"Need help" To buy or not to buy camper shell

I bought a topper for my old Frontier and painted it, it cost me $400 for color matched painting. I came out ahead because I paid $150 for the topper, but I don't think I'd do it that way again. Plus my truck was Electric Blue so selling the topper alone will be tough.

 

Line-X

 

I've been debating this same question OP. Right now I have a tonneau (Access Vanish) and although not 100% waterproof (I knew this going in) it keeps things in the bed dry during downpours better than expected. I would like a shell for times I need more covered space when traveling for instance (had the bed FULL this last trip). It would probably be 3-4 times a year so definitely not a "need" but nice to have. If I come across one at a decent price locally I will probably get it but I won't be dishing out $2k-ish for a new one. If that one was closer I'd buy it if you didn't OP lol...

 

I was thinking about getting one too, I have a set of bed bars and a RTT, but i like the idea of being able to lock up stuff in the back, and not lose the bed space like i do with the RTT and if i were to get a tonneau cover. I also dont like how it takes up space in my garage during non-camping season.
EDIT: Also, I don't like how once i set of my tent, it's inconvenient if i want to go hit some trails. For example, at KOH this year, i set up my tent and right after we decided to drive up to chocolate thunder and had to leave my truck behind.m With a shell, i figured it would be a whole lot easier to pack up and go, just throw everything in the back.

 

Having recently bought a used topper, don't be surprised if you have to disassemble all of the windows and replace the crappy gasket material with butyl tape to stop any leaks. If you get it for the right price its worth it (I have no regrets!). But contrary to what others have said I love having a cap. I had a Bakflip G2 tonneau so that I could use my full bed without a cover at a moments notice which was great for the few times a year I pick up oversized furniture or fill it with mulch, but I was running out of space often on trips so I don't mind removing it and leaving it in the yard when most of the time I need a covered bed. All depends on your particular use case

Anyway - If you're patient and don't need the cap right away one will eventually pop up that meets your needs. Check marketplace / craigslist / tacomaworld maybe once a week and you'll find one. Took me 3 months to find mine but $600 is way better of a price than $2500

 

This is the way. I found my canopy on CL. Dude was selling his truck with a canopy and I made him an offer of $500 for the canopy alone. Told him he'd still get his asking price without it so he might as well make some extra cash.