ARE HD series advice

This will be great! Good luck!

 

Just went into the local ARE dealer today here in Boise Idaho to order the CX HD topper. For those of you wondering about total cost on this topper with added options, I will outline my cost below. I was under the impression that the HD rack would come with the topper but it doesn't that is extra cash you'll have to pay. The dealer told me if you don't get the Rack when you buy the topper ARE will not install the tubular fitting through the shell... kind of a bummer because I want to design a custom rack that sits a little lower. Well I splurged I better love this topper because it is NOT CHEAP. Luckily I sold my old topper for 1K and my old rig for 3K.

CXHD Topper - $2117
ARE HD Rack - $350
Front Sliding Window - $65
Two Windoors (Outdoorsman option w/slider) - $362
Carpet/Insulation - $138
*I also opted for the spray on OTR Option - $475*

Grand Total with 6% Idaho Tax and $125 Install Fee = $3,907. SHEEEEEEEET!

 

Good luck. I’m still waiting on my A.R.E. Shell. Ordered Nov 30th. Still waiting... they told me 12-16 weeks. So them telling you 8-12 weeks, don’t get your hopes up. However, when it comes in, the wait will be worth it.

 

Those who are waiting for their toppers...it is worth it! I've had mine since late October, and it's been a game changer for me.

My previous setup was a SofTopper with Decked Drawers. While camping, I always found it difficult to get things out of the sides of the bed with the metal cross bars in the way, as well as the rear door and sides not wanting to stay up when I put them up. I also rarely ever dropped the SofTopper to carry anything oversized.

The new setup is the ARE CX-HD, front slider, aluminum windoors, driver side toolbox, rear glass, HD cross bars, dome w/single LED strip and carpet headliner. Still have the Decked Drawers as well. The only complaint I had was illumination and power, so I wired in three 48" white/red LED strips inside (one for the toolbox, and two in the bed), 2 sets of BD S1s for side lights on the HD bars and a Blue Sea power panel with 12v power outlet, USB, and voltmeter. All of it is controlled by Blue Sea switches mounted to the back of the toolbox. I took that setup on a six day shakedown trip for New Years. Stayed on Furguson Lake north of Yuma, AZ (fishing, paddle boarding, light off-roading) and it was almost perfect!

 

You and I are exactly the same it sounds like. Softopper and decked system lol. I’m just getting impatient waiting for my topper. How long did you wait? 12-16 weeks they quoted me sounds insane. Called for an update this week (ordered nov 30th) and of course they know nothing. Typical dealer response. I know for a fact an order can be tracked. Just lazy. O well, it shows up when it shows up. Post yours up!

 

I picked mine up used...and it is exactly what I would have ordered. Early 2020 I started looking at an RLD and RSi but hated the way they looked (they don't follow any of the Tacoma's lines). Plus the weight capacity wasn't all that great for the price. Then I discovered the CX-HD, and needed one! Just kept scouring the interwebs, and one popped up for sale in LA in October. So, I guess you could say I waited 8-9 months. It helped that I was on deployment through late June, and the whole COVID thing...

I'll post some pics tomorrow, gotta work late tonight.

 

Post alot of pics! Id love to see what the internal skeleton looks like, i.e. how it attaches to the bed, how the joints come together, and the angles from bed to rooftop! One of my biggest worries before I ordered it was that the skeleton would be in my way alot when loading and unloading. A picture standing at the back of the truck looking in would be awesome, ARE doesn't even have one of those on the website. I can already see myself cracking my head on it when Im digging around back there. At least its aluminum and not steel I guess! . From a picture they have on the ARE website I see that the front bars on the skeleton overlap the front window a bit. Do they overlap in the back or do they hug the fiberglass more ? Thanks

 

Okay, this is going to be photo heavy... @RNO_TACO , @TheWildernessTonic here you go!

The setup:

The back:
Power: Passenger side: Interior LED lights:
Driver side:
Toolbox lights:

 

Sweet set up!! Now I really can’t contain myself on waiting for my new shell. Lol

 

Yours looks identical to my last setup...Looks good! And I dig the Cement, one of my favorite colors.

How do you like the Duratracs? C or E rated? One of my next projects is a very small lift up front and upgrading the leafs to carry the weight I now have in the back. I'm currently riding on the 500 lb. Sumo Springs, and I do mean riding. The squat sucks. Anyway, need some 265/75 R16s in a C rating which is really hard to find.

 

Ah man my set up has changed so much since that picture you saw. I have 285/75 BFG KM3s now with HD Dakar’s in the rear with 5160s and up front 887/5100 combo. Also have a roof rack on now and waiting for the topper and matched topper rack. I’ll send a pic soon, especially after the new shell goes on.
And to answer your question, the duratracs I had in that old picture was c load and I would have loved them had anyone been able to get them balanced right. 5 different shops, 5 different guys and no one could get them right. O well, it was motivation to make a change. Lol

 

Well, maybe I should rethink my next set of tires. I had a similar problem with a set of BFG KOs a few years back. Just dealt with it on my 01 Wrangler, but I've never bought another set of BFGs. Big fan of General Tire though, maybe some X3s then.

 

It’s hit or miss with BFG. I’ve been lucky with no issues. A lot of people swear by duratracs to and say they’ve never had any issues. With me, I had the balancing issues. But to be honest, you could have that problem with any tire company. Maybe I got a bad set, who knows. Nothing against Goodyear and no hard feelings at all. Good luck on the next tire choice. So many great options out there!

 

There are...in E rating. I'm torn between the Duratracs and X3s...

 

BTW, you can fit most aftermarket LED strips into the channel on the skeleton rails.
If you aren't going to mount anything to the underneath channel, makes for a great light source protected from getting hit by gear.

$43 MICTUNING 3Pcs 60" Truck Bed Lights - White Waterproof LED Light Strip with On-Off Switch Fuse Splitter Cable Compatible for Truck Jxxp Pickup RV SUV Vans Cargo Boats and More

https://www.amazon.com/MICTUNING-3Pcs-Inch-Truck-Lights/dp/B07MSDHQZF/

 

I used these. Put a velcro strip on the back and just attached it to the carpet headliner. Cut off the flat 4 connector and wired to 2 switches. White and red light if I'm trying to be more incognito.

$16 Nilight 48”/49” LED Tailgate Light Strip 90 LED Red/White for Running Light Brake / Turn Signal / Reverse Light，2 Years Warranty

https://www.amazon.com/Nilight-Tail..._rd_i=B0841K5FJB&psc=1&ref_=pd_bap_m_rp_12_sc

 

I just wanted to add: wndoors are expensive option and well worth it.

 

Just got a response back from ARE about weight. The CX weighs 185 pounds. I was told the aluminum internal skeleton for the HD model only adds 10 pounds, and if you opt for the OTR paint option that adds 5 pounds. So very minimal weight addition...

 

That's good news. That's less than I thought for the internal frame...and way more for the paint! I didn't do a before and after weigh-in, but this leads me to believe my CX-HD as optioned and with mods probably 215-225 pounds. I assume that's the weight for the CX with standard options? Adding aluminum windoors or a rear panel should reduce weight as well.

 

Is anyone else getting the 12-16 week estimate on a new A.R.E. dealer ordered topper? I was hoping this was a little stretch of the truth by the dealer but I’m 8 weeks into this with no sign in sight of my order. It doesn’t help either that the dealer has no clue when you ask them a status update. O well, patience is bliss right. Lol