Tradesman Truck Tops commercial style topper/shell

Mine is more centered, I have a prinsu rack on mine. These are so custom you can add or subtract anything you want.

 

They are very customizable. I almost ordered some skylights...

 

Yeah I thought about skylights as well but in the end glad I didn’t because I now have solar panels up top

 

Exactly. I new I'd be putting things on top. View would be obstructed anyway and I also didn't want to risk having a leak.

 

@ETAV8R do you know who makes those? Those are pretty slick -- and much more low profile! Looks like it would be a better bet for non-interference with a roof rack.

 

i would imagine Maria would be able to source them

 

Yes she can. That is who supplied the photos to me.

 

Posting a follow up just about a year into owning a Trademan top.

CONS:
• Rusting hardware on the handles, all 3, poor quality since not driving on salty roads nor beating these up from use.
• Leaking seals on windows since day one with sheered screws from install. (emailed them with photos a couple times and no reply)
• Slider window doesnt drop down (maybe another option available now) but pain for clearing ice, snow and obviously to clean

PROS:
• Solid structural build
• Custom setup ability from the factory
• Good quality on the framing and struts etc... havent had any issues on these items and feel solid
• Decent install at factory with quality bed seals
• Super friendly staff when ordering and install, kind of surprised there was no reply when contacting them about the leaking issues first week or owning... but then again I guess everyones cool before you pay the bill.

Overall, works for my personal and business needs and would recommend it for someone who doesn't just need the totally basic shell, otherwise if you just want a basic shell there's plenty of solid options to compete with this one.

 

Not sure if anyone replied to this way back but
http://tradesmantrucktops.com/order-form/

 

Yikes. Sorry to see those issues. Glad we don't have real weather here! I'm two years in and no signs of rust on mine, no leaks anywhere except when I park facing downhill in a big storm, I'll get water running between the hatch seal and along a bedrail. Parking uphill resolves it.

The drop down window slider is an add-on option, non standard, which I do have and recommend to everyone just for cleaning.

For the handles, it might be worth drilling out those rivets and replacing those handles with some stainless ones if you can find them. Or take them off, sand off the rust, and bed-liner them. Unfortunately powder coating really doesn't do well on the edges of thin gauge material. My Mobtown tailgate panel has the same issues. The powder coating is flaking off the edges after only a year or so. You just can't get enough coating on them.

 

Saw this thread a while back and it motivated me to get an aluminum shell. The tradesman looks legit, but I found an Are dcu back in January for $900 with two full doors with toolboxes on each side. I ended up cutting out the tool box and a bunch more stuff I’m not 100% done, but I just wanted to share what I’ve done so far....

picked it up on Jan 20:

Sound deadening/foam insulation/cedar wall panels/roof vent
Led strip lights:

wrapped it matte black:
Platform:

bug/mosquito netting for the doors

One thing I can change? Wished i installed the vent to the front or the rear instead of having it in the middle.

 

Looks good.

What size wood did you use along the roof?

 

1x1

 

Very slick!

 

Nicely done, it looks like you put some quality time and craftsmanship into it!!

 

Thanks!

 

Thanks! I’m no pro and it’s nowhere near perfect, but it was a fun little project.

 

Seriously awesome! I've also got an MGM I've been wanting an aluminum cap, nice to see some pictures, and that black looks great on it (original white doesn't look terrible either.) Was the wrap difficult, and how much did that run you ?

 

Wrapping was pretty easy and i spent about $100 on cheap eBay wrap for 25ftx5ft. But I recommend using 3m 1080 or 2080 if your new, a lot easier to apply and more forgiving, but it does cost more.

 

That looks great! Really nice work there.

Wondering what those screws / bolts that hold up the cedar are going into?