Double Cab Visibility with Camper Shell?

I'm planning some solo trips this spring and considering picking up a used camper shell to put on my double cab.


My main hesitation is the impact to visibility. One of my favorite things about the truck is the 360° visibility – easily the best of any vehicle I've driven, which makes the driving experience very comfortable.


I imagine a shell would introduce some large blind spots to the sides, and significantly cut vision in the rear view mirror.


The truck is my daily driver, and I don't have a place to store a shell - so if it goes on, it stays on.


How do those of you that have run both a shell and open bed feel about the impact to visibility?

 

The fewer ugly people I see behind me the better.

 

I would feel "naked" without my cap on the back!
I have driven a truck for over 40 yrs, and pretty much always ignore the rearview mirror in the center of the windshield, and in fact, have literally removed them in many of my trucks! I could give a shit about that idiot that is tailgating me; I want to see who is on the sides for when I change lanes. There are about 3 million 18-wheelers out there that could give a shit about a rear-view mirror. Get a back-up camera if you want to see what's back there. And why don't you people put what state you're from on your member-blurb thing? Unless you are in the witness protection program, WTF?

 

@Steves104x4 and @Kleenax caps lookin good!

Yeah a backup camera might have to be part of the deal, I do love to back into parking spaces. (+ parallel parking in the city - I'm in California! haha)

 

If you're coming from a topper-less bed you will feel significantly impacted by the topper when it comes to visibility. Especially right off the bat. But you can get used to it.

I've been running a topper on my Tacomas 99.99999% of the time since 1999. I'm used to it. I don't even think about it (mostly use the side mirrors for all visibility). But conversely, the one or two times I was topper-less in the past 25 years I was blown away with how much more visibility I had.

That said, until I get a hoist system in my garage, I will always run with a topper. It's much more convenient for my lifestyle.

Edit: I back that thang up and parallel park no problem. And I don't have any cameras.

 

You guys should switch toppers.

Looks like Steve has an xtra cab topper on his regular cab and Kleenax has a regular cab topper on his xtra cab.

 

U r correct, but it’s what came with mine, and although I have been looking since about 2016 for the correct one, Ive yet to find the proper one in my color.

 

Look even funnier with a first gen cap on a second gen and the opposite too

lol

 

I do have a back-up camera and I still back into trees, even when I'm looking at the camera's monitor...

Prolly 'cause it's pretty well shaded under the trees I back into

 

Came to say the same thing. Never really thought about the loss in sight when I put it on, but definitely noticed it whenever I took it off. Always put it back on though, just prefer having it over the improvement in visibility.
I got a digital rear view mirror after I put my spare on the rear bumper, that tire really killed all my visibility. Love the mirror tho, doubles as a front and rear dash cam too. Basically a full time reverse camera, so it doesn’t matter what’s in your bed you can always see everything behind you.

 

I've had a cap on every truck I've owned since the 1970's. If it's a handicap I haven't noticed

 

Link to your mirror/system, please.

 

This is the one I have on at the moment:

$120 WOLFBOX G840S 12" 4K Mirror Dash Cam Backup Camera, 5.8GHz WiFi Smart Rearview Mirror for Cars & Trucks, Front and Rear View Dual Cameras, Night Vision, Parking Assistance, Included 32GB Card & GPS

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0811Q28N...0_1_7&amp=&crid=1D41OZN1G9CE8&sprefix=wolfbox

Doing it again I might try the 10" version, as the 12" does block both sunvisors, 10" like this one:

$130 WOLFBOX G930 10'' Rear View Mirror Camera with 5.8GHz WiFi, 4K Dash Cam Front and Rear with WDR, Touch Screen Rearview Mirror Backup Camera, Parking Monitor, Reverse Assist, Includes 64GB Card & GPS

https://www.amazon.com/WOLFBOX-Parking-Monitor-Reverse-Support/dp/B0BRLYT8M1?pd_rd_w=BJmEe&content-id=amzn1.sym.55c0153f-1fb7-42ff-8241-d1c0f3732289&pf_rd_p=55c0153f-1fb7-42ff-8241-d1c0f3732289&pf_rd_r=SFYCBZHM01N2A4X5232M&pd_rd_wg=lMCg4&pd_rd_r=f07b3bb8-0a43-43fb-a8b1-49fa772e9354&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWxfdGhlbWF0aWM%3D
So I had to pick to leave both sunvisors either up or down indefinitely. The 10" versions camera might stick out enough to block the visor anyway though.

Still worth it to me though. Had another brand, it was a Rexing M2 from BestBuy in my old daily. Never had any issues with that brand either, but the camera is much better in lowlight and with headlights on the Wolfbox.

Had to get a cable extension too, atleast for how I routed the wires to the rear camera.

 

^^ this, I use my rear cam to monitor my motorcycle trailer when i haul it. also shows the rear when reversing.

 

I put in the 10". it still blocks the visors. Also needed the cable extension. routed it into the cab through the boot in the back of the driver side jump seat bin. I'm planning on putting one in my dads 99. I'll take some pictures this time.

 

This is kinda my thought exactly. I think the truck has genuinely impressive visibility. Having daily driven sedans and crossovers, and driven commercial trucks with no rear window – I can get used to driving anything – but there is a certain low level anxiety driving with compromised vision, that I don't have with the Tacoma.

I could imagine a single cab having the best overall visibility, but I don't think any new vehicles are touching these trucks, esp. with bigger A pillars, higher window lines, etc.

I guess at the end of the day I'll have to weigh the visibility benefit vs. the convenience of a shell.

 

These do look pretty clutch. I wonder if there is a mod or similar unit that allows the visors to clear.

 

I was thinking of 3D printing a bracket to remove the OEM mirror and just hold the wolfbox. This would allow it to sit a little further forward and help some. I'm not sure modding would be possible unless you wanted to cut your visors because the space between them is less than 10"

 

What if you printed a bracket to mount it to the dashboard? Might take some getting used to not looking up, but with the digital mirror you can put it where ever you'd like. Easier to route the cables out of sight from there than up on the mirror as well. Front dash cam position wouldn't be as good though.

 

2004-2006 I had what many would desire. A color matched canopy. If I remember correctly we sold it on Craigslist for $150. I did not like the lack of visibility. Taking it on and off was a chore. I'm getting a backup cam for Christmas as all our other vehicles have cams and I'm tired of looking at my tape deck when in reverse.