A.R.E. or Leer?

Just bought 2019 TRD sport DCLB. About to purchase a camper shell but I’m torn between the ARE CX series and the Leer 100R. Apples to apples, they are about $20 difference in price with the options I want. No Snug Top dealer local so not considering them.

Does anyone have any positive or negative experiences or feedback to provide. Does one have a better warranty or fit/finish?

I had an ARE on my last Tacoma but I found it on Craigslist, the color matched and the price was right so no arguments there. This time I’m ordering a new shell with the options/accessories that I want but I can’t make up my mind!

Suggestions or advice welcome.

 

sub'd.

Looking for same info.

 

I looked at the ARE CX and 100R caps also. Both are nice. Ended up going with the CX Revo. A little more dollars but I’m happy with the purchase. The moulded to fit one piece rear window is nice. Fits like a glove. The cap leaks between the bed rail and cap. No surprise. Don’t know why the installers don’t use a better seal. Will get this sorted when it warms up a bit.

Check out my initial thoughts.

 

I don’t think there’s much difference between them. My personal experience - I’ve had 2 Leers and 1 ARE. The Leers I’ve had no problems with. I know the Leers put extra coats of paint and the paint lasts forever. After 9 years my current Leer looks like new. It does have a small leak around the rear sliding window which I will fix. Leers are well made shells. The ARE was several years ago and I liked it overall. But it also leaked and the paint started going bad at 5 years. It had patches that were faded out. For me my choice would be Leer. Here’s a pic of my current Leer at 8 years old(it’s dirty in this pic)

 

I've had both. Both the paint match was spot on and was still good when I sold the trucks after 8 and 11 years. Fit and finish were about the same... shitty considering what you pay for them. Whether they leak in the front depends on the installer. Be sure to get a coupon off of web, both offer them.

 

Personally I like ARE, the designs are similar enough but ARE has beefier hinges/ more hidden hardware when it comes to glthe glass (from what I've seen). I went with the ARE CX evolve for the better look. The Revo looks a little sexier but no windoors so that was a deal breaker for me .

 

Another ARE CX owner here, Leer was having some QC issues when I got mine but from what I've seen lately they're pretty much the same. Pick the features you need then the ones you want then find what best fits your requirements. Now find a reputable dealer that can do the initial install correctly.

I will say that, in hindsight, I wouldn't get another shell without the Windoors like the ones on the truck pictured. I really hate that I didn't get them and they cost an arm and a leg to buy after the fact. Other than the roof rack tracks (which are easy enough to install yourself and you can find cheaper; it may void your warranty though if you install them yourself so ask), I'd plan on getting what you want at the time of purchase as all of the manufactures charge a lot to add anything later. I also wish I'd gone with a midrise like my previous shell because I sleep in the back of mine and added a drop down front slider window to allow easier cleaning of the glass.

 

Most people want the camper shells that are even with the top of the cab. I guess they think it looks better. But a shell that slopes up about 6 inches above the cab is way better. When you crawl around in the back or sleep back there an extra 6 inches of height makes a huge difference. The cab high ones makes it quite difficult unless you are on the small side. I’ll take functionality over perception of looks anytime.

 

Not everyone chooses a streamlined or even with cab roof shell just for "looks". The higher the shell's roof is just makes it harder to load if you have a rack or basket mounted on top of the shell. Also gas mileage is better improved with a streamlined shell. Another poster reported his racks barely cleared indoor parking areas due to the raised roof of his ARE MX:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/snugtop-hi-liner-on-2015-v6-4x4-access-cab-too-tall.599728/

Pros and cons exist for either roof heights and not just for "looks".

Back to OP, I chose an ARE CX after talking to several dealers. They liked both ARE and Leer but said ARE was easier to deal with and had great customer service/support. ARE had better and closer color matches than Leer if that matters. Also Leer does not offer a no emblem option but ARE does. Both companies have had issues with their all glass rear hatch doors.

 

I bought my truck with an ARE Z-series cap on it and recently sold it for a Leer 122. Was much more impressed with the sturdiness and attention to detail of the ARE build quality. Fiberglass is fiberglass but the hardware and windows on the Leer feel much more thrown together.

 

Got a few quotes from a place near me today for a Z series, and V Series A.R.E., To be honest, I thought they were going to be more expensive but was not shocked with the price range. Also, the dealer was saying they are having issues with the windows on the CX Revo and are not taking orders for them at this time. This was the model I was interested in prior to heading there. Any ideas what this guy was talking about. I am heading to another place to look this weekend.

 

I'd be curious to find out if ARE have stopped production of the Revo cap also.................Anyone else have knowledge of this?

 

Whatever you go with, make sure you get windoors. I'll toss in my vote for a LEER:

 

@nl_tacoma, yes, they stopped production on the Revo. I was just about to purchase that very shell and saw a thread about them discontinuing production. I went to my local A.R.E dealer and confirmed that they had indeed stopped production due to issues with the frameless setup. They have had issues with the air shocks coming unglued to from the window and the weight of the door tweaking the hinge. (Note that I am paraphrasing our conversation) The other A.R.E caps have internal frames which the shocks attach to instead of directly to the glass. I think that I'm going to go with the Z series instead of Revo, just to be safe.

OP, there are some decent Leer/ARE comparison videos on youtube that go over pros/cons for both. The ARE hinges are beefier than Leer, as previously mentioned.

 

I like windoors because they are like windows but doors.

What model you rocking there?
I have not written off leer yet. Especially since all the ARE models have a continuous hinge on them except the Z.

 

100R

 

100R...WINDOORS FTMFW

 

HELL YEAH

 

Thanks for the info. I’ll have to ask my dealer what ARE will do for existing owners. No issues with mine to date.

 

I would recommend searching Craigslist for one I bought a used leer for $700 when a new one would of close 2k+