buying a second hand bed cap....

I am getting a bed cap (camper) for a few reason. Reason number one is to be able to bring my bike and other things along with me to where I'm going without worrying about people stealing them when I'm paying for gas or running into the store real quick.
My question is I have never owned one. Are they very heavy? Will the gas mileage drop a lot? The one I'm getting is fiberglass and the height is even with the cab. also wnat to add a roof rack to it. Is this possible?

 

They're not that heavy. You're mileage may even get better! Some are built stronger to handle a roof rack but you can mount one on any of the caps. You just have to be mindful of how much weight you put on the roof.

 

x2. my mpg is better with the cap on, on the highway that is, it's only about 200 lbs so it doesn't change your mileage much at all in town.

atleast a 2 person job getting the cap on and off.

 

A few years ago I had to reinstall one on my ex room mates Dakota. That stupid things was heavy as hell and I didn't have any help cause she was like 100 pounds. So I had to get under the cap put the weight of it under me neck and walk it over to the truck and rest it on the bed rails. Then move back a little bit at a time and lift and slide. Jeez!!!!! Not interested in going through that again! LOL!

 

I recently got one, and I had to take it off to retape the bottom, and it was easily 200-250 lbs. so 2 people is really helpful.

But it sure looks nice on the truck

 

Mine weighs about 200lbs give or take. Yes, you can put a rack on it. Mine is a Leer that has the rails built on so you can adjust the rack placement.

As far as the taping goes, I'd spend the extra few $$ and get the permanent rubber. It doesn't degrade like the foam tape so you don't have to replace it every few years.
C-clamps or bolts work fine to secure it. I have 6 clamps but plan on bolting it down one of these days.

Removing and reinstalling it is a 2 person job. Or you can set up a hoist.

If you can get one with windoors it would be well worth it. At least on one side. Makes access to stuff at the front of the bed much easier.

Fuel economy might be better with it on when you're on the highway. Not by a lot though. 1-2 mpg maybe.

 

I've installed roof racks on my cap before and it can be done a couple of ways too. I've put the front rack on the cab of the truck, and the rear rack on the cap. I was hauling boats and needed the extra length. For my bikes (on a different truck) I bought a yakima system which offers a "cap mount" that attaches to the shell. The cap mount acts as a rain gutter as your shell doesn't have them. They're inexpensive and easy to install. You have to drill into the shell, but was easy to install and minimumly invasive.

 

ok so i just picked mine up this morning. I payed $100 for it and it is in perfect condition. all glass is tinted and crack free. The screen on the sliding side windows are hole free. Went on easy with the 2 of us. I reinstalled it again when I got home cause I had tp clean the glass between the cab and shell. I just unbolted it layed on my back and picked it up with my feet. Very easy to do.
Noticed that the roof seems to be a lot thicker. Looks like a sheet of 5/8 plywood inside the fiberglass? This ought to make installing a rack stronger.
The only thing wrong with this thing is that it's red and my truck is white. Guess I'll be painting it in a few months.

 

brelant
Great buy. Pictures?
I've had one on my Tacoma for 8 years. Sometimes it's in the way but still nice for the reasons you mentioned. Only had it off once for delivering a motorcycle that I sold and didn't want to pull the trailer.

 

The price and the condition that it was in was the reason I just could not pass it up. That shell is worth at least $400. My O2 sensor is suppose to come in this evening and when I go down to the parking garage to change it I'll take a few pics of it.

 

OK here is a few pics as promised....







As you can see on the last picture the cap has some weight to it and now the front is sitting a little higher than I want. Need to figure out some sort of solution to that.

 

That for 100 bucks? You got a really great deal, nice find.

 

That's a great deal for $100. I picked mine up for $200 after hunting craigslist forever.


The color difference is kind of a pain but plan on spending $300-$400 to get it professionally painted. I'm not in a huge rush to get it painted due to the cost.

 

I bought a shell for my truck and I love it when I have my bike or other gear back there. the only time it sucks is when I want to put furniture or other things that dont fit back there when it's on!

 

I could be wrong, but it looks like you got the extra cab cap, instead of the regular cap...the extra cab is curved and the reg cab is straight up and down....hence why you have the space in between the cap and cab.....but for $100, thats a steal.

 

yeah his truck was a extra cab. Never even took the shape of his truck into account. I just measured the bed. Then as I put it on my truck he and I where both puzzled into why it didn't fit right....but it was so close and with it being so cheap I just went whatever it works, LOL.
Even at only $100 he told me that I was the ONLY person that ever contacted him about the shell!

Gobias...yes the paint job can wait. I do want mine to match but I can live with mine being red for now. I like the rack on yours but the one I'm looking for I can't find. I want the type that looks like the ones you would find on the Land Rovers from the 60's that you see making the safari treks. Has 2 metal bars going all the way around it and a set of lights attached to the front of them.

 

If you want to color match relatively well for not much money, the Rustoleum gloss white matches our trucks quite well. I painted my cap with it this past summer and it worked out nicely. Just tape everything off and watch the overspray!

 

They're very light for their size

Your gas mileage will improve (assuming you currently drive around without lowering your tailgate)

Yes you can add a roof rack. If properly installed you will have no problems with highway speeds/wind torque

 

i'm looking for a shell... i do not like having a truck without one - to me the truck is much more useful as i can put my camping, etc. gear in the back and lock it up and protect it from the elements. in addition, the truck is quieter inside and rides smoother - and may (a big MAY) get .5 more mpg...

 

Better get some dry bags or build some sort of platform because the corners of toppers leak if it's raining.

Learned this the hard way on my first camping expedition with the topper.

Now I just rig a bungie hammock in between all the c-clamps to suspend our sleeping bags and gear that needs to stay dry