Leer 100XR, ARE X-Series, Snugtop Rebel!?

I just got my new DCLB Off-Road and now I'm looking for a shell. I've read all available info, comments, suggestions, and reviews, but I still can't decide which one I should get!
When I compare Leer 100XR, ARE X-Series, and Snugtop Rebel they all seem to be very similar in regards to quality, craftsmanship, warranty, and pricing. Any recommendations or advice is appreciated!

 

I'm in a similar situation, and have been torn between Leer and ARE. People seem to be happy with their Snugtop shells but I don't like that they seem to come down close to the stickers. I realize it's just cosmetic and doesn't affect the quality, but I'm a little OCD about it.

If that doesn't bother you, I don't think you will regret any of those choices and you still have a difficult decision to make.

 

There all good tops, I have had all 3 over the years. That being said, the dealer/installers is the key, good luck with hunt. I do like my Snugtop the best, but it was the most$

 

Same boat here. I wish there were somewhere you could go and try all of them back to back. Or even a website that could use a picture of your truck and let you virtually change them out back and forth.

 

Facing the same decision for my DCLB SR5. I had a Leer 180 on my 07 Access Cab and liked the quality and style. But, I have no experience with ARE or Snugtop.

 

I'll toss in my 2 cents...disclaimer though, I've only owned an ARE, but heavily researched LEER and Snugtop.

ARE: quality of the shell was great, and the place that installed it did a great job, and it NEVER leaked. It was a top of the line Z-series. Had the best/burliest/highest quality rear window and hinges of all three makers in my opinion. Only thing that sucked was it took several months to get the shell. ARE customer service is the absolute worst, and after the fact the dealer told me they always have issues with warranty claims and communication and taking forever to get back to them from ARE. My experience reflected this. Their customer service sucks.

Snug top: Decided against Snugtop because the shell I was checking out (Rebel) is just plain fugly and doesn't look right on the 3rd Gen. Also, if you're east of the Mississippi warranty support is nonexistent as they only have dealers in the west. So if you're back east and need parts you're SOL, and Snugtop will not ship you parts directly because they require you to go through a certified dealer. Total deal breaker there. Apparently their customer service blows as well, and I think their shells are a bit overpriced, and their quality seems to be hit or miss.

LEER: This is who I probably should have went with. Although the hardware for the rear window didn't seem as sturdy/burly (on the higher end models) as the ARE, it still appeared very good. They are also manufactured a few hours from where I live, and a dealer I spoke to said they have had good luck with warranty claims and customer service with LEER. They aren't cheap though.

If I had to do it again I would probably go with LEER. A little more expensive than ARE, but a quicker turnaround and faster delivery, and supposed better customer service. I'd be fine paying more than an ARE based on just that. Seriously, I got the impression that the people at ARE actually go out of their way to piss off their customers and ignore them! They wouldn't even return calls to the dealer who tried and tried to get them on the phone to figure out why my shell was taking so long.

 

Thanks for taking the time and writing this review! That's exactly what I was hoping for helping me make a decision.