Bed Cover/Shell

I currently have a soft tonneau cover but it does leak a little in heavy rain. Looking at picking up a bestop or softtopper camper shell for the space. Trying to travel and keep things dry with many hobbies fills the bed up quickly using just a tonneau.
Start with a tonneau cover and see if you need added space, you can pick them up new for a few hundred.

 

I had a Bakflip G2 and ended buying an ARE CX series shell. After 2 years in the Florida heat the Bakflip finish started flaking off in multiple spots, so I decided to make the change. A shell is much more practical for my use and it's water tight vs. the Bakflip which tended to leak in a couple of spot.

 

I was at a similar crossroads a few months back. I was tempted to just go with a tonneau cover, but I knew I’d run out of usable space pretty quickly with a 5 ft. bed. The big plus for tonneau covers, at least in my mind, is that it still preserves the look that you have a pickup. (For whatever that’s worth) You also maintain the best field of vision in that configuration. And it is one of the more affordable options.

The soft tops are pretty practical. Cover when you want it, and remove if you need to move something taller. I was tempted, but they are a little less secure than I wanted.

I ended up going with a canopy cover. I wanted a lightweight aluminum option that wouldn’t weigh the truck down any more than necessary, so I pulled the trigger on an Alu-Cab Contour. I dig it. And, most of the usual crap that people put on the outside of their tacos can be stored inside and away from sticky hands.

No matter what route you decide, it is actually pretty easy to prep a few things like the tops of the bed rails under the plastic bed rail caps to keep the back a lot drier in the rain. It’s easy and cheap to do yourself and will help minimize dust and water in the bed. It’s not going to look like a museum or anything, but I’m not trying to do open-heart surgery in the back of my bed.

 

https://***************/2023/04/05/camper-shells-bed-toppers-tacoma/

This is the Leer shell I have (It's been pretty much flawless). The popular vendor use to carry A.R.E as well. I asked them why not anymore? The answer "That company has embarrassed us for the last time. We dropped them". Pretty damning statement. I had ARE on my 1st gen Tacoma. Leer is better IMO.
https://***************/2021/03/22/leer-100r-camper-shell-3rd-gen-tacoma-review/

 

Went from Diamondback hd
To a smartcap
Then a snugtop
Then a Decked
Then a Victory 4x4 bed rack and pelican boxes.
Lately I’ve been eyeing the gfc platform topper

 

Btw, fancier/lift up side windows were going to add 8 months wait on the shell in 2021 - thats' an additional 8 months to what I was already waiting on. I was like you are friggin' kidding me! Covid BS nonsense. Pfft, give me the basic!

 

uhh, am I not allowed to link to trailtacomadotcom site? WTH?

 

They may have gotten bad reviews from Tacoma world, like ripping people off or something and it doesn’t support them

 

Wow. Okay?.. one of the few Tacoma sites that my "user group" and I think is really good. Sharp looking site w/ excellent content.

Example there's a "hella" lot of info there and reviews on all things shells/ toppers, etc.... that OP would be more informed. Go there and do a search, OP.