Is the high top shell worth it vs cab heigh for camping?

I’ve owned several different cab height camper shells over the years and recently have been using a soft topper over the summer, but I’ve got an itch for some winter camping and extended road trips and looking at buying another used hard fiberglass shell.

Does anyone have the high top variation of a camper shell, and if so do you think it’s worth it over the cab height? Does the couple inches more headroom make much difference? There are an endless amount of cab height shells for sale but it’s very hard to find a hightop one. It’s what I figured I would get this time but after months of looking I’m starting to question if it’s worth the wait for one to pop up.

Input and your experience is appreciated!

 

It depends on how you plan to use it and how often. Personally I'd say yes. My 1st gen had a taller shell, I went with a cab high on the current truck and regret it every time I sleep back there. I like the cleaner looks of the cab high and it's a bit easier to load my stuff on top but I want to be able to sit up and move around. When you're stuck in the back due to bad weather or just getting older and more beat up the extra room is welcome. Part of the reason I have zero use for a platform system (yes, I tried it in both trucks, half width and full width).

 

I'm 6'2" so my high top camper is absolutely worth it to me. Now if only Toyota made the bed just 2" longer...

 

You'll never regret getting a bigger TV or a taller shell.

I would've loved the tall version on my 1st gen.

 

I have a hi shell, totally worth it

 

Well worth it. Especially with a sleeping platform.

 

this is one of those questions that can really only be answered by you as it depends on how tall/big you are, what you intended on doing with the shell, and your own individuals tolerances

generally though if you're average height and you're going to be sleeping back there quite a bit, it's absolutely worth it

i had a fiberglass commercial cap w/ windoors on my truck until very recently, with full length drawers and a sleeping platform. It was awesome for beach trips with the family.

 

I'm only 5'10" and would be a lot happier if the bed were 6'5". Once you add a pillow I can barely stretch out and my feet are against the tailgate (I imagine you have to sleep diagonally)- not that big of a deal in the summer but it compresses the insulation in a sleeping bag during the winter. I can't fully sit up in the back with my ARE CX.

 

agreed, and personally I wish they made a single cab 8 foot bed still like the 80s pickups. That would be a small truck camper dream

 

100% worth it. The little bit more headroom makes it feels a lot bigger

 

I have the leer 122 and extra headroom is a game changer

 

I have a SnugTop cab height and a platform. Everytime I get back there I wish I had gotten the taller cap. I also stack my camp stuff on the driver's side so I wish I had a windoor on that side.

 

I have one of the taller shells you can get, and used every cubic inch of space this past week when I moved.

 

I just switched out from a Softopper (slightly below cab height) to a Lifetime contractor shell that's a few inches taller. Being able to sit up completely straight is great. I'm planning on adding some storage to the ceiling and maybe a way to attach backpacks to the side panels.

That being said, it's not tall enough to sit up straight when seated on the wheel wells, so I don't plan on making a permanent platform.

 

I don’t currently have a camper shell but many years ago I took an around the US and Canada camping trip in an F150 with a high top camper shell. There is no way I would do that with a short bed or a cab height camper shell. A high top is a must to me, the head room is absolutely worth it.

 

Its totally worth it... especially when you add a mattress and a platform, every inch counts. I have a snug top sport hiliner and I feel like its too small with a platform... cant imagine what it would be like without the extra headroom

 

I think the trucks look better with a high-top cap, too.

 

I often regret going with the cab-high shell, but at least I can reach my rod holders on the roof. Not sure I could if it was 4” higher.

 

I'm 6' tall and have a cab roof height shell. I regret it. I sleep in the back of the truck 30+ nights a year, and can almost sit up- but with a taller cap I could have a 4-5" platform to sleep on and store a bunch of stuff under that I don't normally use- spare hiking boots, etc. It's a huge amount of storage space that I'd love to have. If you only sleep a few nites a year in the back, I wouldn't worry about it, but if it's a second home, definitely go for the taller cap. Yes, they don't look as nice, but...

 

Mine is taller than cab height but not the tallest version ARE made. I'd totally go another level up! I do use a platform with a mattress about 5 inches thick. I can just barely sit up in bed.