My Alu Cab review

Man… sorry about your experience with Leer. What a fiasco.

Onward and upward my friend. I think you made a solid choice. Your decision that brought you to the top two aluminum canopies on the market. It was a very similar decision making process for me. I think both GFC and Alu-Cab make solid options for canopies. I went with Alu-Cab as well. I really dig the look. I might have leaned more towards a GFC had their lead times, location, and price been closer to the Contour.

If you haven’t done it already, take this time to prep and seal the tops of the bed rails while you are waiting for your canopy to land. It’s super easy and just helps to keep things a lot cleaner back there.

some pics because what thread doesn’t need more pics?

 

Why do you tape on top of the side rail? What tape are you using? Also, what is your recommendation for sealing the gap in the front rail nest to the rear window?
Thanks.

 

That's a great looking setup you have! Love the look of the Alu-Cab on your truck too! I never thought of taping underneath those top bed rails. When I had my Leer installed I would constantly get water leaks on the sides of the bed rails and no doubt that is where it came from.

Thanks for all the advice!

 

As soon as you pull the top rail caps on the bed, it will become pretty obvious that, left unaddressed, the tops of the bed rail will funnel water in unless sealed off.

I got a lot of my guidance from the GFC forum page. I mean, you will not turn your taco’s bed area into a submarine or anything, but I feel with very little effort and investment, you can significantly improve the water and dust intrusion into the bed area.

You can go further than I did, but it’s best to address the areas that will be a PITA once you have a canopy mounted.

I go into more detail about what I did here. https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/gfc-finally-releases-the-new-topper.778711/page-8

Thanks for the kind words man. Like I said, both GFC. and Alu-Cab have some sweet options. I am happy with how it turned out.

 

How feasible is to remove and reinstall the side and rear doors if you want to use the cap that way occasionally? Safari or cabaña style, as it were. Thanks.

 

I used some “bed-it tape” butyl tape, commonly used in marine applications along each side of the bedsides around the mounting slots/holes. Had my Alucab installed and the shop used a putty in the front corners on top of my factory tonneau corner molding. I do get some minimal water intrusion from the front corner gap but have not tried to fix it.

 

Thanks Guys for your help and the link to your other post Road Bull. I like the AluCab but it is pricey, as is the GFC and the Smartcap. But they seem to be the best. I assume Road Bull you have no regrets with the AluCab? I've got a long bed and i see that the use the same side doors and then weld in place a couple of blanks for the added length for the long beds, guess this is no big deal. however the Smartcap seems to have a full length side door as does the GFC.

 

i thought the Smartcap also used the same door size for the long bed as for the short also. GFC seems to be the only one with full size doors.

 

Maybe someone who has a Smartcap on a long bed can tell us.

 

it amounts to the same thing in a lot of ways. while the doors on the RSI don't extend to the front of the bed, the GFC also makes you reach around the support bars to pull something out at the front.

 

My take. They are ALL expensive, so just make sure you get what you want. Honestly, I’d be happy with either GFC or Alu-Cab. Logistically, the GFC would have been a pain in the ass. I DO like the GFC’s translucent top, 360* mount points on exterior and how the back door seats on top of the plastic tailgate top. The Alu-Cab weather stripping may come into contact with body paint on tailgate if not adjusted correctly with proper spacing.

I am happy with my Contour. If you get a the newer Contour (really no reason not to) the doors are proportionally spaced unlike their earlier Expedition models. Check out the 6’ Contour pics. Some advantages with the Alu-Cab: Looks sharp. Add the silicone lock covers ($12 a cover x 6) to keep snow and freezing water out of latches. Roof rail storage, more usable storage at door level compared to GFC. A little more space between cab and canopy vs. GFC that might make it easier to clean rear cab windows.

The RSI canopy lost out early for me. The shape started to turn me off. But more importantly, their canopy is pieced together. People that see a lot of these have had heard people say that after owning them a few years, the gaskets between the pieces dry out and start to leak more and need tightening and or replacement.

 

just got my contour installed this morning. took about 4 hours from drop off to drive away.

initial thoughts after driving it for an hour, the rear view isn't bad. i drove for a month with no rear view mirror since my tent was in the way. with the contour on, its like the back seat head rests are up and you lose some visibility on the top end (where the roof of the canopy is).

I heard a little tapping under the footwell while driving. im guessing one of the wires needs to be zip tied or something. i'll check later since i just got to work and dont wanna roll around on the ground looking for a wire.

there isn't as much space on the bed sides to stand on compared to some other pictures i saw floating around here. i did install the total chaos bed stiffeners last night, so maybe there shouldn't be that much space?

the lip hangs over the tailgate a little more than i thought, but its contoured to fit it real nice with a gasket there.

the three position switch in the canopy is only on and off? whats the point of the third position then?

either way, im excited to use this through the winter. i'll buy some of those covers for peace of mind in the winter and i like the look.

 

New member here. This is a great thread with a lot of info. Thank you TacomaWorld community!

I'm in discussions with the only dealer/installer in AZ (out of Tucson) for the Alu-Cab Contour Canopy for my shiny new '23 DCSB. (I guessed from context that DCSB stands for double cab short bed but if I'm wrong, please correct me if I'm wrong so I don't embarrass myself further.)

I like many of the options Alu-Cab offers but with the options I want it gets very spendy.

My favorite option is the 560 Cupboard (1/2 length cupboard). I only found the link to the molle plate for it but it shows the cupboard:

https://www.alu-cab.com/?s=560+cupboard (Hope the link works. I just cut and pasted it.)

If I get my order in ASAP I'm looking at an April delivery.

If I end up with one I'll add my thoughts/impressions here.

 

Expecting my Contour Canopy in about two weeks. will start prepping my truck bed. Have any of you used this tape for weather sealing:
EternaBond RoofSeal Black 2" x50' MicroSealant UV Stable RV Roof Seal Repair Tape | 35 mil Total Thickness - EB-RB020-50R - One-Step Durable, Waterproof and Airtight Sealant

 

This is a great review-
I have a 1st gen with the same Alu topper that may be on its way out, looking at later models that would also fit the topper ( that is how much I love the Alu)
I have not had the dust issues in the 1st gen. I have had my topper for as long as my Tacoma and love it.
Yes, latches freeze, I am aware of the rubber hinges at the top that yes, somebody with a razor knife could slice through.
I love the Alu almost as much as my first gen.

 

Cross posting this here as well as the Let's see those Alu-cab setups | Page 69 | Tacoma World

Got the new back window installed. The fit is questionable. Looks like they changed the seal design from the riveted frame on the early one (which I have) to a bulb seal on the newer Explorers. Emailed Alu-Cab about it and waiting to hear back. Anyone with an early Explorer care to post some photos of the rear hatch glass?

Update: Heard back from Alu-Cab. Looks like somewhere along the way someone installed a wrong window on the back of the canopy. They used the window between the cab and front of the canopy on the back hatch. Trying to locate the correct seal now.