Show me your A.R.E. Overland Shells

Hey everyone, I'm considering getting an A.R.E. Overland shell for my 2010 Tacoma doublecab. Would love to see how this looks on other Tacomas first. Does anyone have examples to share? Thanks in advance

 

I love mine. Paint Matched.

Talk to the place/installer you purchase it from and tell them you want the finish to be like new. NO SCRATCHES, Bent window tracks, no sharp unfinished (wildly sharp like scalpel point and blade) edges, etc. Ask them to also remove any of the black sealer that finds it's way onto the paint or glass/plastic during install and transit.

I spent a couple hours over two or three days cleaning up the manufacturers failures to detail the manufacturing correctly. Cut the f#@& out of my finger first time I went to open the side windows on an unfinished edge. sanded some, filed others, painted them and now all good....but pretty crappy after spending silly money on the paint matched maxed out with options topper. Just a heads up on my experience.

Overall, it's definitely worth the money to me. I love it, super strong, great addition and I got a Bed Glide in it too so it's really usefull. I use it every day.

 

Those pics are crappy, let me know if you want more with any particular details.

 

Hey thx for sharing man, this is great feedback. Has your shell had any issues supporting your RTT?

 

No issues at all with strength and capacity for loads. It was the bigger 23-0 , Bundaburg model with Annex room. I’ve got Yakima tracks and the light weight bars too. I weigh 200 and my wife 150.

 

I just got quotes from our one local A.R.E. dealer on an overland and a Z series...no windoors or lighting.
Z Series with front slider, headliner, colour match, sliding side windows, roof rack (basic): $6,615 CAD

Overland with the same options, and pet guards on the side sliders: $5,487 CAD

That’s not going to happen, I might as well buy a used travel trailer.
I can’t get over the fact I used to sell canopies for less than $1,000
Granted that was 25 years ago lol

 

Not the best picture to feature the ARE cap, but, used, $250, in perfect condition.

 

Only other shot I have handy.... The original invoice was in the bag of misc hardware that I got with it. Buyer paid $2900 and change in 2010. He was apologizing over the "high price" (of $250) when he sold it. I have a Yakima roof rack for it (still on garage floor)

Handy as a shirt pocket. Safe place to lock stuff up. keep things dry, and if I ever get tired of it, a potential profit!

 

Taco canopies never go up for sale used around here, I’ve been watching for years now. You sure got a stellar deal though!

 

I watched Craigslist for 3 years....NOTHING. Then about 5 of 'em popped up inside of a month. This was still the cheapest, but some decent buys around $600/$700.

 

Frozen Taco, Maybe a shipping issue into Canadian province? Maybe try travel to nearest US Installer , and combine a trip to something cool (like Expo West) with buying a topper? Sounds like the difference would more than pay for the trip.

 

Anyone know if the A.R.E. Industrial canopies, (the ones with the side storage compartments DCU max etc.) require air bags? In other words how heavy are they?

 

Have to call. The weights are listed on all the others, just not the ones you’re looking for/the heaviest. https://www.4are.com/contact/