All Things Bikes and Tacos! (...and every vehicle imaginable)

You don't have to spend $4k on an alucab cap unless you really wanna build out an overlander. Used fiberglass truck caps are everywhere on craigslist and cost no more than $2k, often less. I had one on my tacoma for about a year and only spent $400 on it, then I sold it for about the same when I got a pop-up camper.

There's also the soft topper route if you want some coverage for winter/road trips but the ability to use the tailgate for bikes. My buddy does that on his Taco and it seems like a great option!

 

I have had a shell/cap since a few months after I bought my truck in 2017. Back then, a color-matched Leer 100XR was $2215 + tax. I'm guessing the price has gone up 7 years later??

 

My following looks soo good though! Bikes should be fun and not boring black.

Kinda makes me want to paint my 1st gen Lunar Rock.

 

Sweet. That place is about half a mile from my house. Good spot.

 

100% agree. Most I've ever spent on a cap is $700. Takes a bit to find them on craigslist, especially if you're looking for the correct color, but I've been able to find them online for 3 trucks so far. None of my 2nd hand caps were the contractor grade ones, suitable for a RTT.

When I was pricing out a new cap for my truck, i was quoted $2,500 +/- depending on options for a basic fiberglass cap. One built to support weight on the roof would have put the base price over $3k.

 

Speaking of, I actually got one of my Callings repainted to Lunar Rock from Angry Dolphin (the clear coat was flaking badly and the paint beneath was so faded).

 

I must be doing it wrong. I run a shell full time and carry my bike tailgate style frequently. I hook up my utility trailer when I need to haul more than the topper will accommodate.

While an SUV would be 1000% better day to day, I enjoy having the bed to toss sweaty nasty gear in when needed.

Oh yea, I’ve had toppers on all my trucks. Never purchased a new one, only second hand. Most I’ve paid was $1200. Which I thought was a bargain for a color matched quicksand in 2018 considering the truck color had only been in production for 2 years at that point.

 

Before repaint pics:

 

I think @flipnidaho convinced me…
Think I’ll keep the Taco for another year and save some $$ to get into what I really want. A 2016 LX570…

 

Can you get 2 bikes in tailgate style under the canopy pretty easy? Then you just leave the back window open or what? Yours is my favorite looking on the quicksand. Cheapest I've seen used locally is about $2000 for like a Leer fiberglass. I'd much prefer something like RSI or GFC shell than a fiberglass.

Soft topper might be an option. My neighbor has a flated (or something like that) topper. It blows up and is built of like raft material? Kind of an interesting idea for a temp one.

 

i looked for about 6 months for a used one late 2022 into mid 2023 and only came across one top that would have worked on a short bed. it was a different color but would have fit.

other people were being quoted 3k+ for fiberglass from different dealers so i just went alucab for the weight savings. gfc and rsi would have been similar prices. i didn't look at dirtbox because they were still new, but weren't a lot of options when i was looking.

 

Yea you can fit multiple, and yes glass up. One or two is pretty easy. More bikes requires getting more creative with getting them loaded and closing the tailgate. It’s not an ideal situation if your carry more than two bikes frequently. For me running solo most often it’s super easy.

Old pic, but this is still my transport setup for most of my local rides. Small piece of pool noodle on the handlebar to keep the carbon pretty.

 

Have you guys seen these? Flated Air-Topper Not sure on pros and cons vs a soft topper. My neighbor has one and it goes on and off in seconds with one person which is cool. Obviously not as secure as a rigid cap but no worse than a soft topper.

 

For that price im buying at least a softopper. takes 4 mins to put on and off. I saw it and was like hell yea I'll get that to truck camp easy this summer. nope. was expecting $500.


My issues is partially that I have a bed cover currently and use that in winters since for everyday use, a topper is not it for me. Would only want it for truck camping/big road trips. cant have softopper mounted and bed cover mounts still on. and Im not taking the bed rails off and bed caps off 2x a year to switch between the two

 

Here she is!


Nope noodle!

Bam, right on the XT. Got it back in place and kept on riding. Shifting is “okay”

just gonna send it.

 

They call this one "mint" but I like the oddity of the color. Too bad on the brand going down the tubes lately . Have had all sorts of standard color bikes, but this one is definitely easy to pick out on the bike rack (been slowly replacing the black frame tape with clear ridewrap left overs - threw together what I had at the time to mitigate any cable rub).

 

With the new LCs coming out, there maybe a lot more LX570s available out there. I love my 100 series.

 

Hoping the new LC drives down the resale values of the older series with the influx of inventory on people trading up.
Then again, same will probably happen with my 3rd Gen.

 

well goddam. if only i were more patient. looks like deals on caps are popping up now
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/colorado-trading-post.148930/page-2057#post-29783644