Why a camper? (fiberglass shell topper, that is)

I also ordered the superlite a few weeks back. Should have it in September. We’re you quoted the same?

 

I see the advantages of the RTT but for me there are 3 big disadvantages: Just climbing in and out of the unit at night to go pee/etc and how the hell does that work with the dog? What happens when the wind really blows and you are up that high? i have spent lots of nights and some days in my cap with the entire truck rocking back and forth and the last thing i want is to be in a tent above my truck in a windstorm. No fabric is as weatherproof as fiberglass and it is always "setup" when you need it. But as always, get whatever fits your needs..

 

Nah mine is August.

and OP, the reason i got the superlite is actually another con about most shells. I was scared of putting a heavier RTT on my shell and cracking it. So if you buy fiberglass I’d say go with a reinforced shell so u can run an RTT down the road if u wish

 

You can "overland" with a tent. Like, the kind that goes on the ground and doesn't cost $3k.

With that said, the benefits of a topper should be pretty obvious, more space, better weather protection, no setup and tear down. But, they have terrible condensation issues if sleeping in cold/dry climates.

 

I've had a cap on every truck I've owned since the 1970's. For what I do a crew cab truck with a cap does everything I need. Unless you need the 3rd row seats it does everything a SUV does, and costs less. We have traveled all over the country with our camping gear secure and dry in the back. Yet I can haul off the trash and hose out the back if it gets nasty.

Granted you do somewhat limit what will fit in the back. But you ain't gonna put much in the back of a Tacoma anyway. The 1st thing I did after buying my Tacoma 14 years ago was buy a utility trailer. I've since found that the trailer is easier to load/unload anyway. And I can haul more weight and volume in the trailer than I could fit in the bed of a 3/4 ton truck with an 8' bed. Don't beat up the bed either.

 

For me, it was a matter of convenience.

I had a soft rolling tonneau cover for about 4 years before switching to a cap. I find my truck so much more useful now, not having to roll up the cover just to access things near the cab.

Don't think I'll ever go back to a tonneau cover.

 

Yeah we have been doing the old fashion camping on the ground tent. TBH it's way roomier and less the climbing. My wife is slowly backing away from it though. I'm hoping to stoke some fire back in her if I can entice her into a RRT/camper with an additional ground tent.

 

The very LAST thing I'd do, is a rtt. UGH.
Ugly. The dog can't come in. Can't move the truck if set up. Canvas. And if it get wet while set up? Geez.
I'm a canopy guy. Had one on my 02; have one on my 16. Never had a leak. Have never had a need to take it off. Dogs has it as his motorhome, as he's not allowed in the cab of the truck.

 

Great Topic and Thanks for all the input

Mine came with the OEM tonneau cover and I had the dealer remove it, as for my needs a Cap/Topper/Shell
best fits as it would only be an emergency that I'd sleep in it and I wanted it cab high to get into the garage 90%
of what will be going in will be stuff I don't want to blow out of the boat on the way to the lake.

I went with a Snug brand, they have monthly specials on their site and the dealer made the deal even sweeter
now it's the waiting game and I'm cool with that as I intend to keep it for quite some time.

Just like the truck, make your bed to accomplish 90% of it's intended use

 

A truck with a shell is a completely different vehicle than a traditional open-bed pickup. It's more like a traditional panel truck.

Once you have the shell on, you're not likely to be removing it much.

 

Nice. It will be worth the wait. Super stoked to get my superlite and like you I didn’t want a heavy RTT.

 

I'm running a Sport DCLB, and sleep in the bed several times a year. Usually its on our ATV trips we make to Busco Beach or other places, and I have never once had an issue with it. I'm 6'3", and I just throw an air mattress back there, and sleep like a king. Considering I'm running a standard height shell, I don't see how I could run a platform in this thing without running a much smaller and less comfortable mattress, but I'm sure it's possible - I just value my head space considering my height.

Now, when the family starts to come along a little more frequently, I'm sure we will start considering an actual tow behind toy hauler or slide in camper, but that's a good ways down the road.

 

Great looking set up there Alexander

I held off on the racks thinking they would catch some wind and be a bit noisy...thoughts

 

I'll never get the whole RTT thing. Just people looking for something to spend money on.

It looks cool though, I'll give ya that.

 

The cargo basket attachment catches more wind than the basic Prinsu rack itself. But in any case, I don't hear anything. That's probably because the rack is on the back and not on the cab.

 

Ive had both and currently have a leer xq on my 17. I do like it but I often think about removing it when I need the full bed and height. I then remember what a PiTA it is to remove and replace, and find another route to get the job done.

 

When I bought my first Toyota 4x4 25 years ago it came with a canopy. I used to take it off and drive around 'pickup style' once or twice a year but ended up just keeping it on forever. When we got our 2nd Gen the canopy was the first mod, same with the 3rd Gen;

Safe, secure, and dry place to keep all your gear. Also makes a great dog house when your camping.

 

If I need to move any tall items I go rent a small trailer from uhaul for $20 for the day.

It also keeps people from asking me to help them move since I have a shell.......

 

...or worse, borrow your truck.

 

“Overlanding” is just marketing hype for camping out of a vehicle