Stick with a bed rack or buy a camper shell

I am really debating if I should get rid of my bed rack and buy a camper shell. What do you guys think?

 

What is your use? For camping and general protection of bed contents, I say a shell beats a rack hands down.

 

Weight and protecting gear from dust/rain are a factor but most important is how much stuff you want to bolt to the outside of your truck for hashtag overlanding points

 

Lets not forget easy theft of quick-pawn items like axes, shovels, coolers, chainsaws and gas cans.

 

I love my ARE cap. I had a hard top bed cover, then tried a Bestop, finally spending the money and getting an optioned out color matched topper. I bought an ARE CX (Long bed) carpeted, tilt down front window sliding window (allows easy cleaning), carpeted, vented windoors both sides, dome light, Yakima rails and roof rack and installed my own interior net system. I paid $2600 for this and saved about a $1000 from local quotes by driving 2.5 hours each way for install. Call around and find a good price. Make sure they have a good reputation as install matters a lot. They did a great job on mine with wiring and weatherproofing, it stays completely dry. Throw a bedrug XLT mat down and its a cozy little hideout lol.

 

Softtopper ? Then you can have both IMO.

 

second this, can easily remove too. They make racks that will go over the top

 

I’m either all in or all out, not a big fan of the softtoppers

 

yeah it would be for camping and general use.

 

Imo those hardtop camper shells add weight. Yes they are awesome but for me deciding to keep weight down in certain areas on truck was a factor for me.
Good luck OP

 

The bed rack evolved as a way to mount a RTT on a pickup truck. Yes, shells add some weight, but they also add protection and security to cargo and campers inside. A RTT adds a bunch of weight too, and higher up, and does nothing for security. If you aren't running a RTT, (and more and more people are coming to the realization that they're overrated), there is no reason for a bed rack other than tacti-coolness. So I guess weigh your options.

 

A lot of variables that go into this decision. Are you sleeping in the bed? Are you storing gear in the bed? Are you parking the truck in suburban/urban areas with gear in the bed? What does your rear suspension setup look like?

For me, the weight of the shell (and various accessories), is worth it, as I often sleep in the back and travel with climbing gear. If this is a daily driver / weekend warrior setup, or you need to use the truck bed for loads, the rack might suit you better. As the above user mentioned, the racks are great for RTTs, and also for ski and bike racks if needed.

 

I wasn't a fan either until I got one. I previously had a hard shell and it was awesome. Looked really sleek and kept everything protected from the elements and it was lockable. Went to a softopper and I'll never go back to a hard shell. Everything is protected from the elements, weighs all of 30 lbs and is easily removable or fold down if you need more room in your bed. The only reason I would ever recommend/pick a hard shell over softopper is if you want to need to carry things on top of it, or if you really need the increased security of a hard shell.

 

How do soft toppers hold up to snow loads? It's not uncommon for us to get 30cm+ overnight here, will it have problems with the weight?

 

Nope no issues with snow softopper is awesome .only. On complaint I have is it collects dust on the outside like a mofo when your on trails .

 

If you don't plan to move a bunch of tall objects, the camper shell has been great for me. I can carry lumber and stuff on the roof rack. Do recommend a bed slide of some sort for easy in-and-out

 

I run a softopper except in winter, I put on the cheap trifold. It’s just easier to keep the snow off the trifold. I have a rack that I run year round that goes over the softopper or trifold, but it’s heavy. but was free to me.

 

i'm with everyone else - soft topper for sure. Unless of course you use your bed rack to mount a roof top tent then you might consider the shell/bedrack. IMO it looks sleek, and does everything you might want it to (store your stuff/grocceries, travel and keep things dry etc) without added weight. Plus its very easy to fold down or take off so it makes changing things up very easy

 

I am in the planning stages for a hopeful RTT addition to the truck. I am hoping to find a lighter weight rack that goes over teh softopper, but have considered the shell. Why do you suggest the shell for an RTT?