How do you like your bed toppers/caps?

Thinking about getting a Leer cap for my 2021 Taco. Never had a truck cap before, what are some of the pros and cons of having one? Thoughts?

 

Pros: dry secured place to put stuff in, great for camping, and you don’t have to help people move their bed because you have a cap. Cons: fiberglass can be heavy, possibly lower your gas mileage, and blind spots increase.

9/10 would recommend if it’s in your budget.

 

Love my Leer. I put shells on most of my trucks. Lots of storage. I usually don't sleep in the back unless the weather gets horrible before I can get a tent up. I'd rather sleep on the ground, picnic table or tent. My truck is stock height and I'm short so loading toys on the racks takes a little more effort. I'd say that's about the only con. The shell keeps everything dry but I can still put wet gear in the back and just keep separated. I definitely suggest getting the fold down/removable front glass for cleaning purposes.
Ask the dealer about the LEER LEGEND. It is the exact same shell but with a 5 year warranty instead of "lifetime". They don't advertise it.. You can't get the frameless back glass orauto locks with the Legend (I didn't want anyways) but it'll save you 3-5 hundred
I thought about getting windoors but I'm fine without them plus I wanted/needed sliding windows. The sliding windoors looks funky on the LEERs

Also suggest bed stiffeners especially if you put stuff on top of the shell and/or go over ruff roads



Two tone on purpose

 

Years ago I had a taco with a Leer cap. It was great for keeping stuff dry and secure. Since then, however, I've gone with tonneau covers. My current taco has a Bakflip G2. I've found that a decent hard tonneau cover provides just as much security and dryness, and you still have access to the entire bed, including height, when you need it. Not to mention they are less than half the price of a cap. Keep in mind that whichever way you decide to go you will likely still get water in the first couple of inches of the bed by the tailgate. The seal for the tailgate on these trucks isn't the best.

 

I have this loaner on mine. Waiting for the painted to match one to come in. I like it (although I hate this color). It was nice enough for the dealer to give me a loaner while I wait for mine to be built.

They let you use the entire bed and store beyond the height of the rails without worrying about theft. Helpful when camping or hauling boating/sailing gear.

Theft can still happen from a determined their but it keeps the sticky fingers / crime of opportunity people away.

 

Love my soft topper!

 

I've had 10 pickups. Put shells on all but one of them. I find them very handy. I use a trailer for hauling larger things.

 

They will all leak! Caps I mean. Mostly up near the front corners. It’s the truck design rather than the topper, so I’m told anyway. I have a 2020 and first bought a Leer 100 series with hinged windows and everything leaked. Windows, corners, everything! The dealer and Leer were great though and refunded everything back to me so I now have an ARE with standard sliders. Top still leaks in the front corners. There are a couple of threads about the matter here on this forum. I’m still hoping/waiting for a kit or fix for this problem without filling the voids with a whole tube of silicone. Something to be aware of…

 

x2 for the softopper. Love mine. Super versatile.

 

Had a cap on my 1st gen , none on the 2nd gen and now a cap on my 3rd gen. I do like having it but wish I had an easy way to remove it occasionally.

 

I love mine. Have had it about 3 years now. I don't have an issue it leaking at the front corners like some have. Maybe because my truck came with a tonneau from the factory. It great for beach trips with the family. Can load it to the top, front to back. The only down side, I have come across, is if I need to remove it to get mulch. It's heavy and takes two people to remove it.

 

I am in the hate em group. They are expensive, heavy, awkward to remove and store, and you better be good at driving with just your side mirrors. Unless you really need the vertical space, get a tonneau.

 

The Tacoma is particularly notorious for those front corner leaks. (That's why Toyota provides rubber plugs with their OEM tonneau cover installations.)

I've had a Leer cap on my 2000 Ford Ranger since it was new, and it hasn't leaked. I've had a Leer cap on my 2021 Tacoma for six months now, and it hasn't leaked either.

It's all a matter of how carefully you seal the bed prior to the cap installation.

 

Leer XR, my second Tacoma and second Leer. Carpet lining, upper top net, fold down front window, Thule rail system... Yes, I like it

Note: you either are or are not a canopy guy... I am. Always have had one 30+ years.

 

Love my Snugtop, kinda wish I went with the mid rise. I do like the new RSI caps, pretty cool. Win Doors are a must in my opinion.

 

Everyone should take a moment and review the SAE side mirror adjustment method. It is the only way. Give it one week and you will not go back.
https://youtu.be/QIkodlp8HMM

 

No leaks on my Snugtop. Love mine and another Snugtop will go on my next Tacoma.

 

Love my ARE CX. Get windoors. Pricey, 100% worth it.

A 5x8 utility trailer will take care of all the "too big" items.

 

Great advice, but they made it a bit overly complex, IMO. Just adjust the sides in your normal head position to get minimal overlap with the rear view mirror. That puts a car next to me in my peripheral vision once is it is just about gone from the sides.

 

Exactly. Just bump it out when u know a car is at your blind spot. Then right when it's out of the mirror it's in your periphery