Pros and cons of a camper shell

Wait, softopper people are seriously trying to dog on hardtop people based upon looks?! The people with what looks like an improvised tent on their bed?

 

In my few years on this forum, I have read exactly one post where someone's softopper got broken into. I have also read one post where someone's hard shell got broken into. Ive read more than 30 posts of people getting their cab broken into, usually in their own driveway. So in my poorly collected statistical data, the softopper B&E crime wave isnt the problem that people imagine it is.

But again, My truck is a truck, not a footlocker. I use it to move shit, not to store shit.

Because improvised tents look cooler than your fiberglass sadbomination.

 

Pros..more cost effective than a glamper rig can build out yourself for fraction of cost....windoors are sweet
Cons...tacoms beds are crap for keeping dust n water out . Corner at bedroom sides...cubby holes...rear tailgate area ...

 

I just put my sleeping platform/couch back in my rig as I am getting ready to head to the backcountry of Nevada and Utah. Everything i need (including me) fits in the truck and I can setup/strike camp in about 5 min. Stay warm, dry and out of the wind no matter what the weather. (A.R.E MX)
Spend more time exploring and less time "Camping"...

 

You can tell me that Tacoma's look better without a topper, but you'd be wrong.

 

I had a low height canopy on my last truck, it was too difficult to shimmy out of bed and I couldn't sit upright. My new shell is a mid or high height, and infinitely more useful. No wind noise or fuel mileage drop.

 

The most common comment I get is it looks like I'm transporting prisoners

 

I've had a truck with no topper, two 4Runners, and now my Taco with a Snugtop Rebel cap. Am liking this setup the best: enough clearance to sleep in, good gear storage, as secure as anything can be, shelter from really bad weather, and hard-sided for areas with grizzly bears. I prefer my tent, but it's nice to have this as a backup or a quick getaway on early mornings.

 

Transporting my dogs who successfully ripped out the old screens for me

 

I’ve owned multiple pickups and never once considered sleeping in the back of one. The bed is always full of dirt, sand, gas cans, muddy shovels, etc. I’d much rather pitch my ground tent miles away from the truck or get a hotel room.

I’m pretty sure the time I ever heard the term “camper shell” was on this forum. I’ve typically heard them referred to as “toppers”.

 

Ive always called them camper shells. My dad had one in the 80s and pretty sure thats what everyone around texas at the time called them. When I started looking for one for my truck and I didnt know what to call them so I just said "im looking for a camper shell, topper, bed cap or whatever you guys call them for my tacoma"

 

Yeah I definitely don't sleep in mine. It's the dog house and shit storage area

 

I bought my truck because it already had one!!! 51k miles for 25k

 

I see many people mention the soft topper but not mention much of the cons. I had a soft topper for almost a year and then replaced it with a used Leer 100XL and painted it to color match. The biggest complaints I had about the soft topper and why I replaced it was on the interstate at high speeds in the summer when it was really hot out which is everyday in SWFL the canvas would make a bunch of flapping or waving noise that was noticeably loud in the cabin, when it was cold it made noise but not as much as the canvas was tighter. Can only imagine this issue would get worse over the years with the canvas slowly stretching and wearing in. Also there is not way to securely store your gear, if you live in a heavily populated area or always keep gear in your truck it gets sketchy. They literally don’t even need a knife just unzip and take your stuff. Also no windows on the sides kills your visibility which is already horrible. The Leer 100XL with the topper remote lock solved all the issues for me. Would never look back unless you’re taking the topper off every week for some reason, and if that’s the case then I would reassess if you even need a topper.

 

Also, I did have to add the roof rack, but the tracks for them were already there. Just got rhino rack knuckles/legs with locking cores. Worked out great & really made the truck look better (tint & window visors helped). Either way, I love the shell. I'd only get one now with roof rack tracks & possibly has locking cores & keys.


Before - just plastic caps

After - rhino rack - vortex bars

 

The thing is though, you *can* sleep in them. I do it all the time, if it's dirty hose it out prior. Easy peasy and sleeping off the ground > sleeping on the ground

 

for me the biggest pro of having a snug top is the fact i can lock up my stuff. i will have expensive fishing rods but im to sketched on my stuff being stolen to even go into a store to buy bait.. so its nice i can slide the rods through back window and lock it all up.

the biggest con is that my shell has no side access. so if something slides all the way in the back i got to pretty much get into the bed to get it out. where if the shell wasnt there i could just grab from the side.

 

You can buy a windoor and install it to give yourself side access

 

true that is possible... i think at that point i would sell it and get myself one of the ready built tops with access on sides.

 

i dont think I would ever have to remove a camper shell. Maybe to move a mattress? but I could just sling that bad boy on the top of the camper shell I suppose.