Truck Caps

Thanks all for the input....there are no 5th wheels in the future and the truck doesn't fit in the garage anyway, so I might look at the higher-profile caps.

Key purpose is to have a somewhat secure space to keep the (portable) truck box with some tools, straps, and breakdown stuff, plus space for fishing gear and camping (i.e. with tents, not "just" RV's) stuff during summers and sno-go gear during the winter.

Previously had a no-name cap on a truck long ago in a galaxy far far away that had the bars on top. Just didn't work out the same as a real rack, so that's a priority as well.

Thanks for the input and the data to consider.

I have soft folding tonneau now which works well, as it's easy to install and remove.

I had fiberglass cab high canopies/toppers on my last two trucks with roof rails that made it easy to add/remove racks for ladders, canoes, etc. That way the trucks still fit in the garage. As long as you have an easy way to load and remove the topper, it's an awesome addition. I miss having one and am looking hard at the ARE brand right now.

Softopper. I don't like caps on trucks - they limit cargo carrying flexibility, I don't like the way they look and they don't play nice with a fifth wheel. But, when you need a cap they're pretty much indispensable. When we go on a family trip without the camper I throw on the Softopper and we've got a huge enclosed cargo area that we pretty much fill.

I don't recall needing so much $hit when I was a kid but mine don't pack light. Multiply that by three and add my wife and dog and that's why we take the truck on those family trips.

Grit dog wrote:
Just don’t get the type that hang over the top lip of the truck bed to look sleeker or the big ladder rack idea is out.
I’d pretty much never get anything other than a cab height matching fiberglass shell.
Too much ugly in all the other options.

Actually I prefer extra height and have a Leer fiberglass 122 model. The extra height allows me to carry a motorcycle. When pulling the trailer only get bugs on the very top portion of the trailer.

I had a Leer 122 on my previous Dodge truck as well.

we have always had caps or toppers on our pickups and always Leers

the latest one on our 17 ram 1500 is great, we went up in height slightly so lots of well sheltered space(bicycles will stand up inside). it turns a pickup into a massive heavy duty station wagon. the locks aren't the greatest but stuff is out of sight.

lawn chairs, portable outdoor table, bbq, bicycles and sewer tote tank all fit in easily.

This is the type I had on 3 different 1 ton dualy pick-up trucks. I had the same topper on all 3 trucks. I finally gave it away when we got a fifth wheel.

I had the ladder rack also, which was fantastic for hauling our canoe and the side panels with the 2 shelves were great for hauling the canoe out-riggers,paddles, life jackets, and other supplies we carried for the canoe. One side was dedicated to the canoe, the other side was dedicated for travel trailer set-up...like boards for leveling, chocks, electric cords, ropes, tools, everything else.

That left the bed of the truck completely empty, except for bringing along the blue tote, water containers, firewood, the sewer hoses, garden hoses, a 7 foot step ladder (my bed was 8 feet long), an air compressor, and a bunch of other stuff.

The only problem was with the ladder rack. It made the truck too tall to fit in the garage. When we got a bit too old to handle the canoe, I removed the ladder rack and it fit inside the garage then.



Click here to take you to the web site for the "commercial" truck caps. I wouldn't do it any other way again, if I needed another truck cap. But, with a 5er, it's just not practical. Those things are heavy and take 2 or 3 people to remove them. So, once it was in place, it NEVER left the truck until the day we traded the truck(s) for a new one.

Good luck!

Just don’t get the type that hang over the top lip of the truck bed to look sleeker or the big ladder rack idea is out.
I’d pretty much never get anything other than a cab height matching fiberglass shell.
Too much ugly in all the other options.

Get an A.R.E.

Do not get Leer. Leer used to be the Cadillac, the top of the line, the cats meow.

Well after having had about half a dozen Leers, one bought new for a new 2013 delaminated within a year. Delaminated meaning the outer gel-coat layers delaminated from the central structural core they use in the center of the roof. Leer replaced it but not until after the local dealer pushed them hard for 3 weeks. Leer tried to claim the 250 lb capacity racks, supplied and installed by them, were overloaded. This despite the only thing ever on them being a 60 lb Kayak. I wrote it up to a fluke.

Fast forward to a Leer bought in 2016 for a new 2016 truck. Delaminated the same way in 2018. This time Leer said "take a hike". They could not blame it on an overloaded rack as it did not have one.

Leer, The Lippert of truck caps.

Overall, I won't likely get another truck cap. While you gain on weather protection of cargo, you limit cargo height (think refrigerator, garbage cans, etc.) and severely limit vision from the inside rear view mirror (like looking through a small tunnel with a low overhead).
IF you do get a topper, getting a ladder rack on it is extremely useful. Lift up sides make it easier to get stuff forward in and out, sliding windows work better for dogs or for simple truck bed camping.
I just went with a folding tonneau cover on my new truck. Easy to fold up and fairly simple to remove entirely if needed, by one person. The one truck cap I owned was a fiberglass LEER (very heavy) on a "long bed" mini pickup and was a two man grunt to move, four people MUCH better. There are lighter weight plastic and aluminum toppers that would be easier to handle AND not be a significant cargo capacity drain.
Once you buy the topper, probably not looking at 5th wheel trailers in the future with that truck.