Shell or cover with a rack?...pros and cons

Great thread and timing. I am considering the same and your posts are making me think more about this subject.

 

I think he's implying it's on all the time, and his theft concern is during daily driving, not out on the trails.

 

I went through this same problem with my second gen when looking for a way to mount a roof top tent (not over-cab), and decided to buy a bed rack from someone on craigslist. I wish I had just saved up for a Softopper and cage that goes over it. I've seen some really cool setups of people that have a traditional fiberglass cap and then built a cage to support the weight that goes on top of it. Really cool but obviously DIY.

 

Good to know! I like the look of the bestop and the functioning windows over the soft topper but the majority of the users on here have soft toppers which had me thinking the bestop was not as durable or something compared to the soft topper.

No problem but yes a roll up or fold up cover would be a must if i got the rack route.

Soft topper is the route im currently leaving towards and a custom rack to hold a rtt could be a thing easily added down the road if i find the bed alone isnt a big enough sleeping area.


And yea the theft prevention is for city driving. Im a diesel mechanic and work out of a service truck every day. I haul my overly priced yeti back n forth from work to the house and lets just say it would be nice to leave it in the bed of the truck over night in the drive way . But theres no way im doing that with it in plain sight and just a cable lock on it.

 

In that case I'd just stick with a normal truck cap. Maybe build the custom cap load handling system on it in the future. I'll send a link if I can find it!

 

Mines held up fine so far. It's the same material used as a softopper. Just put on some protectants and it'll be good for years

 

Do you happen to have any pictures of your setup?

 

I love my Leer 180 for the reasons you listed. The extra clearance makes all the difference. I fit both the lawn mower and 2 stage snowblower in it all locked up with room to spare last weekend. Locks up. Keeps the dogs cool with the windoors open. I had the entire thing sprayed with Line-X and it is strong as hell. I will put a rack up there in the spring for my 20' canoe. Plenty of height to build a sleeping platform for camping.

 

I've only got an external picture. I took everything out of the bed yesterday. My cooler wasn't strapped down good enough while hitting trails this weekend and flipped and leaked so I'm airing out the carpet. Probably won't be putting the platform back in though.

 

I originally was going rack and cover. Cover just to keep things dry and prevent thieving. Decided on a slightly different route. Did an allpro offroad diy weld rack and I had a spare roof basket that fits 3rd Gen bed. It keeps folks from stealing. When I'm traveling across country I put everything in waterproof storage. My buddy went totally different direction (black taco) HD cap with all bells and whistles. Racks are lighter/cheaper, caps more secure. Be advised, if you use rtt on cap it needs to be an HD cap.

 

That is a sweet setup havent even thought about that possibility of using a basket as a way of keeping items "locked" up. I like this option a lot Appreciate the response!

 

Looks good did you go the tinted window rout on the bestop?

 

That's just how they came. I saw there was a tinting kit for it or something of the likes but I just ordered the regular one

 

I'm opting for the All Pro OTT Pack Rack over the softtopper setup... seems versatile and I'll build a modular kitchen/storage set up for storing items securely...

This thread has a ton of pics: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...urself-pack-rack-softopper-compatible.455712/

The GB just closed for the rack - grabbed the accessory gear rack and mounting arms too. Not bad for a cool $1k

Will post pics when the rack arrives, as a buddy teaches me to weld... should be fun!

 

I thought about both. I originally had a rolling cover and was planning to work a bedrack into it but I sold the cover and got the shell. I love the look and the lockable storage is awesome.

I have to do way less with the shell than I would with the rack/RTT.

 

Sharp truck!

Did you get a HD shell?

 

This is seeeeet!!! I seriously wish i could of made it for the group buy..i was honestly looking a lot last night and was considering on ordering the pack rack and making a canvas cover similar to defconbrix use to have. The more i think about the route im going with the truck the more im leaning towards a future rtt setup over sleeping in the small short bed in a topper.

Is there anyway at all to keep the soft topper from being opend if the tailgate is locked?

 

I've gone the sleep in a topper route, then into a slide-in-camper, now back onto the cold hard ground (with an air mattress) in a tent... and am now moving towards a RTT also.

Want something EASY, packable, and sturdy. The topper was too short, confining and cold; the slide-in camper rocked, but it limited where I could go. If I'm not backpacking, I want to be comfortable... and away from peeps!

Just picked up a '17 pro in January... and am looking forward to getting off into the wilds... this setup fits!

Good luck with your hunt! Touch base with Trekker and see if the last stragglers have paid in the GB. Maybe you'll get lucky?

 

I sent him a messege I understand if he cant get me in though no big deal my fault for missing it..but if i can get in on it im definitely going this route. Ill just need to figure out a way to be able to keep the soft topper from being able to be opend with the tail gate locked.

 

I've been putting caps on trucks as soon as I bought them for 40 years. The cost vs hard covers is minimally more for much more secure storage. I've used a rack along with the cap at various times as well.