Pros and Cons of a Hard Topper?

It’s a tight fit but but I can sleep anyway and lay on my back with knees up. I am Not the tallest of the bunch so it works. About 2 feet of space. Trying it out to see how I like it. I didn’t want to sacrifice the storage underneath. I may lower it some. Just tired of setting up tents when we’re on the road trails and stopping often. Main complaint was in 95-100 degree weather.

 

I have my platform on top of the wheel wells and it does limit storage for sure. I did a 2 piece so I can flip the back part out of the way and store larger stuff in the back 2’ when I’m not in there.

Even in cooler weather it gets stuffy quick in there for sure

 

Those of you that say Windoor, do they lock? Wouldn't the sliding screens provide a breeze?

 

Whered you get those orange bags? They look familiar to me

 

Yes and yes. I have a windoor on the driver side and a regular screen slider on the passenger side.

 

Not sure I could handle the asymmetry!

 

the link says you need the title.. so this only applies to people that have paid off their trucks?

 

I've had both a cap and a tonneau cover. If camping/sleeping in the bed of the truck wasn't a concern, I'd switch back to a lockable tonneau cover (I had the RetraxPro MX).

 

Don’t we all pay cash?

 

I am always curious about who has bed stiffeners installed.

Anyone using them?

 

Yes on using them. If you have a topper I feel they are a must. I went with Total Chaos, great product.

 

As long as you know one reliable person with a regular, non-canopy truck you lose nothing. That dude can haul your fridge, water heater, and BBQ for a case of beer. Meanwhile you have all the benefits of a canopy. I do agree with other posters that if you get into serious off-roading that bed twist can be a concern and so bed stiffeners are "insurance". Fiberglass does have a decent amount of flex though and I've never blown out a window or had issues on several trucks. The thing I don't understand is how lots of people hype the added weight... but then they have a Tepui on a big rack boosted way up in the sky. My longbox Leer is just under 200lbs. Tepuis are 100-200lbs depending on model. I checked the weight on a bedrack and it was ~70lbs. Even the lightest rooftop tent plus rack weighs roughly the same as a canopy. I'd rather have the lower center of gravity and overhead branch clearance and the functionality of a canopy. I'm happy to throw my tent on the ground where I live but not everyone has the same needs. If bears are being annoying I sometimes sleep in the canopy. My conclusion is that for the money, I get way more flexibility out of a canopy than tonneau, nothing, bedrack, and/or rooftop tent.

 

More than likely it is with the canopy on. The current gen 4R have 66" from back of the seat while the DCSB Taco has 60.5" plus what's in the cabin. The DCLB ups that to 73.2" in the back. I wouldn't came out of the truck as I have a teardrop for that purpose, but the canopoy would things pretty much dry, plus anything wet after the end of the camping I can toss under the canopy vs in the back of a SUV.

 

Only con is when my washing machine went out and had to borrow a buddy's truck. Love my Leer 100xr

 

Mine is a Softopper for a 3rd gen Taco. 3rd gen softoppers fit perfectly on 2nd gen trucks.

 

OF coarse. I went with ATH Fab. Would have gone with total Chaos but they were a bit pricey. Plus ATH's have a bottle opener on them!

 

Damn this thread! Knew I'd get around to getting a topper at some point for my '19. This thread prompted me to look around. Ordered a Leer 100XR today. (Had one on my '07 and liked it.) Will keep it on my truck maybe 30% of the time.

Now, gotta order that Prinsu rack...

 

Do hard toppers work between 2nd and 3rd gen? I've seen some Leer toppers from 2nd gens on Craigslist and Facebook market and always wondered if they'd work on my 3rd gen.

 

No. I test fit a 2nd gen on mine and it wasn’t at all usable.