Camper Shell quest

Hello all,

Thanks for stopping by. I am in the process of looking for camper shells. Ideally I would like an aluminum camper shell but recently stumbled across an outfit in LA that offers factory seconds at a decent discount; even considering the tax rate.

In Las Vegas the fiberglass run from $2300-$2500 plus tax. The aluminum are about $2200-2400 plus tax. The one in LA I found is $1600 color matched fiberglass.

This is enough of a discount to make me consider picking up a fiberglass cap instead. What I am wondering is how hot is the camper shell in the summer time? Assuming you have the sliding windows open and are driving down the road how hot is it back there? I live in the desert SW so hot summer days mean 110++. Can you insulate the shell enough and install a 12v fan to cool it down to 75-80°?

With the aluminum I planned on running a fan and using good old fashioned thermodynamics. Ceramic paint on the inside roof of the camper shell and something on a rack just above the roof. With the sun not directly on the the top of the camper shell anytime there is airflow there would be heat being removed from the inside of the camper shell. It won't be much but I think it would be cooler than a fiberglass camper.

I have never owned a fiberglass shell so I am not sure what to expect. Thanks for your help!
-M