Greetings. Slightly off topic, but you folks are usually helpful on stuff like this. I have 3/4 ton heavy duty long-bed PU and Lance Camper. Use the Camper as often as possible and when not using camper I have a place to off-load so I can use my PU for hauling trash or doing other "honey-do" projects around the house. Before we bought the pickup and camper, we always had a Chev or GMC Suburban which was great for hauling kids (now grown) plus hunting dogs, etc.I am about to take ownership of a new hunting dog puppy plus have a grown hunting dog. Wife wonders if we need another Suburban or Yukon XL but I hate to spend the money and pay the extra insurance. But the dogs need a decent place to ride, especially in winter. So after all that here is the question. Is it practical for an ordinary person either alone or with his 60 something wife to put on and remove a truck shell on the PU when the camper is not mounted? They look fairly light as they drive by, but neither my wife nor I are weight lifters.Thanks for advice.Happy Camping!'

engine hoist or garage roof pulley system if u have a high roof garage. I used to do mine a few years ago alone by hand but i was in my 20's. those things are pretty heavy.

I had an aluminum cap on my old '86 D150. Two of us could lift the front end enough to start it onto the back of the bed, then pick up the back end and carefully slide it forward. We were younger back then, and DW wouldn't be able to help with that sort of thing nowadays.Do you have a couple of neighbor friends or grown sons nearby to help with it? It would be a cinch for 3 or 4 people.

Those camp tops can be a bit awkward, I have a midsized one and while I've never taken it off I was thinking about it several times.I was thinking a "Canopy Lift" "Canopy Lift" of some sort, in my garage. Another idea was a canvas folding top which might be easier for one person.. I think anyway, looks easier..Here's what they look like and appear to be pretty sturdy..Hmmm.. well I can't post the photo, copyrighted, but here's the link to them. (on another note, I wish there was some way to go to the "Advanced Editor" instead of the quick one as you loose whatever you typed if you go to Advanced. Now have to copy/paste, a PITA. I've looked i the profile settings area for a default to Adv but didn't see it)Just some backup thoughts if your original request for info doesn't work.. Hope that helps.. (HTH)

The topper on my truck is VERY heavy, especially with the added shelves on both sides (behind those panel doors). It takes 3 people to get it off, but I've figured a way to do it. But it's not light by any means.If all you want is a topper, nothing fancy, I'm sure you can find a basic topper that 2 people can handle easily. There are a lot of variations, but if you stay with just the basic shell, no windows, no interior trim, no lights, just basic, fiberglass or aluminum should not be so heavy you cannot handle it. I'm age 60 also. I leave the shell on the truck pretty much 24x7x365. But if I did have to remove it several times a year, I'd figure out a way to do it like the photo above, simply because it is so heavy.

I had a sling to pick up my shell, but I could not use one crank system to do it. So I used two least expensive boat winches, did the job! Just had to go back and forth or get another person...it worked! Oh yeah make sure you don't mess up the seal tape on the bottom edge of shell with your sling. Enjoy the pooches!

Using Truck Shell When Camper Off? | Good Sam Community

stevenal
Nomad II
Apr 28, 2015
I added some Yakima racks to mine, and use the racks to lift it. Four points with four lines and pullies. I can do it myself, working one line at a time. Another four pullies would make it easier. Mine is a short bed.
Grit_dog
Navigator
Apr 28, 2015
Or if storing it outside or taking up floor space, make some saw horses the height of the bed rails as someone else suggested.
Grit_dog
Navigator
Apr 28, 2015
Fiberglass toppers are going to be 300lb + I'd guesstimate for a long bed.
Me and another guy can curl a short bed topper up and over the bed rails but it's not easy.
Aluminum is lighter but not as nice looking.
If you got the ceiling space in your shop, I'd rig up a little hoist for a 'glass topper.
WNYBob
Explorer
Apr 28, 2015
Here is what I have and love it.

It is a Softopper.com Cap. It is "canvas" and folds down like a convertible top using aluminum support and rail. Mine is over 5 years old and shows no ware and is completely dry.

One person can easily setup or take down
MTNHNTR
Explorer
Apr 28, 2015
With my Leer cab high canopy, I installed a Yakima rack system on the canopy. Then in the ceiling of my garage, I put up 4 eye bolts. I lift the canopy off the truck with 4 rachet type tie downs - placing one on each corner of the Yakima rack. It hangs from the ceiling until ready for reinstalling. Then I simply lower it one corner at a time onto the truck. I have done it this way for years with no adverse effects.
kayco53
Explorer
Apr 27, 2015
I have one on my PU its a fiberglass one.A chore for my wife and I.We are 55 but its how we do it.Going to make some saw horses same height as truck and will just slide it off sideways.
tonymull
Explorer
Apr 27, 2015
Look into a SuperHawk canopy. they are made in WA and are aluminum. Still heavy though, maybe 200 lbs for an 8 footer. Those fiberglass ones take so help to move.
NautiqueFamily
Explorer
Apr 27, 2015
There is a "truck shell" which is solid but soft sided (like a Jeep soft Top). They open with 2 bows and have solid (zip out) windows. They aren't the most stylish but you get to use the bed area for the dogs.

(I was also looking into this as I needed something to remove single-handedly as well)

Check out SuperTop soft truck camper shell

SuperTop Soft Camper Shell Click me....
Gripnriprod
Explorer
Apr 27, 2015
I see a lot of dog owners using the large plastic kennels. Our dogs ride in the back seat area of our crew cab. I bought a pet barrier to keep them out of the front seat. The seats fold up and I cover them with a canvas protector.
campinginthewoo
Explorer
Apr 27, 2015
I bought my F250 without a topper and I did order a new topper and it's fiberglass and it took four to put it on the truck but I leave mine on all the time. I have seen several friends who have rigged a
4 point pulley system and just back into the garage hookup un bolt it from the truck and lift it from the truck and repeat to get it back on. If I had the need it's the way I would go. Good Luck