Losing my mind over shells

Half question half yelling into the void to relieve months of frustration post lol.

To all you DCLB owners out there: how easy has it been for you to find a shell for your truck? Did you end up just ordering new? I’ve been looking for months (admittedly kind of picky as I want a leer 180 or ARE mx) to basically no avail. I swear to god I find a perfect one, pop open the ad, and get crushed by the “5’ bed”. Or it’s a 6’ but super high price that I might as well order my own specd to how I want it. Super bummed. Finally found a killer one & was prepared to drive halfway across the country to get it. great price, leer 180, color, sliding windoors on both sides, carpeted. The whole shabang. The seller, however? Responded twice and now reads messages and ghosts me. TAKE MY MONEY BROTHER

 

I bought mine new. No headache or hassle with a used one

 

It’s the same as for the AC, right?

 

I've bought both new and used several times. There's no free lunches in the cap game

Currently have a 2 year old leer XQ that's leaking at the rear window seal below the brake light.

If you go new be wary of a "Friday afternoon" unit with shit attention to detail

 

Yes is the answer to your question. I played that game for about 5 months until i found mine. And then I had to drive 300 miles to get it. but it was a perfect cap for $300. Id say it was worth all the frustration considering the cost of a new one. Im sure if youre patient, the right one will appear. But man the process is super annoying. Apparently so many people selling think that their truck cap is universal... lol

 

I ordered new. ARE CX Classic. If you go over to my build thread I have a ton of pics and info about it and the ordering process.



check out pages 8 & 10 of my build thread:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/clean-purpose-built-3rd-gen-sr5.734054/

 

I’m waiting on my GFC Topper for end of month install. 135 lbs much lighter then fiberglass

 

Man is this too true. Can’t tell you how many conversations where I’ve had to ask if it came off of a long bed or short bed/2nd or 3rd gen and they don’t even know what I’m talking about. OR they’re trying to convince me their gmc, Nissan, etc. cap will fit perfect

 

Stoked for you man! Love my buddy’s GFC on his raptor. wish they made a mid rise option without the pop up tent, I’d be all over it

 

Thank you appreciate it. I’m just getting the topper no RTT

 

I've had 3 different toppers on my truck over different builds. First one was ordered brand new with everything I wanted (windoor, mid-rise, roof rack, carpet liner, color match) for roughly $2.5K, second one was bought used and only had the mid rise and the color I wanted for $1500, third one had none of what I wanted and the wrong color but was only $500 and had carpet lining. When it is all said and done I am confident I can add a roof rake system (and even paint it black at Maaco) and still be ahead.

I'm not sure what the moral of my story is, but I haven't really had trouble finding what I want/find acceptable.

 

I thought MGM was a popular color until I started looking for a used 6' cap. It took a year. I feel sorry for the guys with the truly rare colors.

 

I've had color matched rigid caps for years.

Took the plunge 6 years ago for a Soft Topper.

I'm not going back to a rigid cap. The Soft Topper is so useful!

 

I’d buy that Inflatible thing https://www.rei.com/product/218365/flated-air-topper-full-size-short-bed-topper

 

Same here. Been looking for awhile. I've started looking at tonneau covers now.

 

I wouldnt limit your search to strictly color matched. Personally I like a lot of variations of the two-tone scheme. Plus you could alway get it painted down the road. I think iv read quotes on this site from other people saying $400-500 to paint a fiberglass cap. I could be wrong on that though!

 

Got this used SnugTop beauty with keys for $1800 12 miles away on craigslist. Literally looked twice and it was there. Just had to hook up the third brake light and installed Gecko LEDs on the carpeted roof. The guy has a hook up with a used car lot and every shell that comes through they remove from the truck and he gets them somehow. GL they are out there! 400 miles south of the border… and then some!

 

Yeah I have lunar rock, but don’t even want a color match. Prefer to get a black cap, but at this point open to any color and just wrapping it black.

 

The resale is very high,, of course so is the cost and lead times of new. I finally found what I wanted, and it took 3 years of on and off looking. Next time I get a brand new truck, I’ll just order a new topper as soon as I get the truck,,, maybe before if I trust that exact color is going to make it to my driveway.

 

Is there any way you can lock it up?