First gen Extended Cab Topper/Camper shell

Bel air shells seem like they could be a good option for our trucks. Any bell air owners here?

 

The original southern California Baja camper shells. I'm glad to see that Bel Air camper shells are back in business.

 

2nd gen but still rad. Might pull the trigger on this camper if it’s still available tomorrow

 

Screw camper shells, build a camper

Much more comfy. and I built it myself and the 95.5 tows it just fine. I dont come back here often, so I wont see replies, it you want message me on expo portal. And it has toyota rims so it counts as a toyota.
build thread, https://expeditionportal.com/forum/...eight-1880-read-post-pg-5-for-details.217954/

 

@DustyT22 I missed your inquiry, sorry for the delay.
Racks are level, mounted entirely on the raised section.
No track or rail and not bolted either. Towers clip (and unclip) to Yakima mounts bolted on. Cheaper than tracks/rails because I had everything needed, but not as flexible/adjustable as tracks/rails.
Sometimes I mount the box up there
Can be garaged with rack, but not with box.
Not 100 feet tall, and not ridiculous (not to me, anyway), functional!
PM me if you want to talk.

 

Reviving this thread to respond YES I've been a Bel Air shell owner. I owned a 97 Nissan Hardbody for about 3 years that's been in my family since it was bought new (grew up sleeping in the bed on camping trips). My grandfather added a Bel Air camper shell in ~2001, and by the time he gave me the truck in 2018 he had forgotten where the shell came from, and there's no badging left to tell me where it came from.
I'd been looking to try and find where the shell came from for years because I hoped the company was still making campers, and I love the durable and iconic design.
I moved from AZ to Detroit recently, so I left the Nissan in the care of my dad where it wouldn't rust in the desert (picture he texted me 9/4/21 attached - the camper is still good as new, as is the truck)
I joined this forum cause I'm about to trade my dad's prius (the one I traded him the hardbody for) to my OTHER grandfather on my mom's side for his 03 Tacoma which he bought brand new.

Since I found the quoted post in this thread I will definitely be getting a Bel Air Camper for the taco.
The fact that these trucks have been a constant in my life since I (30 years old) was a little kid are a testament to their reliability, but I can also vouch for the trustworthiness of Bel Air campers.

 

If anyone is looking to sell a camper for the double cab or some might know it as crew cab model let me know

 

Has anyone in this group ever gone through the process of replacing broken side glass on their topper for a 1st gen taco? I had an accident the other night and broke mine.

I reached out to my local A.R.E dealer to see if they could order a replacement and after putting down a deposit, I received a call from the dealer saying A.R.E contacted them and said they consider the glass 'obsolete' and no longer make it.

It's a windoor for a '96.

I'm still on the hunt to replace w/ glass but if the search proves impossible, or too expensive, I'll probably end up swapping it with plexiglass.

Any ideas or help would be much appreciated.

 

Try an auto glass repair/replacement shop that does more than windshields. For example, auto window glass.

 

Someone smashed out my side window and I replaced it with tinted polycarbonate for about $45.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/tiffany-the-taco.374490/page-12#post-20649407

 

What kind is this one and do the windows slide on the side?

 

Do you have a pic of the back of it?

 

Make sure you make sure you get one for a ext cab or standard cab they are different. If you find one that’s not on a truck already to see.

 

Out of curiosity did you replace the stock sliders with windoors or did they come with the shell?

 

Found a used leer on Facebook marketplace.

 

Here's an ARE mid-rise cap on mine that I got from Facebook. Came with crossbars and (almost) no leaks

 

is it normal to upgrade the springs when you put one of these on?

 

We need to trade, I found the evergreen from a 98 and needed a mica for 99 lol. It was close and I only paid $100