My Alu Cab review

Open it facing toward the front. Rarely do I run with other vehicles so it’s always in clean air. If you’re following someone close on a dusty road it will suck in some dust.

 

Anybody have any experience with the rubber latch covers that can now be ordered with the Alucab to reduce the amount of moisture that gets into the latches and could pose a problem in freezing conditions?

 

I am no help. I ordered them after I ordered my alu cab. To date only 1 has got here (been a couple months) because I assume supply chain issues. I went all winter and never had any issue with them freezing though. I also can't say I tried to or had to open it during really extreme cold or after a cold/wet drive (where you'd get melted snow but still freezing temps).

 

As a fellow northwesterner. I have ran into similar issues to everyone else, but I have a few things that helps with the locks freezing or snow getting jammed in the mechanism.
1 - use some synthetic grease and fill the inside of the keyhole with it. This prevents ice from forming and freezing.

2- when going skiing or up in the mountains always relatch the latches when the door is open. This prevents the annoying build up of wet sticky snow in the latch

 

Getting mine installed soon and appreciate the honesty and solid feedback in here. Upgrading from leer and had same issues with t handles in freezing and after wet weather. Always used graphite spray in key holes and keep a long handle lighter to heat up key hole if needed in cab. Not sure if they are plastic how that will work. Same issues with dust on leer due to tailgate gaps but hoping butyl tape and foam seals this better. I will Mention this to mule when they install.

 

Thank you for this detail write up. I am also concerned about the plastic hinges. I just looked at a used one offered for $3200. Something had hit the hinge and it peeled back a bit. I guess they used some kind of glue on the hinge.

How are the hinges on your canopy now after couple years of use (since the write up) ? Thanks.

LN2022

 

I guess I'm overdue for an update on the canopy Looks like I've missed a few questions, I'll try to get caught up.

I still have it, still using it.

The hinges have been holding up. Yes, they are glued on. I haven't noticed or experienced any issues with them.

The latches have faded something fierce. They are no longer black:



I also added a vent similar to @nvnv and, for me, it has been a tremendous help. I leave it open on the aft edge most of the time unless I'm on the dirt, then I'll open it on the forward edge. It made a huge difference in the amount of dust I get. So much so that I haven't done any further work trying to seal the aft hatch. When I'm not on dirt I'll leave it cracked just to let the hot air out. I haven't measured with a thermometer, but it feels like the back of the truck is cooler on hot days than it used to get. It does seem like the fridge runs less with the vent open. I close it down to the first setting if it's raining, but honestly it hasn't let in much water. I get more water from the leak through the front window rubber.



The drip rails that I installed work great to direct water away from the rear hatch. I'd definitely do that again. They do collect pine needles if I don't drive the truck much. That's not often an issue though.



Speaking of doors, I did have to make a slight modification to the side doors. Somewhere they're getting water in them. I haven't been able to figure out where it's getting in; I haven't seen any paths or obvious entry points. It could be coming around the edge of the side door or through the paddle latches. It was pretty annoying as the leak would fill up the bottom edge of the door panel and then dump the water all over you and the inside of the truck when you opened it. My solution was to drill a small drain hole in the aft corner of the door, water buildup hasn't been an issue since:



So far it's still working for me

 

Alucab explorer has been great since i got it. So far used in all weather types. I used Dry lube on the latches right away and no issues in freezing cold and wet yet. I have had side door leakage i believe from top plastic hinge being to hard of plastic. May replace or seal better with caulking. But no issues with water anywhere else besides rear door when open and channeling like mentioned. This design needs to be better for rainy climates like PNW.

 

So I was set on an alu-cab Explorer but now see they've come out with a different model called the Contour. Based on what I can tell, it just has some sliding windows and they claim it is more robust than previous models. Also includes a positive pressure vent.
Do you guys thing it's worth the extra $300? I'm leaning toward it now since I wouldn't have to cut a brand new cap to add a vent, but at the same time actually don't really want the side glass windows/sliders for security purposes.
If anyone wants to weigh in I'd appreciate it.

https://ok4wd.com/alu-cab-contour-canopy-for-2016-toyota-tacoma/

 

If you don't like the windows I am pretty sure it can be had without. See second pic.
https://www.alu-cab.com/product/toyota-tacoma-contour-canopy/

 

Check this guy out. He also bought and talked about the explorer in another video.

https://youtu.be/k3lQbj2ehLY

 

Either way, I think you’ll be satisfied with whatever you end up purchasing. Good luck!

 

Thanks for the replies! I got some research to do.

 

of the caps available now, i'm leaning towards the Contour. i was holding out for RSI to show us their newly designed weatherproof latches, fabled to be operable from inside as well as out, but that's looking like vaporware. other than that, the GFC is a nice design but i wan't windows that open. the Contour is looking pretty good.

tho i'm not sure if they have 6' versions available yet.....

 

Just got put my order in for a short bed Contour.

I've been looking at the various options out there – RSI, GFC, and RLD – and ended up going with the Alu Cab Contour. The weight and window were the deciding factors.

It was tough because what I really wanted was a hybrid between Alu/GFC/RSI. (the light weight aluminum that doesn't rust, the ability to assemble/disassemble, the convertibility of a popup camper that be entered from the inside, windows/side doors, etc.)

Let me know if anyone wants a pre-and post install review on the contour and I'll add it here.

 

My Contour should be here in a few weeks and I'm stoked. My only issue may be transporting it home, since my bumper has a swingout tire and I can't drive down the highway with it out and tailgate down. I'm tempted to bring an impact driver and just bolt it down for the hour ride home. Or maybe put it in the bed sideways and strap it until I get it home for install. Any thoughts?

 

i guess the arm can't be removed from the bumper?

 

It could... would just be a PIA because my backup cam is mounted to it and I forget if I would have to cut it to take it off. Also all my completely necessary accessories are mounted to it like my spare and maxtrax. I guess I was just looking for a work around before I got to that, but if all else fails that's my fallback.

 

I'm interested in a pre and post install review.

the contours are in stock and are a little cheaper than the rsi. i like the looks of rsi, but the weight and price on the contour

 

I just ordered a Short Bed Contour from OK4WD and I already received a call to come pick it up for install. Waited less than a 2 weeks for it to arrive. Hoping to drive out the OK4WD in New Jersey to get it installed in the next 2 weeks. I will post an initial review and some photos after the install.

After no longer owning a Leer 100XR cap, I began my research and spent several hours comparing Alu-Cab, GFC, RSI SmartCap, and RLD Design and slimmed it down to either a Alu-Cab or GFC Topper. Through TacomaWorld I heard RLD Design was having some QA/QC issues and for the price point, long wait period, and shipping cost/dealer location it was a no for me. RSI SmartCap was almost my decision until I saw the weight comparison to the Alu-Cab and GFC. I thought hard about the pros/cons of the fabricated aluminum of the Alu-Cab and GFC compared to the stainless steel of the SmartCap and so no benefit in the stainless steel, so that knocked SmartCap out. Now for the GFC haha... GFC was honestly my top choice and here's why - 1. USA born, manufactured and sold 2. The weight to strength ratio was insane and their design was unique 3. Had front and rear windows which were most important to me concerning windows AND 4. I think the GFC community would be awesome to be apart of since the company seems like it was a group of friends who got together, started making bada** toppers, and most importantly stand behind their product NO MATTER WHAT. However, what made me decide on Alu-Cab boiled down to one major factor, price!! Let's be honest, it aint easy to get your hands on a GFC if you live on the Eastern side of the US. And living in PA it was going to cost me just over $6,300 to be back at home with a GFC Topper installed on my Tacoma ($5,700 for the GFC topper w/ their roof racks and roughly $600 for gas/food/and a 1 to 2 night stay). Simply put I could not swing that type of an investment just for a tacoma truck cap. So, Alu-Cab it was and after all the research Alu-Cab had many overlapping features that the GFC had and then some. And the price was right at just over $4,000 and I think it'll look great on my army green tacoma.

FYI - I initially had a Leer 100XR w/ windoors installed and am sad to say I will never own a Leer fiberglass cap again. Not trying to badmouth anyone but my dealer (American Automotive Solutions - Johnstown, PA) and Leer (Williamsport, PA) were absolutely horrible to deal with on a warranty issue. After about 2 months of owning my Leer cap, a crack (that went through the clear coat, paint layer, and gel coat) started to appear under the corner of one of the windoors. I simply reached out to both my dealer and Leer on what needed to be done to fix this. Seemed like a minor problem until months of going back and forth on trying to get this resolved, and the crack became bigger and started to spider web out....Long story short, over a year has passed and after many phone calls to my dealer and Leer on still trying to get someone to fix the crack, I about had it with dealing with both of them and said "at this point no one has done anything to help get this crack fixed and it has gotten worse, can I return the cap? Bc I would no longer like to deal with either of you and bought a cap that Leer nor the dealer would stand behind." So Leer decided to do a return of the cap instead of repair it. AT THIS POINT - I currently no longer have the Leer Cap and it has taken me over 4 months of phones calls and physical visits to the dealer to get only part of my money back (still short $496). Within that 4 months Leer took my cap back and then my dealer/Leer fought on who should give me my money back, putting me out over $3,600 for over 4 months. Things finally seemed to resolve themselves but now the dealer is not willing to pay me back the PA state sales tax from the purchase of the cap and has shorted me over $100 on the Leer cap refund.

Needless to say, with my experience with Leer and this dealer...... DO NOT BUY A LEER CAP!!!! I could literally write a book on the horrific experience I went through with them and it was something that could've been taken care of so easily from the beginning.