Truck cap/shell question

Hey Guys,

I am in the market for a truck shell (Leer, A.R.E, Snugtop, etc) and have been searching around craigslist. I had a few questions.

What is needed for installing a used truck cap? Is the 3rd brake light a beotch to rig?

Are there truck caps designed for both 1st & 2nd gens? One guy is advertizing a snugtop which he says fits '03 & up...

Anything I should look out for in a used truck cap?

Thanks a bunch fellas.

 

I don't believe you'll find a cap that fits both 1st and 2nd gens - the 1st gen bedside rails are much thinner than the 2nd gens. Not positive, but fairly sure. If a 1st gen topper will even fit on a 2nd, I doubt you'll have any sort of water tight fit.

I bought my leer cap used off Craigslist......there are four bolts holding the topper to the bed, and they're integrated into the bedrails in our trucks so no drilling through the bedside. Pretty slick.

Mine has a dome light that I didn't run power for....the only electrical hookup was for the 3rd brake light. I tapped into the tail light, ran a wire, and I was off-and-running in 20 min.

 

Some of the new campershells also have powerlocks. Like the third brake light the power locks need to be wired to the truck. My campershell has this and I love it, it locks and unlocks with my keyless entry.

 

Try Softopper in Boulder Co.

 

A first gen cap will NOT fit a second gen, and vs versa. The beds are completley different sizes.

Make sure you measure the lenght of your bed. The second gen beds have 3 different lengths.

 

Really? I thought it only had the long bed found on the reg cabs, access & bdl cab long beds and the short beds found ont he dbl cabs? What is the 3rd bed size?

Dang this is bound to make everything harder.

 

I just got a LEER cap last week.
The years for the cap split at 05'. There was a difference for my year only for long and short bed. I selected the model that best suited my family needs.
Third brake light and rear cap dome light was wired using drivers rear tail light.

 

I don't remember the actual sizes, but when I bought me Leer, the dealer told me that 3 different lengths were available, so measure carefully.

 

I'm also looking to get a shell. Looked at the big 3 (Leer, ARE, SnugTop) locally. All about the same cost.

Who's the best fit?
Will it fit with the side rail caps in place? Without showing them?
Does it fit well with the cab? Contour and height?

Thanks,
chris

 

Hey Chris - I hope my bolded answers helps.

 

Just did a 5200 mile tour of the western us. The top was great to have, just throw your stuff in and go.

 

I was also very impressed as to how my Leer cap fits to the contours of the body and bed.

 

There are 3 sizes. One is the 5' bed and there are two for the 6' bed. There is a six foor model the works for the DCLB and the Access Cab, and another for the regular cab. The regular cab is nearly vertical in back.

 

My Leer dealer wired my dome light off the battery with it's own fuse.