ARE vs Leer topper

Agreed, they dont fit the body lines at all

 

I've had both, prefer Leer.

FWIW - My current shell - when I asked the shell dealer/installer about ARE they said, "We do not do business w/ ARE anymore - they have embarrassed us to our customers for the last time". Summer of 2021

Whoa . My Leer has been really good.

Edit: I should add I do not have "windoors" - it was another 6 months of more wait for that option - I am not kidding, again this was 2021 - and you know the crap that was goin on then.

Tip on road dust in shell: Make sure you get a siding front window (facing cab) so you can crack it, inch or so - this pressurizes the shell and keeps the dust down significantly. Sealing the tailgate, etc., will not work as well, and is counter productive to pressurizing.

 

I had an ARE Overland topper installed on my wife's 2023 Tacoma, and it looks great relating to fit and trim. It has the same paint color as the truck, with a black-color vertical trim that is wider right behind the cab, and then a narrow black-color horizontal band from the front of the bed to the back. I opted to not have a headliner, just fiberglass interior, with sliding windows at each side, fixed glass window (non sliding) at the front, and one by the tailgate. There is one feature that I prefer with toppers as follows: one locking knob in the center instead of one at each corner. Having two means that you need to have 4 keys, one set with your first key FOB, and another with the spare. I will take a photo one of these days and post it in here. Also have a ARE topper on my 2013 Tundra (black color paint all around).

 

I have an ARE Revo on my 2023 OR DCSB. Super poor quality, massive leaker, 3rd brake light was full of water. 0 customer service-they do not answer emails. Can absolutely not recommend.

 

I ordered a leer and it came in and was installed a couple months ago. In less than 2 months of ownership the paint started peeling around one of the windows.

I took it back to the dealer I bought it from and showed him. He took pics and it took a week to get the repair approved. I then returned to the dealer so he could remove it and ship it back to leer. It should take 8 weeks for them to fix it. The same amount of time it took them to build and ship it after ordering it.

 

I bought a pre-owned Leer 100XR (I think) back in 2019’ish before the used cap market lost its damn mind. I bombed it with plasti-dip and threw it on there. It fits perfectly and I get no leaks outside of a tiny drip in the front corners and only during hard driving rain. It drains right out the bed drain at the bottom.

It came with bare fiberglass so I insulated with reflectix and added carpet. I’ve camped in freezing temps and stayed comfortable as long as I don’t open the glass

 

I put an ARE classic on my '23 short bed with the Yakima rails on top back in March. Seems pretty good quality to me, although I've never owned a Leer. My last truck was a hand-me-down with a Jeraco cap that was really basic.
The ARE does let in some water around the edges. I didn't get windoors this time, which isn't a problem so far, but I probably should have gotten the fold-down front window.
On the plus side, the rear window stays down really well even when the latch isn't closed. Also the color match is dead on. The turnaround time on the order was about 4 weeks.

 

that’s bad ass - looks like a short bed to? Good stuff!

 

thanks! It’s the access cab long bed. I’d prefer not to camp in a bed shorter than me!

 

I went Alu-Cab after pricing out Leer and ARE with all of the options. OK4wd is in NJ.

 

I bought a new Leer last year for my previous Ram 3500. When it was about 2 months old I was fuelling up the truck and the drivers side window exploded right in front of my face, luckily no glass hit me. There was nothing even close to the glass inside or out to cause the break.
I went back to the installer and they submitted a warranty claim but Leer told me I was SOL since they don’t warranty the glass. Then to top it all off, they sent 4 windows to the installer before they sent to correct one for my topper.
Leer will never see another cent from me.

 

So what happened exactly … physics isn’t adding up

 

Best I could tell the cutout in the fibreglass was just a bit too tight and put excessive pressure on the window frame. I slightly enlarged the opening before install the new window.
When I took it back to the dealer they said I was the third guy that came in with the same complaint.

 

It's been 8 weeks, is it fixed yet?

 

Ended up going with an ARE CX Classic with the racks. Came out good . Very happy with the look.

 

+1 for making sure you’re working with a good dealer. I’ve had both Leer and ARE and liked both. However, the Leer was secured with screws connected to t-slot on the side tracks of the bed. Over time, those bent out of shape. I wondered if I should have put in bed stiffeners first. The ARE was installed with a clamp that seemed much more secure and less prone to rust and strain.

 

ARE MX - parked outside including full sun and desert heat since 2017- still doing well with no door or window issues, no fade or clear coat peeling. I’m happy with it!

 

ARE V series, bought it used off facebook. Fits like a glove.

 

Picked up a new Ranch Echo entry level cap with sliding screened windows, front sliding window and fully carpeted installed for just under $2k. Boston area dealer can't be beat. Carries all the major brands. I drove there and back from Long Island. 3 and a half hours each way. Couldn't touch any toppers under $3k locally.

 

I have a SnugTop with Windoors, roof reinforced from factory for racks. Yes they are expensive, but you get what you pay for. The main concern for any topper should be weight, as the factory springs are soft and will flatten/invert(limited capacity on these small trucks). Upgraded rear leafs to Deaver stage 1s, rides like a Caddi now.