A.R.E TW-Series shell

I was curious if anyone had experience with the TW series ARE shell? I am looking to build a dirtbag style camper in the back of my taco and want lots of headroom. My two priorities are headroom and watertight sealing. The ARE rep tried to talk me into the MX series as it has the wrap around extension over the sides of the truck and she says the caps that don't are harder to seal. I really want the extra space and kinda hate how the MX looks (though I would tolerate that for functionality.)

Also if anyone has comments on how hey compare to a leer 122/180 would be welcome. Thanks!

 

For what it is worth -- I have a new Leer 180 on my truck- AC, 4wd, and so far -- really like it. Last week went down to Hilton Head -- to pick up a Super G-Kid. 2000 mile round trip from Mid MO. --went thru some super heavy rain going and coming -- saw no signs of leaks in the back. One thing I did notice --it did make my truck drop in the rear a little --I added some 1 inch blocks to the rear --now sets nice.

 

Nice! I are really leaning heavily towards an ARE as the leer dealer here is crazy expensive. A near base 180 is the same cost as a tricked out mx or tw.

 

We just had the A.R.E. TW cap installed on our 2017 Tacoma last month. A couple of days later there was a huge rain storm. The truck was just sitting in a level driveway. Next day we looked inside the bed and there was a pool of water inside! The dealer who installed the cap informed us that it was difficult to install a cap on the Tacoma And that if it leaked to put silicone in the front corners of the bed. We went to the Toyota dealership and looked at the beds of the Tacoma and saw gaps at the front corners! Needless to say we are very disappointed with Toyota and A.R.E. We paid $2400 and feel somewhat ripped off. We're not new to truck caps having had Leers on three other trucks with no leaking problems.

 

^ real bummer about your ARE install. Two weeks ago I had Turner's Truck Stuff in Southern California install a Leer 180 on my 2016 long bed. First thing they did was fill those to corners with silicone.

All around great service from beginning to end. Very nice install, tight wiring, cleaned and polished the whole cap before I left. I recommend them if you are in the area and looking for a cap, tonneau or other truck parts.

 

Thanks for the info. Unfortunately we live in Pennsylvania but intend to return to the dealer to see about fixing this problem. Why Toyota constructed a truck bed with gaps not just at the top rail but also on the floor by the tailgate is beyond me. And it seems to be a known issue with A.R.E. so shouldn't one of these companies have come up with a fix? smh

 

7 years with ARE and no issues

 

Otherwise Love our new Tacoma!

 

Those little gaps between the bed rails? I got a cheapie tonneau cover and it came with foam filler blocks that did the trick.

 

Those foam fillers are what is there now.

 

Probably need to get in the cap, close the gates, cover the windows, have someone shine a light around the potential leak points and see what light comes through.

 

Mine's been on continuously since 2006 and I'm just now starting to have some issues. The seals between the shell and the body are starting to come out on both sides but it's still not leaking (and we tend to have heavy summer downpours here). That doesn't really concern me as I need to pull the shell and clean between the cab and shell anyways but I just noticed the rubber tracks that the windows slide in (inside the shell) have gotten harder and are starting to pop out of their tracks. I'm trying to get by one of the local ARE dealers here to talk to them about it- still no leaks though. The only other issues with the shell are the carpet is pulled away in the top rear corners a little but hasn't gotten any worse and the plastic piece that goes over the tailgate has a short crack on each end. Mine is a CX series although I really wish I'd gotten the MX series for the extra headroom; I had a sloping style on my last Tacoma and it made putting a rack on it more of a PITA. I installed Yakima tracks myself (still no leaks) and I've had to replace the struts once but that's it. Toyota's retarded composite bed design is starting to spread though so I'm going to have to order some of those Total Chaos bed stiffeners but the rear window can take a little more before it starts leaking.

 

What is the price difference between the TW and MX?

 

Just bought a TW. It is used, but I got it for under 500 claims. Needs a wee bit of work. Gonna first see how it looks on my 2014 Spruce Mica AC. The color of the cap is black sand pearl which may not be that bad on a Spruce Mica. Probably end up having it painted though to match my rig. Always prefer it when the drapes match the rug. All this talk above about water leakage didn't phase this cat. After cutting my chops keeping water outta sailboats my whole life, it'll be a lead-pipe cinch making a cap on a pickup water tight. Will post a pic once I affix it to my bed.