Show me your shell!

Someone had mentioned wishing to have a place to store their cap. I use mine only part of the year, maybe 4 months, then take it off. I made my own storage stand for it out of 3" pvc & it works great. It costs less than $40 to make.

 

Honestly, that's why I got one. Figured it was easy to remove, I could fold it back if I suddenly needed more room in the bed, take the windows out for the dog, and it was cheaper. In reality..........the zippers aren't as robust as I'd like (blew one out, they replaced the window under the 1yr warranty), the plastic wears and doesn't hold the back corners down anymore, and the back window is a bitch when cold. On a good cold day it's too stiff to stay flipped up when trying to load things. On a bad cold day it shatters as soon as it bends in the slightest. Granted, that day it was -3 out. Not sure how cold it gets where you are, but might be something to consider.

Most of the hardware rusted too, and it doesn't keep winter salt and sand out of the bed. So in practice, i've removed it once since installing it nearly 2 years ago, and folded it twice, maybe 3 times.

 

great job!! I'm going to eventually rig a hoist in the barn and store mine in the air. You should start a thread on how people store their shell's.

 

My ARE MX was just installed this week. I'm happy with it so far. Before I went shopping for a top, I thought they were mostly fiberglass...turns out that they must be made of gold.

 

2010 Tacoma Access Cab, TRD Sport
Leer 100XL (DeBadged) w/ Adventure Pack and Thule Aero Racks

 

How did you go about debadging your topper? I just painted to badges on mine to match.

 

Hey cool, I haven't posted with MY shell yet, only from when I was borrowing one. so here's my Leer.


I'll get a better pic this week

 

Snugtop XV with sliding side windows (pop-outs = not enough ventilation for camping/critters) fold down front slider. $2100 OTD and I also installed a complete Bedrug inside. Nice setup, but pricey.

 

I'm partial to my Snugtop and others like it. Looks clean with no exterior window framing you see on others. I'm not sure what it cost as it came with the truck but the previous owner said about $2,000.

 

For all the California owners out there, the DMV will re-assess your vehicle and eliminate the weight penalty on your annual fees because you have a 'permanent' camper shell installed. They consider it an SUV now.

 

WTF! Sound like it was bunch of BS!!

 

I have been wanting a shell for the last 3 years and finally purcgased on 2 weeks ago. I went with the Snugtop Rebel. It is the same as a leer 100R but comes with headliner, tilt down front window and a solide rear window with no exposed hinges. The rear window is the biggest difference between the two. It has one center lock handle. Paid 1600 OTD installed. I will post pics when I get some.

 

I'm scheduled to have it inspected and reclassified next Monday. It'll save me almost $200. I'm fairly certain I read a post on this forum stating this and thought the same thing - ya gotta be kidding me! I had to call DMV about another question and the operator confirmed it.

 

no way! for real?

 

No joke.

 

ARE camper with Yakima rack.

I got it for $400 off of Craig's list. I had a cheap aluminum cap on it for a year or so while I kept my eye out for a camper on Craig's list. Eventually I found a posting for one that fit and it was a perfect color match. A guy had it on a desert sand mica double cab, but he had the long bed so it fits perfect. He was asking $450 for it and when I found out it was in DSM and would fit my truck I offered him $400 cash and I would pick it up right then and he went for the deal. He gave me the rubber piece that fits on the front wall of the bed so that it is a nice water tight fit for free.

I got the FJ wheel with tires for $450 for five of them. I got 23,000 miles out of the tires and they were still not worn out to the wear bars when I got sick of driving with low tire light on all the time and went to Discount Tire to get the TMPS changed out from my steel wheels and put into the FJ wheels. Then I sold the steel wheels for $250, so I got the FJ wheels for $200.

 

You sir are the supreme deal finder! Nice work

 

Ha!!!! Not so fast.....

I got my FJ alloy wheels from a seller out in Ohio (6 hours away each way driving) and only paid $112.50 for 4 with the OEM tires.

After selling my 17" Sport rims and tires on ebay, and paying my expenses for the road trip, I actually made $225.00 on the deal.

 

I just ordered a Radiant Red Snug Top to go with my Rad Red 4dr. It's a Cab-Hi model with Carpeted roof liner, 12volt dome, 6 mounting points, front sliding and folding window.

It looks like most people went with Leer which they had there as well. I guess both are about the same quality...?

They said the SnugTop would be a better fit, Lifetime warranty for peeling fading and for the same options, the Leer would have been $16 more. They said the Leer only had a 5 yr warranty

Looks similar to this:



Tell me I got a good deal...even if you have to lie...lol

 

take many pics when you get it installed