Mismatched Camper Shell Buyers Guide/Compendium

Hi all, just thought I'd throw this here in hopes of helping anyone else out.
Also, been on the forums for a while, but this is my first post. Sorry if the format is ridiculous.

I had been looking for a camper shell for the past few months and was not having much luck in my search. I didn't really want to buy new.. spending that kind of dough on something that I wasn't even sure I would like to have on 24/7 seemed strange. And so began my long and arduous search for a used one.
I stumbled across a lot of caps for sale (thanks to Tacoma World) but none specifically in white, and DCLB that weren't in Socal or Texas. Being in Michigan, that's a bit of a hike and/or freight bill.
Finally I thought I found one. @Whitetrash was selling his SCLB cap in white down in Ohio. It turns out we had both done some research on this point, but still had some questions. In this research, we found a bunch of other people asking similar questions about mixing and matching cabs/caps... But it didn't seem like all of this information was in one place.

After I went down to take a look at @Whitetrash 's cap, we decided we should make a post compiling this information.
So, if you found a capper that doesn't necessarily match your cab (but, of course, matches your bed length) then I hope this helps you out.

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Cap from a SCLB on a DCLB. Fits, no bumping/rubbing, but there's a larger gap in the profile at the top where the cap meets the cab. Looks a little silly, but doesn't seem to cause any harm. (Though, I was a little worried the lip on the top would cause some crazy aerodynamics and act as a scoop. Didn't seem to be an issue after 330 miles home.)


Pulled this from another thread from @bendbolden in my research:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/access-cab-camper-shell-will-fit-regular-cab.192178/

ACLB topper on a SCLB. Opposite of the above, there's a smaller gap in the profile on the top. Some people on the thread above have noted rubbing of the cap against the cab in this case. Some seem to have made this work.


Anyone have a picture of a Double Cab capper on a single cab or access cab? My guess is that the double cab and access cab have the same profile on the back window (Echoing @HawkShot99 's thoughts). I.e. Access cab long box cap should fit a double cab long box.

Looking back after typing this all out it seems a little silly.... Obviously, you're going to want to find one that fits your make and model. I don't usually cut corners or compromise on this stuff, others don't seem to mind. But if you're just trying to save some dough, find a temporary stop gap, get something on before winter... whatever... I hope this helps.

 

The cab profile of a access and double cab is the same. They taper in at the top of the cab, while a single cab is straight verticle.
A single cab cap can go on a ac/dc, but will leave a largish gap. Basically just a visual issue.
A ac/dc cap will fit on a single cab, but is VERY easy for it to rub against the cab if their is any body flex.
The companies that I was checking out offer 3 model #'s for a cap model. 1 for a single cab, and 1 for the Ac/dc. Also 1 for the 5' DCSB.

 

I can throw in a picture of my 1st gen with a regular cab cap on on an extended cab.
It is pretty much exactly the same with first gens. The regular cab cap will fit on an extended cab, but not really the other way around.

 

This is a picture of the gap on my Tacoma. I have a double cab long bed. You can see how the Contour of the cap matches the Contour of the cab. If this was a regular cab, with the same cap, the cap would be sitting just shy of the back of the cab. That means if I was off roading or anything that would cause Body Flex the cab would rub against the front of the cap causing paint rub.

 

Does anyone have photos of a 2nd gen cap on a 3rd gen? The tailgate being different is enough to buy a new cap?

 

I believe the bedsides are taller as well. So the cap will physically fit but look terrible.

 

Thank you:
This is just for a "fleet" truck. Taking a cap off of a 2013 and onto a 2018. Looks aren't that important, but we are concerned with the tailgate.

 

@EatSleepTacos

 

I have a picture of a 1st gen on a 3rd gen.. saw on my travels

 

Thanks!
That is definitely a bad fit. 1st gens were smaller. But 2nd gens and 3rd gens are the same size. I think it will fit, just worried about the tailgate part.

 

The 3rd gen beds are 1” taller than 2nd gen

 

I guess that is what I will do. But was hoping to save a few hundred bucks.
Thanks for all the responses.

 

Here is a picture of my 2nd gen Access Cab with a Pro Tops cap taken from a 2nd gen DCLB. I know this config is the least questionable but just so there is a clear answer available, access cab and DCLB are exact matches. Pro Tops also confirmed for me that AC and DC fit caps are from the same mold so as long as the DC is long bed they are interchangeable.

 

I realize this is an older thread but does anyone have a picture of a 2nd gen DCSB topper on a 1st gen DCSB?? Will it fit?
used 1st gen DCSB camper tops are hard to come by!!

 

Good info

 

Antone have pics or know how a DCSB 1st gen cap would fit on a DCSB 2nd gen? Found a good deal on one but wanna make sure itll fit

 

Anyone know if a 3rd gen DCLB camper is also compatible with a 3rd gen access cab (just like with 2nd gens)?

 

I was at a shop the other day and they just asked my bed length not my cab, so I'm assuming they would fit.

 

Does anyone know if there are any differences in the 2018 long bed vs the 2019 long bed? I found a 2018 access cab long bed camper and I have a 2019 DCLB. Hoping It will fit.

 

No changes since 2016, They did away with the single cab so any LB shell from 2016 on will fit.