Show me your shell!

Hey Everyone, I'm looking to purchase a camper shell this weekend and have been researching for some time now. I found one that is manufactured by Lifetime and is made of a utility Aluminum. I really like the look and build of it however i can hardly find anyone whose used or had one before.

Has anyone here ever had a lifetime on one of their trucks for camping purposes?

Any and all feedback is greatly appreciated. New this would cost me between $1400 -$2300.

 

Ive seen similar shells on commercial trucks. They look better on regular cab trucks, because the front of the shell is usually straight, it doesn't follow the contour of an access cab or DCSB or DCLB. If you are going to use it for camping you will have to remove to storage boxes from the side door to have room to move around in there. It is a good looking shell for being aluminum though.

 

I say go for it if you like it. How do you use your bed? Do you have plans to camp in it?
I've been wanting to get a shell similar to this as well. What attracts me to these are the side doors with the shelving. It would be great to have that for camping or for hitting the beach. I would like to set it up as a mini-kitchen so that the tailgate won't have to be used as one. Maybe install some kind of slide out shelf so that you have more flat space. The door is already a built in "awning" while you cook/prep. Just some ideas. Plus, the shelving doesn't take up too much room inside the bed. One can still sleep in the bed for some camping.
I've seen some decent ones for not too much. Since I already have one ($50 find on CL), I'm not in a huge rush.

 

A.R.E. Z series on a 2012 SR5 DCLB

 

Thanks guys,
I like it because its a lighter weight and much more secure for my upcoming cross country trip (we park the truck and take off hiking for a hours at a time). It'll be easier to lock and keep everything secure and weighs less than a typical fiberglass shell which i like as we will have a pretty loaded bed. Once we get back East it will most likely be coming off of the truck so i'm not too concerned with the overall aesthetics of the looks.

Took me a while to find however this is made by Lifetime whom has 3 different models, Standard aluminum, Super Sport and Workmate.

 

My shell is in, scheduled Tuesday for install.
Any not so obvious tips to watch for?
Do the plastic rails stay on?

 

Thaaaaaaaaaaats pretty much perfect. Nice

 

Thanks!

Plastic rails stay on. I took mine off, sealed them with silicone and put them back on.

 

Thanks

 

My plastic rails are still on and I didn't take them off to put anything underneath them. I haven't had any problems with water getting into the bed.

 

@DC-USAF
Thank you, so I think I will chance it.
They do look like they roll around the bed and down the side a bit.

As mentioned above, I bought Trim-Lok bulb seal. 100 ft. Enough for a repeat down the road.
I got the HT adhesive, as Trim-Lok said the BT(?) was like permanent.

Thank you, too
@irish_11

 

It's up for trade
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...ght-shell-like-leer-100.470733/#post-14195683

 

For you guys that keep the thule or yakima roof racks on all the time: Is there noticeable increase in wind noise?

 

Nope. I don't think ive ever heard my rack make noise. I cant speak for the ones that attach to the actual cab, only the ones that are on the topper.

 

Great, thanks. I wouldn't think they would really affect gas mileage either? These trucks are already not very aerodynamic haha

 

i don't get anything "unusual" with my yakima setup on my cap, and I'm running really wide round bars.

bumpers antennas springs antennas roof racks lift and big tires over all is loud though, not sure if a bone stock taco with my cap and bars would howl or not...

but the one that kills me the post is the sounds from the windows and the weather tech rain guard just slapping around in there, the door seals over all are shitty.

 

I have only Thule Aerobars on my truck and no noticeable noise. As in no box, just the bars.

 

Not too badly, i think maybe a half an mpg? Not even really noticeable.

 

Got my ARE TW-Series installed last week. Very pleased so far with it. I went with a vented windoor on the drivers side and the carpeted headliner. Planning on a simple sleep platform and some velcro-attach curtains for the windows next.

Managed ~20.8mpg on the freeway averaging 70mph for 2hrs.

 

So am I. I have a simple sleep/storage system in process and we plan velcro attached 'black-out' curtains.

Good mileage. What did you get before?