Going shopping for a shell this weekend

Not necessarily looking for any advice, mainly just posting for the heck of it. But any thoughts or suggestions are certainly welcome.

My wife and I are moving cross country this summer, we have a mid sized doggo and 2 cats. We will all be traveling in my Tacoma. I had been wondering how we were going to make that work... when my wife suggested we get a camper shell, and can then put at least the cats (in individual kennels) in the back of the truck, and a camper shell will protect them form the wind and heat/rain/whatever we might run into.

After doing a little browsing in this thread to get the names of reputable and high quality vendors (I have never had a camper shell before), and then looking them up to see where any local dealers might be, I found 2 shops in the Sacramento area that are dealers for ARE (1 shop) and Leer & SnugTop (the other shop). So, this weekend we are planning to go do some in person research into which model is best for us, what options, if any (pet screens), and costs before we make a decision.

We won't be moving until July or August at the soonest, so if we have to order one, hopefully it will arrive in time.

 

Happy shopping! I have an ARE that I really like. One item I would not skip is the vented windoors, it makes it so easy to get stuff in and out of the shell.

 

I also have an ARE.
Think the windoors are awesome.
Makes is easy to get to anything.

 

ah, I thought the "windoors" were the small wing window type things that just opened like a couple inches. None of the manufacturer's web sites really made that clear. Now that I understand exactly what they are, I will seriously consider these, unless they are way too $$$$$$.

My reason for wanting something that will open and let air in, is for when we move cross country this summer, and our cats and maybe dog are in the back of the truck. Want them to get plenty of air to stay cool.

 

I found talking to the dealer in person 100 times more helpful than the manufacturers website.

 

Agreed, that's why we are going to the local dealers in person this weekend

 

I like my SnugTop SportLiner on a 2021 AC OR. I wanted more headroom since I sleep on a cot in there--I can actually sit up without hitting my head. Initially, it leaked water on the front (folding window) and when I took it in, the dealer immediately recognized the issue as being one of jostling during transport and install -- they pulled the window out and reset it... no leaks now. Also since you have pets, you should be aware that (according to my dealer) SnugTop does not have a pet screen option, but the dealer installed some ("no worries, I know how to put pet screen on when we put the topper on your truck"). I have had it since early February (it took close to 6 weeks to get it in). I am happy with fit, finish, and overall construction. With options, it was about $3K before tax.

 

x3 on the windoors! Once you have a shell with them, you'll never own one without. I also have and recommend the highliner style if you plan on spending any time in the shell sleeping or hanging out.

 

Excellent info @dleithaus thank you for sharing, and the great pictures. I suspected SnugTop didn't officially have pet screens, as I didn't see any mention on their web site. But I will get that sort of thing no matter which shell I end up with.

Also, as broken down as my wife and I both are, we don't plan on ever climbing into the shell ourselves, or at least not spending more than a moment at a time in it

 

Update - found a dealer in Sacramento that actually carries Leer, SnugTop, ARE and Century shells. Wife and I went in, looked at their inventory to get an in-person feel for things. After talking to the Manager, he said right now his lead time on ARE shells to the west coast is a minimum of 4 months, so ARE was ruled out. He gave us his personal opinion and experience with the other three brands, and we ended up going with a Century Ultra Sport. He estimated 3 weeks to arrive, and then maybe another week to get us on their install schedule.

We ultimately decided not to go with Windoors, because the sliding side windows are very small compared to the sliders on a non-Windoor, and the main reason for the sliding windows is ventilation in the shell for when we have pets back there, rather than ease of needing to be able to reach in and get to whatever is in the bed of the truck. I don't expect to be carrying much back there 99% of the time after we get moved back east this summer.

We did get the rear hatch keyless entry, pet screens, sliding front window and carpeted headliner.

Thanks to all who provided any thoughts.

 

I'm from Sac, where you getting yours from?
Fyi, when I got my ARE which was pre-pandemic the wait was long as well, 4-6 mo. or more.

 

Had a Century shell on my 1st gen, they are as nice as any of the others

 

Campways on Power Inn Rd, a few blocks south of #50.

 

I don't how much of the info he told us is 100% legit, or maybe he was trying to steer us towards a specific brand.... but he did confirm Century is from Leer, they are all made in same factory. He claimed that in his experience, at this shop at least, they have more issues with Leer shells arriving with small defects, and the paint is sometimes not as good as a Century - in his opinion. I'm sure we'll be quite happy with the Century. The primary purpose is our move eastwards, to carry whatever luggage for us during the trip, and our Cats / dog. Figure we can always sell it down the road if we decide it isn't needed, or maybe we end up deciding the truck is more useful w/o a shell for whatever reason. But will most likely keep it for a good many years.

 

I always thought it favored a LEER in a lot of ways

 

God speed on your journey finding a shell... it is a PITA. My advice go on FB marketplace every night religiously and be ready to make a cash offer. Dealers are slow and expensive. After a year of half ass looking for one, one finally fell in my lap for $1,400. My co worker happens to have the EXACT same one I do( same brand, style, options, color, everything) and they paid $4,600 at the dealer. There has to be one hiding in Sac/Bay. Make a bed platform for your trip too!

 

I found mine on Marketplace in a junk yard on a wrecked truck, it has windoors on both sides, carpet, folding/sliding front window, light, Thule rack, and power back window lock for $1,000.00 I had to drive 5 hours round trip but it was worth it, especially since it matched my truck.

 

Yup,the deals are out there you just have to be ready once one comes up. Only downside to my deal was I had to drive a few hours down to LA in the morning commute traffic to pick it up. Worth it for sure.

 

You can find used shells on clist...offer up ALL DAY long ...

 

Just curious where in the Mojave you are? I was stationed at Ft. Irwin for a couple years in the Army, my dad grew up in Yermo/Barstow (graduated Barstow High), once he retired, be moved back out there from LA, bought 5 acres right off #15 and Ghost Town Rd, built a house. Both my parents are gone now, buried at Barstow Cemetery.