Truck Caps

[PA12DRVR]

Hoping to get a few ideas here....perhaps not strictly on point for tow vehicles, but kinda'

Any thoughts on truck caps/Toppers? What's worked? What doesn't work?

I'm wanting to get a topper for my new F250 but also want to put a real ladder rack on / around it. Don't want to pick the wrong combo.

[stevemorris]

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.

[DutchmenSport]

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!

[Grit_dog]

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.

[BillyBob_Jim]

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.

[Boomerweps]

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.