Cap or not to Cap?

If you use your rig to tow and not haul you will like a cap. You can build/buy a rack to fit over it. If you do a lot of hauling maybe not so much. I have a cap and a bed rug and can move smaller short stuff if needed, and a dump trailer to move all the other stuff. A couple people can take a cap off but if either one looses their grip a big scratch in the rig is the reward. Pulley system is good but the dump trailer is better.

DanAndJamie wrote:

I sure hope you are not hauling that firewood farther than 10 miles to your campground...

;) :B

Ha! I wouldn't dare...

Campfire Time wrote:

I sure hope you are not hauling that firewood farther than 10 miles to your campground...

;) :B

For 15 years I had F-150 SCab's with the Leer shell. Cannot imagine not having the cap. The security and convenience of being able to lock up my Honda 2000's, Bbq, tools, firewood etc., where they were dry, secure and out of sight was priceless. Yes they add weight, most are around 250# and no I never ever needed to take it off.

As always... Opinions and YMMV.

:C

How you use your truck is a very individual thing. You'll have to consider different scenarios and how you might use the bed. A cap might be great for you. It might not. It sound like you already have your mind mostly made up. :)

Our Sierra had a cap on it when we bought it. It was a very nice cap, but neither my wife or I like caps. Makes 'em look like work trucks. I toyed with the idea of using it because I really like the idea of having things locked and dry. I played with methods of hauling our bikes in it but it was a real pain to climb in and out of, not to mention removing the wheels and attaching the forks to the mounts. We also didn't like the lack of good visibility behind us.

We sold the cap and bought an Extang Solid Fold tonneau cover instead. The truck looks great, visibility is excellent. And I can remove the cover in 5 minutes to haul our bikes or other larger loads. The best part is that its secure and with a cargo bar, we can use the bed like a trunk most of the time.

I've had several caps on my pickups over the years. I found them to be very handy to have along with a boot for the rear window of the truck allowing a passage way into the cap/bed.

I built a sleeping shelf across the front of the cap that provided not only a sleeping area for me but a spot for our two dogs to lay down during trips. They would look out through the boot and we had easy access to them.

In addition I built cabinets along the pickup bed sides with tilt up lids. This gave me a place to carry stuff and not have it rattle or slide around. So between the front bed and the two side cabinets it made for a U shaped sleeping area with floor space for other stuff. Two of us and the dogs could sleep comfortably for quick overnight trips away from the TT.

All of my caps were wood and siding construction so it required two strong men or three weaklings to get them off the truck. Basically you undo the bolts or clamps holding the cap to the bed rails of the truck. Then lift up the cap and walk it back and set it down on blocks once you've cleared the bed of the truck.

For fiberglass caps you can suspend them from the rafters of the garage using a block and pulley setup. One person operation.

Takes no more than 30 minutes to take of or put back on.

I had a cap on my old TV and loved it! The dogs would ride back there and they really enjoyed being able to lie down during a longer trip. It was also handy if a rain shower caught you off guard. You just throw all your outside stuff in there quick like. The only disadvantage I saw was that it was added weight. They are not light.

Here are some solutions for easy removal and storage.

Truck Cap Removal and Storage