Fear of the sag

I have a love hate thing going with shells. I have one, it’s sitting off to the side right now. I like the ability to change around the bed whenever. Lifting the shell off is kind of a pain in the ass but I use a compact tractor with forks. I’ve had the Diamondback hd tonneau, and didn’t like the look of the diamond plate, changed the length of its front panel struts to make it open to a full 90 degrees. Just sold a decked drawer system, I like that too but didn’t like the lack of height. Now I’m liking the idea of the @BamBeds. But not gonna spend any money right now.

 

Find out how much shell weighs and
get that many pounds of people in the bed and measure sag.

 

I have a Snugtop Rebel shell and a Headstrong 1.5” 3-leaf AAL. I put the AAL on first, measured the lift, and then installed the shell, which immediately took it down 1/2” (so I ended up at 1” above stock with the camper on). This thread made me want to re-measure my lift back there to see if/how much it has actually sagged. Almost exactly 1 year ago I measured 37 5/8” from the ground to the middle (bottom) of fender flare on both sides (after the AAL and shell). Today it is sitting at 37 1/2” on both sides. So I’ve had 1/8” of sag since - not including any tire wear (which I’m sure is probably ~1/16” of that 1/8” loss).

Others may have different results, and not all AALs are created equal, but I think approx. 1/16”-1/8” of sag over the course of a year on a brand new AAL isn’t too bad. I’ll have to re-measure in another year and see if it stays the same or not from here on out.

 

Thanks everyone. Just pulled the trigger on the Bakflip MX4. Delivers tomorrow. Hilariously, about an hour ago I'd decided to get the snug top rebel. I even got my keys and walked outside to drive over to buy it and get it put on. The minute I walked outside and saw my truck I thought "dammit, I love how this thing looks. I don't want a shell on it. I want a truck." Then I went back inside and ordered the Bakflip tonneau. Honestly? I'm a dad with two little ones. I don't need a shell on a truck anymore for nomadic wandering... I need a place to put all of our gear when surfing and going to sports practices etc. I don't know if anyone cares but thanks for helping me mull it over. I'm psyched to keep the look exactly the same on my truck and get what I need. I'll post up photos once I get it in.

 

You will be happy with the BakFlip MX4. I have had mine for 4½ years and it is still holding up well.

 

Baloney [insert ad nauseum]

A quality AAL is just that, it's simply adding leafs to the existing leafs.

A friend has been running Wheelers AALs for about for about 7yrs on his 2014 with a Leer shell. No sag.

I've been running Wheelers AALs about 3yrs on my 2019 with an ARE shell, maybe 1/8" sag due to tire wear if that.

I'm sure all these experts claiming sag have tested every maker's AALs on the market and then rechecked them after a few years.

 

Well crap. I ordered the Bak from a local dealer (to speed things up) and it was to come in this morning. Apparently the guy forgot to order it yesterday and now it's coming in on Tuesday. As I hadn't paid for it yet - I told them to hold off. SOOOOO I'm back to thinking about a shell again. Paralysis by analysis. I have three shell choices near me - the snugtop rebel, the leer 100xr, and the snugtop gb sport. All around the same price. All color matched and fit my truck..... OR I think I would go Leer HF350m tonneau or the Bakflip MX4. I think the Bak is now out because I really don't want to drill into my bed if I can help it. Anyone have and love the Leer HF350M? Looks like an easy install and no drilling. I just don't NEED a shell. Not like I used to. Just thinking out loud. Blah.

 

No, wait. HF650m. Not the 350. The 350 is no good I think.

 

I did AAL with long bed snug top sport with tools and I am dead even.

 

Air Lift bags being installed at the moment. Seriously looking at a Snugtop that the same place pimps. I like the fact that a shell provides security (especially in Baja) when we go into a supermarket to stock up for the trip south. I do love the no shell though.

 

In my experience AAL will more closely retain a factory ride when unloaded than air-bags.

 

Had them on my 1st gen Tundra with Snugtop and they worked perfect. Especially whilst loaded down for an adventure.

 

Mas Olas - if you're talking Olas and Baja then you must surf. I'm wondering if a good, solid, tonneau is better for storing boards then a shell with windows....

 

@McFlysRide
Check out MasOlas.com for the answer. I always kept boards on the Thule racks. Never an issue. Anything is better than an open bed full of stuff. A turd can reach in and grab anything and take off running before you know what happened anywhere in the world.
Edit: That Tundra is now living out it’s life on the beaches of Todos Santos, Baja Sur. Sold it with 180k on it to a friend for less than market price and he lets us stay free at his BnB whenever the mood strikes!

 

Okay, here we go. The definitive sag video. Watch the before and after of my suspension (TRD Lifted) and see the MASSIVE sag it experiences.

Note: Okay, jokes aside, I was worried about it. I'm not anymore. It appears to MAYBE have dropped 1/8 inch at most. I'll watch it and maybe add a leaf in a year or something.

Note note: I got the Leer 100XR. I picked it over the Snugtop Rebel and the Snugtop GB Sport (both at the same dealer) because it was the lightest of the three.

Note note note: Appearances are subjective. I don't know that I love it more with the shell than without. I think it was a damn good looking truck before the camper shell and now just kinda looks like any other white rig on here... would love to hear personal thoughts on whether you think it looks better before or after the shell?

Note note note note: When it comes down to it - it just works better for surf/climbing/camping gear and kid stuff. Gonna be better for road trips with the fam to have the shell over the tonneau too. So if looks are a wash - then I'm ahead.

Note note note note note: There's a few chips on the white fiberglass top - here and there. It was new so they threw in a free install of the wireless entry (connected to the key fob). Man that install was a pain in the ass. I ended up helping them - and it still took two hours. I don't know that I would go with the wireless entry again but it seems to be working now.

Note note note note note note: Any tips on how to fix paint chips on a fiberglass topper?

Vid:



(note: the truck is parked a bit further back in my driveway so a bit more downhill here)

 

Looks great! I have my eyes on a snugtop five miles away for $1000 under a similar new one. Checking it tomorrow. If the chips are on top I would buy some latex caulk 35year stuff at home depot and fill them. If on the sides where you see it Snugtop should sell a paint pen or you could just buy the pen for your truck off Amazon.

 

Thanks! I wouldn’t even worry about two tiny little chips on the shell if my truck wasn’t brand new

Side note: Mas Olas, how’s the white paint on your truck holding out?

 

Looks good! Man, I don’t know if you realize it or not, but you would have had to wait 3-6months to get any brand of shell even less than a year ago. Things must be getting a lot better with the supply chain for you to have 3 different ones in stock to choose from, and all in your color! I waited 4 months for mine to be built and shipped to me.

 

Like new.

 

Called around and had to drive a bit… but got lucky