camper shell, or no shell

I love mine too- I never carried anything tall, only our yellow lab and camping odds and ends. I'll never take it off.

 

Here's a financial incentive for keeping it. You can get a registration discount in California with the shell on. It'll save you about $80 per year. You have to take it to the DMV and let them know you have a shell on it. The fee reduction won't happen until your next registration. Pickup trucks pay commercial weight fees in California. The only exception is if you have a shell on it. The only caveat is you cannot take the shell off.

If your license plate has only one letter in it, you're paying the extra commercial weight fee.

Just got one put on mine:

 

My shell is on to stay. Everything in the bed stays dry and clean and it keeps stuff from getting stolen (including the tailgate.)

 

I like my Shell. It keeps my gear dry and clean.

 

I’ve been contemplating taking mine off for a week or so as just a thought. I carry mtb’s on a regular basis and are going to be hoping to carry more bikes in the near future. I’d rather not have to take the front wheel off everytime to put it in and out of the bed and I don’t think it would fit with a tailgate mat and hanging it over the tailgate itself. I do plan on camping from the truck over the summer (and winter). On the plus side, it does keep things dry, on the downside it’s added weight that I’m just carting around.

Any suggestions or thoughts?

Cheers

 

One of those tow hitch bike racks. Best of both worlds

 

Yeah, I’ve seen them which are not bad. I was hoping to not have to buy anything additional. Appreciate it though.

 

Depends on how many I guess(?) I'm able to fit my Cannondale in the back and have it hanging over the gate without taking the front wheel off with no issues. the door of the shell I just close down and secure with a bungie to the bumper to keep it from popping open.

Also have the yakima Holdup carrier, i'll use it if I'm taking out 2 bikes.

 

At the moment it’s just one for now (my hard tail) but I’m looking to purchase a DH or enduro bike soon want to be able to do trips with both.

I love my camping and have owned everything up to flat beds in the past, but I’m worried if I remove the shell I’ll regret it.

I think the best thing for me to do is remove it for a couple of months (hopefully I can fond room to store it) and weigh up the pros and cons without it.

 

A few things to consider: Do you need it on twelve months a year? Myself, I need a camper one month a year, the rest of the year I need an open bed. If you take it off, do you have a safe place to store it and the help to remove it? Fabric campers are easy to remove and store. Everybody's needs are different, choose what works best for you.

 

I hear you - I guess for me, the shell wont be coming off any time soon. I love the thing - secure storage, roof cargo and the list goes on. I'm sure you'll figure out what works best for you.

Just don't be one of those blokes who stores it in a backyard laying in the mud or gravel with no support or protection from the elements

 

Shells are awesome, like everybody says the dry/secure storage is so practical for everyday use.

 

I do enjoy the security but then I start thinking to myself, hmm maybe I should have bought a 4Runner if that’s the case (I’m not trying to be sarcastic). It’s an expensive addition that’s very large to take on and off and that what’s makes it tricky to decide upon. If it was an cheap easy one person job, well, we wouldn’t all be here discussing it would we.

In terms of storage, yeah, it would be perched on multiple 2x4’s, a sturdy cover over it protecting it from the wind, rain, sun, soil etc.

 

As a "work" truck with a permanent load inside I would not be without. Locking shell and locking tail gate at least makes me feel secure. I have had a shell/camper/topper on every truck I have owned for 25 years. Yakima racks with a Rocket Box and a Loadwarrior basket plus years of Yakima accessories and attachments (skis, bikes, canoe....) make for a great recreational truck too.
Great tip on the CALif. DMV fees. Checking that out!

 

Here you go -








Personally, I like having the commercial plate. If in a pinch, yellow curb for up to 30 mins

 

As a work truck, I completely agree.

For me, I rarely use my truck Monday to Friday as I ride my bike (fixie) to work and back each day. It’s really just a weekend warrior vehicle and given my girlfriend lives about six hours away (I’ve been moved for work for the last eight months) I also drive to see her. In terms of security and storage, this is the first double cab I’ve owned with a shell and the amount of space I have (rear seats and bed) is actually a little overwhelming. It’s just me a my dog and no child seats or anything else and my previous truck was a single cab Toyota with the bench seat converted to a two buckets seats. Maybe I got so used to so little space in the cab/things being secure, I don’t really know what to do with all this double cab. Anyway, enough of my life story.

I will probably be able to store the shell in the garage given some space is made and therefore it will be out of the elements if I decide to take it off.

Anything thing I’m considering is to sell it and use the money towards a new DH or enduro bike - we’ll see what happens.

Sorry for the novel.