Commercial shells, especially on DCSB?

Actually, Walt from TAV listed the AluCab shortbed weight earlier in this thread, 135 lbs.

 

Hey guys. Quick update. In order to get this demo unit sold as soon as possible I was told to include the stocked bins in the side hatches. The passenger side has a setting of four bowls, plates, silverware and other galley things. The driver side has recovery gear in it. I'll find some pics. Also. There is no difference in the 2nd gen and 3rd gen canopies. This one is for the long bed and needs to sell for $2,550.00.

 

2000 pounds? Really? You can't even put 2000 pounds in the bed of a Tacoma, well not without serious wear and tear.

Granted it's nice to know that you will never hurt the thing no matter what you throw up there, but the term overbuilt comes to mind.

 

Oh I agree, 2000lbs is complete overkill. Well, unless you were into the whole RTT orgy scene, then maybe it's the right choice. From reading reviews and discussions on several other truck forums, it seems like Caravan Camper is the company that many full size truck types turn to after washboard roads rattle apart their commercial aluminum canopies.

I like a lot of the features of the Alu-Cab but I've already decided that my next topper will have dual back doors, not a tailgate and hatch. I'd be willing to even settle for a single door if it were strong enough to mount a spare tire on.

 

I don't know much about the Caraban Camper but the Alu-Cab is engineer for Off road use, and it's seal dust pretty good from what I have reading/searching

 

There is a YouTube channel for 4xOffRoad, hosted by Andrew St. Pier White. He does an entire Africa expedition with an AluCab on a stock pickup. He seems to love the thing, especially the dust seals. (He comments on it in several of the episodes)

 

I saw the video several weeks back, and that video probably sold me to an Alu-Cab canopy

 

Dust proofing a shell is relatively easy when you compare it to dust proofing the plastic bed on a Tacoma. I remember talking about this a while back with @tacodoc. The majority of dust that he dealt with was actually coming in from under the shell. IIRC, he had to take the plastic bedrail covers off and RTV his topper right to the bedrail itself. FWIW, most of my wheeling has been in a 1st gen which didn't even have a cabin air filter, so perhaps my view on dust is different.

I want to like the Alu-Cab but I'll reserve my judgement til I can see one in person. It'd also still be nice if they made one with a door that replaces the tailgate.

 

Are these available anywhere in Southern Cal? I'm in the market right now and would like to see one.

 

I almost bought one of these caps off Craigslist for 300 bucks. Sometimes I wonder why I listed to my wife....

 

Here's a Leer commercial shell I was eyeing last year. I found it on CL, but the seller was too far away to make the whole transaction practical. The price was around $300 too, so it was a hell of a deal.

 

Roof height too. That's a steal! If they ever come up they are always far higher than the cab height top.

 

Here's my new shell, I just brought it home today.

 

^^^ Tradesman (Access Mfg)? Or the more common Leer or ARE?

 

It's called a Workmate by Lifetime camper shells out of San Bernardino.

 

How much did this thing run you?

 

I paid $2800 for it. I know a little pricey, but I didn't hold back, I got everything but the kitchen sink on this one. So far though, I'm not overly impressed with it's quality. Some of the welds look great, but others look like a pile of poop, The paint on the window trim is faded, there are screw tips coming through the window gaskets and one of the side doors is not level. After speaking with the owner he told me that he would fix everything on it. I hope so, if he does, I'll be happy with it. I wish I would have at least looked at an Au-cab. I went with the workmate for two big reasons: 1- they were able to color match it for pretty cheap 2-it is manufactured about 35 miles from my house.

 

That's a little pricey. I probably wouldn't go that hard on mine option-wise but it pretty much is exactly what I want. Especially the roof height. Hey, noticed the FD emblem thingee on your profile...who you work for?

 

Yeah, I had sticker shock too when I got it. I didn't like the height at first. I originally wanted it cab hi, but they said that this was the lowest they made. It's really grown on me now, I like the extra room I've got with it. I'm a fireman for the City of Barstow, in southern California. What about you?