn't have any Centry caps to look at. So despite the centry being slightly less I still bought the Leer because I could see it.

I did inquire about wiring and they said that there are disconnects for it all of the wiring. The Leer also has a mini fuse box with fuses for the dome light, high stop and accessory. Small thing and hopefully not needed, but I liked it.

The dealer I bought from was part of the decision as well, the ARE dealer didn't provide much information, I had to continually ask questions, not good when I really didn't know what to ask. When I expressed concern over the wiring he didn't even mention disconnects, he actually said "they're really not that removable".

So there you have it.

Posted By: steve-n-vicki on 07/20/17 10:03pm

I like mine but I bought the sierra line with the fold down front glass

Posted By: Threebigfords on 07/21/17 10:08pm

I have a different experience with the SnugTop canopy I bought. It's been a great canopy so far. I bought it a year and a half ago and it gets used hard everyday for work. Haven't had a single problem with it.

I ordered it with the reinforced roof for the KargoMaster rack. I like the double bulb seal they use for the bed rails and how the canpopy lips over the rails. It also locks and unlocks with my factory Ford keyfob. They even put custom factory LED lighting in it the way I wanted.

Pricing was considerably less than a similar Leer. I will say this, SnugTop' dealers aren't as easy to find as other major brands.

[image]

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17' Ford Explorer Platinum 3.5 Ecoboost Ruby Red Metallic
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2003 Weekend Warrior FS2600 toyhauler and the toys to fill it
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