Caps and toppers

Hi guys,

Brand new member and brand new owner of 2013 TRD sport! I'm happy to join the taco world and looking forward to learning all about the truck.

That being said... Which cap do I get?? Snugtop xv, Leer or ARE? I'm leaning towards Snugtop because of the relationship with Toyota and it overall sounds better. I have two labs, I camp and haul medical implants for work so no leaks.

Thoughts? Thanks guys!

 

Search for "Shell" in thread titles and you'll get plenty of reading material.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/forums/tonneau-covers-caps-and-shells.198/

Lots of info here. I have a snugtop rebel and love it. On a previous truck I had a leer. The only problem with the leer I had was it leaked a little up by the cab in heavy rain. Not sure if it was the cap or the install but it was very minor.

 

I have a snugtop XV and i love mine, had to sleep in the bed unplanned one night and it was great, had the sliding windows with bug screens open for air flow, worked perfectly

 

Great! Thanks guys, I've been researching about a week and have my mind made up on the Snugtop, I'll post pictures once it's on

 

I owned a LEER 100r on my '06, and a LEER 100xl on my '13 and '14. Both excellent, like the looks of the XL better. Snug top looked to rounded and puffy to me, AREs are nice but even more than a LEER. My 100r was 6 years old when I traded the truck and looks new. The new owner now has 205,000 on it and still has the cap on it.

Don't forget to pop for the removable slider window or live with a filthy back window. If you buy a LEER, go to their website and apply for their competitive coupon and save $50 or more. Do this BEFORE you order the cap and give it to the dealer. LEER discounts it out of their pocket and not the dealers.

 

Thanks! Appreciate the advice... it's funny you mention the rounded puffy look, I see Leer and Snugtop Tacomas all over Colorado and the Leers do look better to me.

Do you know if you can get the 100xl installed with Yakima rails/rods? Thanks again for the tips!

 

Leer uses Thule tracks and ARE uses Yakima. The bases needed will fit either.

 

Snugtop

 

Snugtop Rebel on mine, then had the tracks installed afterwards. Using Yakima bars.

 

I have a Leer 100XR and installed Yakima racks later. So far the whole setup has been nice, though I have had light leakage near the cab as another poster mentioned. I think it was due to water running under the plastic bed protector in the corner of the bed, which the cap doesn't conpletely cover. I added some extra weather stripping and haven't noticed any leaks since.

 

That was the reason I went with Snugtop, the cap extends below the bed rails. I have had zero leakage.

 

I have a snugtop and really like it. I bet other models/types are nice too.

 

That's one of my set backs with the Leer, I hear they leak near the front...

I've also heard they're cheaper but maybe not as good of quality? Really, I just want it to look good, cover the crap in the bed without getting wet, easy to remove and decent visibility for an affordable price. Let's see some pics fellas, help me concour my OCD!

 

No matter what cap you buy, you MUST put something across the paint where the cap door rubber hits the tailgate or it will rub down to bare metal.

With all 3 of my trucks I pulled the plastic tailgate cap, put a strip of 2" wide rubber tape across, then reinstalled the top cap. I typically mark with masking tape where the rubber gasket hits the paint before I disassemble it. They make a clear protector that you came have installed but my cheap black tape works just fine. If installed right,mounding see it with the cap door closed.

I only had one leak issue in 3 trucks, they put a double strip up front because of how the bed sides are fastened creating a step.

 

That's great advice.

I purchased a roll of clear rocker guard from Pep Boys and threw it on and have had zero issues. My cap comes off in the summer, but I'm thinking it might be worth it to leave the tape on year round as it can't hurt.