Just bought a 2011 Tacoma DCLB, what kind of cap to buy?

My main focus with this truck is to use it for camping, canoe/kayak, hauling my 3 dogs, and getting through the snow for snowboarding. I am debating between a tonneau cover with roof rack on truck cab(doesn't seem that useful), or a cap with a baja type rack on the cap. I think I like the idea of side windows on cap to grab things out of the back, but I'm not sure. I'm open to any suggestions. I've been looking at Leer and ARE, but I can't make a decision. Thoughts please

 

Softopper with US Truck Rack Pack or similar.





http://www.softopper.com/toyota-tacoma-soft-top-truck-cap-details.aspx#prettyPhoto

http://www.softopper.com/us-truck-cap-rack-details.aspx#prettyPhoto

 

Leer 180 with Yakima rack works great for me on my DCSB - use it for many of the same reasons you're asking about.

 

After having a soft topper for one summer I realized how much I liked having the cap option and decided to order a solid cap. I like the option of having screen windows for my dog, lockable, roof racks, etc.
I can't wait for it to arrive!

 

I just picked up a Leer 100R with roof rack tracks and i have no complaints

 

i've had the leer 180, then the 100 and missed the space, new truck got a century hi rise, which is identical to the leer 180, comes from same factory. if you will be in and out of the bed a lot the higher cap makes things a lot less cramped

 

get a leer

 

Ive been happy with my ARE MX. If I was going with a flush top I would probably go Leer, but when looking at the two I liked the MX better. Definitely go with the windoors, best $260 I've spent! So nice when I need to get to gear at the front of the box.

 

I've owned a LEER 100R and currently a LEER 100XL.... liked them both. My suggestions are to be sure to buy the fold down/sliding front window (about an $80 option and worth it IMO), that's the only way to clean the glass. If you buy a 100R and you live in cold country, buy the cheap rubber handle covers for the winter. Otherwise your locks will freeze or salt gets in them and they corrode... the covers are only about $5. If you get a 100XL it has its own integral lock cover.

No matter whose you buy, you will want a Toyota bed mat. You will notice that cab noise will increase when you put on the cap, the bed mat helps quiet it down.

If you buy LEER and buy it new, log onto their website and get their competition coupon. You can apply the savings AT THE TIME OF ORDER and it comes off of the factory cost so the dealer doesn't mind you doing it. I saved $50 once, $25 once, and my father just saved $100 on a LEER solid cover. Whatever the amount is, it's $$ in your pocket.

AREs are nice too but more $$ than LEER, Snugtop was not available in my area, I didn't care for the Gerico look.

When you buy one, be sure that the front corner does not force down the bedrail cover or it will wear through the paint, my dealer ground it down with a die grinder and you'll never know it. I always remove my top cover of the tailgate cap, just a few screws and it snaps off. Put on some thick 2" wide electrical rubber tape across the tailgate even with the lowest point of the door gasket, don't be surprised if a tab or two break off, it doesn't matter and will cause no problem. Do that and reinstall the tailgate cap, you'll never see it with the cap door closed, even if you see it it's not ugly. Your cap door gasket WILL wear through the paint on your tailgate. 3M clear protector is probably better if that's an option.

LEER 100XL..... $1600 and delivered in about 10 days. It all depends on the day that you order it. They deliver to each dealer on the same day every week so if you order a few days before a normal delivery it may push you closer to 2 weeks than it does 1 week.

 

Im very happy with my Sungtop Rebel. Made sure i got the roof rack gutters, so that I can put my Thule feet on top, with the removable posts and cross bars, so that I can throw my surfboards on top along with my bikes.
Cost me about $2200 when all was said and done. Was manufactured and installed in about 11 days.

 

Very happy with my Leer 100RCC commercial cap

 

Wow, thanks for all the input. I actually really like that softopper idea, combined with a roof rack on the cab. I don't usually need the topper, unless I'm camping. Does anyone have any experience putting dogs back there with the rear screen window option? Maybe even install a fan back there. I wish the pups weren't so big of a deal sometimes.

 

Here's what I do with my dogs -

If we're just going for a ride any time of the year...they get to ride in the back seat (DCSB) with heat or A/C - I have seat covers and tuck a thick fleece blanket in to cover the seat part too (helps with fur control).

I always keep 2 crates in the back side by side - wire crates in summer and plastic crates in spring, fall (hunting season) & winter.

When I take them out to work (train) or for a fun run where they'll get wet & dirty...in the crates they go. In the summer, I simply open the rear slider on the cap and the sliding windows....it creates quite a draft and they've always been fine. I never park anywhere with them in there during the summer as they can overheat very quickly. They've also been fine in the fall & winter in the plastic crates with thick fleece blankets.

 

Side windows are very useful. When I'm out and about with the hounds I leave them open so they can get the full effect.

 

Those are windoors ^^

 

I thought the windows that had the sliding glass in the middle of them were "windoors":

 

All of the ones that hinge at the top and open as awnings are windoors

My 100RCC has sliding side windows

 

I've got a Snugtop Sportsman cap on my DCLB, and it has worked very well. It will support two big men on top without dimpling. I added Thule tracks (through bolted) on the cap, and on the cab with Yakima Plus Nuts (NOT through-bolted). The setup allows me to carry a couple of 16' canoes, or long sticks of moulding. No window on the front of the cap, only a gasket. Put some protective covering, like invisible bra protection, on the back of the cab before mounting cap to protect paint. Slider on driver's side, windoor on curb side allow for carrying pets, sleeping in truck, and accessing tools in bed. The lack of a front window on the cap allows my kids to reach into the bed to grab drinks out of the cooler, and I've never had an issue of water leaking from the gasket.

 

I just sold my F250 DCLB and FJ80 to get a 12 Taco DCLB. And I am completely flustered on what to get. I had Leer on the 250. And it was love hate relationship. A hard top really limits what you can do with a truck. But then again there is nothing better for a huge dry secured storage area. But hell you cant even put bicycles in the back. Forget about motorcycles. Hell I couldn't even get a small tiller in the back. I do nine day camps deep into the Glades. And we have to carry a ton of gear/fuel ect. I just did this with a bunch of totes/bags in the open. Which worked but could be better. I have been leaning to some type of softopper with a rack for a RTT. But haven't found the right combo yet.

 

Swampfox: you have the exact same dilemma as me. I want a dry place, but I also don't want or need a cap on all the time. My thought process was to put a roof rack on the cab with some spotlights, and use the collapsible softopper. I've been trying to find out how easy it is to take off the softopper to ease on weathering and wear when I don't need it. Pics below of what I'm thinking. Let me know what you think