I am very new to overlanding but I am currently working on outfitting my rig! I have heard mixed things about topper shells and personally I like them! However, in your experiences what do you thing is best for overlanding?
Topper Shell or Bed Rack
- Thread starter Braber15
- Start date
Whatever best suits your needs. I needed to have the cap in order to get the dogs out of the weather and have the ability to lock my fishing gear in there. It is a A.R.E. CX series cap and I really like it. Bed racks are awesome though and if I didn't need those things, I probably would have gone that route.
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Thanks for the info! The cap or shell would most likely fit my needs as well then. Besides variations in price, is there any difference between the A.R.E. CX caps and a Leer shell?
Influencer I
You can do both. I found the rack on Craigslist for a $100 and the shell for $40. If you keep your eyes open there's some deals to be had out there.
Everyone has their own personal preference. I had a Leer cap on my old Tacoma and it was ok. I'm sure they are a lot sturdier now but it was at least 10 years old and pretty flimsy compared to my new A.R.E. I have heard the roof construction is strongest with the A.R.E. but I honestly can't tell you how much truth there is to that. I think you can't go wrong no matter what, all I can say is my A.R.E. is awesome and I'm really pleased with the quality.
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Advocate III
I love the shell on my truck and will not be getting rid of it anytime soon. Mine is a BRAHMA. High-quality, sturdy, well built, metal reinforcement with fiberglass construction, and does not leak anywhere. Plus, it keeps everything dry for me which is a huge plus. Whenever I want to haul something larger, I just pop the top off and I'm good to go. You can either bolt on or clamp on. I use 4 bolts to hold mine on and it takes me 5min to remove it. However, it is a little heavy. Recommend light weight camper jacks (I'll be making my own that are removable) or a buddy to help.
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Good point, it definitely sets some limitations when hauling large items. I rarely haul large items and I solved the side entry problem with the addition of windoors.
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Thanks!You can do both. I found the rack on Craigslist for a $100 and the shell for $40. If you keep your eyes open there's some deals to be had out there.
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Thanks! I like your bed drawers! That's also on my list of things to add to my ram!I love the shell on my truck and will not be getting rid of it anytime soon. Mine is a BRAHMA. High-quality, sturdy, well built, metal reinforcement with fiberglass construction, and does not leak anywhere. Plus, it keeps everything dry for me which is a huge plus. Whenever I want to haul something larger, I just pop the top off and I'm good to go. You can either bolt on or clamp on. I use 4 bolts to hold mine on and it takes me 5min to remove it. However, it is a little heavy. Recommend light weight camper jacks (I'll be making my own that are removable) or a buddy to help.
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Thanks! I have a small thread in the "Builds" section where I posted a few more pictures. Happy to help if you've got any questions [emoji1305]
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Topper shell for me too. They range so wildly its really up to what you need that drives the cost. My last truck had a LEER fiberglass shell and it was fine, although I didnt like the sliding windows. My new rig has an aluminum ARE canopy, I love this one as it has three access "windoors" and doesnt have glass - its a thick tinted acrylic which would be way harder to break.
