What shell to get!

Hi All,

I want to add a camper shell to my 2020 Tacoma, any good recommendations on shells?

 

I’ve got the leer 100xq because it was by far the best looking shell I could get my hands on. Snugtop has some good looking shells too but there are no dealers in my area.

 

I went with the leer 100xr. Customized the crap out of it so it's what I want. Now waiting for it to get made and delivered. Looked at are and snug top. But felt leer have me best value.

 

What do you think you will want to do with your shell?

If you mainly want a shell to act as a cover to keep gear dry then you may be happy with a "cab-height" model with "windoors" (side windows that can be opened like doors to make cargo access easier).

If you envision sleeping and/or "camping" under this shell you may want to consider shells that are slightly higher - say 4" - than cab height because this added height often makes the difference between actually being able to sit fully upright under the shell - or not.

I am a new member here as well and I am also interested in this topic...

I hope to buy a 2020 Tacoma in the near future and I want to be able to at least sleep in the bed under some kind of shell.

I am torn between two alternatives:

1) a conventional "topper" like a Leer 180 or ARE MX
-- or --
2) a hybrid "pop-up topper" like Four Wheel Campers "Project M".

("Project M" is very interesting, but 3X as expensive as a conventional "topper"...)

So there you go! A classic trade study awaits you. The variables include cost, height, weight, purpose, color...
I have no experience with toppers (*) but others here do - I will let them relate their experiences...

(*) Unless you count a 52HP VW Diesel Pickup which we owned from 1982-1986 with a can't-remember-the-brand topper which took us to LOTS of national parks out west!

 

I have a new shell on order for my recently purchased tacoma. However, I had a shell on my last truck as well. Having spent many nights sleeping in my previous truck, I think when it comes to car camping, it is really preference. You can go with something like Project M and have the full topper with a lot more weight and bulkiness. Or you can go with just setting up a bed in the back of your truck.

We have a car tent from Napier https://www.napieroutdoors.com/product-category/suv-minivan-tents/. This way is nice because you have your bed in the truck and have a living room space in the tent for everything else. This way is also nice because you still have the shell on your truck for other uses instead of the big topper.

Just my two cents.