Tonneau Cover vs Camper Shell

What made you decide on one over the other?
I have a shell myself but I know there is a big tonneau fan base here as well. Was just curious as to why people chose one over the other...

 

I have an access low profile tonneau. It's easy to remove and much cheaper. Can fit things that sit taller than the cab of the truck.

A shell will be more protective and water proof. More secure, but lacks the ease of removal and costs much more.

 

I've owned both, love the look of the tonneau but it's not practical. Add that to not being able to snap it down when it's cold, and a cap wins every time.

They were giving away some nearly new leather office chairs at work and I needed one at home, it was cold and I knew I wouldn't get my tonneau re snapped until the next sunny day. The chair wouldn't fit in the cab or under the tonneau..... I sold the tonneau, bought a LEER cap, and never looked back!

 

When it comes to snap tonneaus, I would agree. They are a nightmare to get back together.

The access tonneaus are not snap, they are velcro with tension controls. It's as easy as rolling it off, and rolling it on. Takes about 30 seconds to roll it on and secure.

 

It depends on your culture. What I mean by 'culture' - is how you use your truck.

I use my truck for hauling all sorts of crap.....every spring/summer its loaded with yard waste, mulch, etc. Not to forget...home maintenance, repair items, wood, piping, etc.

For me, having a tonneau cover is best because I can take it off completely and I can load up the bed to the gills....and not have to worry about any limitations.

Any valuable or weather proof cargo that I carry (not much) is kept in the access cab.

 

Well its a HUGE price difference for one. Added weight for less MPG's.

Me personally, I don't need a camper shell/cap whatever you'd like to call it. I don't camp in my truck. No dogs to haul around. But a tonneau is perfect for me, because I need to haul stuff and make sure it's dry. Stuff for the kids, packed clothes, etc... but I also use my truck to haul larger things. Furniture, building materials, what have you. So hence why I got a roll up cover, so I can easily roll it up out of the way and get whatever I need in there. Kind of best of both worlds with a roll up tonneau cover.

 

I've owned both. Found I rarely needed the additional storage space of the shell and didn't like the that it looked like something many older gentlemen in the area used. I also needed someone to assist me if it needed to come off. The tonneau (hard Extang Solid Fold) provided security, protection from the elements, and quick removal by just myself. Plus the look is better IMO. Get what meets your needs.

 

My truck came with a Leer tonneau but I quickly took it off and put an ARE camper shell on it. I camp out of my truck a lot so it stays set up for that and while I have a rack on top, I toss my bike in the back more often than on top. With the tonneau everything would slide to the front then you have to climb up in it to retrieve it and sleeping in it would have been like being in a coffin. I have a utility trailer if I need to haul larger items or two people can take the camper shell off.

 

So OP tell us... Do you need to keep things in your bed 24/7? How do you use your Tacoma?
I have owned pickups since the 80's and have had them without any cover, with caps and my current 06 DCSB has a soft tonneau velcro/ snap cover on it.
My personal situation for tailgating, hunting and general time outdoors and for me it's a cap. I need to save a couple more $$ and then I'm going to get another one and my soft tonneau will be for sale on the new England For Sale forum.
A case can be made for all of these options, but mostly depends on your needs!

 

You could always look into a soft topper as a mix between the two. Next spring / summer I will be looking at one myself as I'll be looking to camp in my bed but also want it to be easily removable.

The cost is quite a bit lower too.

 

Yeah, it all comes down to how you intend to use your truck and the bed. I've had both but my last two trucks have had hard tonneau covers on as I prefer the look and no longer have a need to haul any massive items around.

My only grievence with a cap/shell is that to get something that's all the way in, you gotta get up and into your truck bed on your knees. Not as much fun at my age as it used to be. HA HA! #oldz

 

You can do so much with a shell it's not even a contest.
I sleep in mine several times a year hunting and fishing so it's my camper.
If you're using it for work or you haul tall items that's different of course.
I have a Leer with full BedRug. Perfect combination. Four doors give you everything an SUV provides with a ton more cargo space; especially with the LB.
I like the bedrug so stuff stays put. I'll strap it to the adjustable side clamps if required.

 

I have owned several trucks over the years some with shells some with out... This is my first truck with a tonneau cover and I love it. I have a BAK Flip F1 sold by Gator Tonneau Covers. Great product secure and versitle.

 

Given the choice, I would much rather back a boat trailer down a ramp with a tonneau cover on the back than a truck cap.

 

I went with an Undercover SE Tonneau. The initial installation was easy (took about an hour), and removing it is even easier. The Undercover seems more durable/secure than many other offerings, and is also really good at keeping water out if you install it properly.

Being able to quickly get the tonneau off if I want to load up the bed with stuff that sits high is also a plus. Camper shells aren't going to be as easy to remove and stow away.

It really boils down to what type of use you'll be putting your truck through.

 

I have an Extang trifecta tonneau, love how easy it is to remove if I need to. I don't carry much in the back so don't need a ton of space. But I want a softopper next spring/summer just for camping, and I should be able to switch between the two when/if needed.

 

Canopy for me.

Started building it today. Don't want to buy one. Expensive and I bought a Tacoma not a 4 Runner

Building mine from extra deck material and metal roofing that was used to build the "blimp" hanger that is storing my RV.

More in a couple of weeks:

 

I can sleep under my camper shell. I bought it used for $320.

 

If there is one for a 2012 shortbed pre-runner that cheap someone hollar at me!!

 

I bought a tonneau and had it for little over a month before a camper came up for sale on CL for $100.

I really prefer the shell. The only downside is if you need to haul large furniture items or have mulch, gravel, etc dumped into the bed.

I will rent a uhaul if I need to do the first one and I currently rent so the second one isn't a necessity for me. Both shells and tonneaus are nice. Decide which meets your needs most. I wanted the shell for camping.