Do you regret getting rid of your camper shell?

Just out of curiosity as I’m thinking about selling mine since i can’t decide if I like the look or not, and I can make a couple bucks if I sell it which I can put towards a lift lol.

However the thing is great for hauling my two dogs and keeping things dry when I go on road trips. Just wish I didn’t have to take it off to get things above 4 ft. in the bed.

Clearly there are pros and cons depending on your situation.

but I wanna know... what’s your situation and do you regret selling your camper shell?

 

Sell it and get a lift/ softopper.

 

I personally wont ever have a truck without a shell again. its too useful for me.
I wouldn't get rid of it as long as the dogs will need to go in the back.

Lifts are nice and all, but for me, I need the to shell to make traveling to those hard-to-reach locations worth it. What good is a remote location if you can only stay for a day because you can only fit limited gear and food.

 

I would keep it if it serves a purpose. I agree taking the camper off to fit things above 4 ft in the bed is a hassle... Maybe a rack that goes on top of your camper could be an easy solution?

 

I like the lift thought. I really don’t know how I feel about a softtopper though. Feel like my dogs would eat it lol

 

seems like you answered my question in the most basic form. Function vs. Form. And I’m regretfully a superficial bastard

 

@TRDCLMB might vote "yes"...

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/just-an-fyi-use-bed-stiffeners-with-your-topper.708230/

 

it will come down to you. I put stuff in the back a lot because I know it is safe and dry. Groceries, random stuff for work, the dogs (german shepherd and chocolate lab.)
We travel to see our families once or twice a month and the dogs go in there.
I have a 2 year old and have another baby due next week, so we travel with the u-haul worth of baby stuff.
Having 2 car seats in the back means literally zero room for groceries or anything from the store. Literally everything goes in the back for me.
When we go camping, I can throw the big cooler and a few bins of stuff in the back and not worry about it getting stolen or wet or blowing out while driving.

It's just too functional for me to go without.

 

Wow, I need to look at that. How does this even happen?

 

I went with a hard folding tonneau on mine and it’s great for security and also for keeping things from getting wet back there. I fold it up if I need to haul something tall, or take it off completely in about 3 minutes if I need to haul something big like a couch or something. If wanted to use the tacoma for camping, I’d probably get a shell, but only if I had a long bed so I had the option to sleep in it. I have a 4runner that I use for camping, so I like the tacoma for pickup stuff.

 

Only thing I regret is ordering A.R.E. Been waiting since November 30th of last year. Still another month at least they are saying. So crazy. Hearing others getting there’s in 4 weeks. Going to be close 16 weeks for me and it’s nothing crazy at all. Basic shell with windoors. But to answer your original question, yes I would regret getting rid of a shell. Did it once and instant regret. This one when I get it sometime this decade will stay on the truck forever.

 

Nope, I bought a truck, not a poorly sealed SUV. I own an SUV for when I need an SUV

 

I rarely haul anything tall enough to not fit in the shell. I would never get rid of the shell. Too convenient for keeping things dry and safe (and my dogs, of course). I know I would regret getting rid of it so wouldn't even consider it.

Edit: Plus, it makes it easy to say "no" when someone asks me to haul their junk. "Sorry, it won't fit with my shell on there".

 

I like the looks of a truck better without a shell, but I prefer the functionality of a shell. Buy a cheap 5x10 trailer for hauling large items, much easier to load/unload from a low trailer than a truck bed anyway.

 

I regret not buying one sooner.

 

100 percent agree.

 

Softopper is the best thing I ever added to my truck. Would be a lot easier to remove if you're often hauling things >4ft. Saw a bunch of poor bastards on the highway yesterday with everything in their truck beds in garbage bags to protect from the rain and snow.

 

Different strokes for different folks. I’m sure you wouldn’t throw a dead animal from hunting in the back of your SUV. Just saying. Some use there trucks many different ways and a shell sometimes makes more sense. For others like yourself, not so much

 

3rd gens look like shit anyway. keep the shell