Show me your shell!

Does look a bit far back at the rear

 

this is my leer 100r, i had a leer 180 for a couple months, i liked it but it was not meant for the reg cab model and was contacting the rear light and the rubber seal around the upper part of the rear window so i switched it out for this one. i liked the extra headroom inside the 180, planning a 20000km road trip throughout northern canada the headroom would have made the living space a little larger but the cap was really to tight and annoyingly noisy with the contacting. even with it sitting as far back as possible it just wasn't working.. i got a good price all in all so can't complain. if money was not an object i'd have gone with the a.r.e. with the full rear door that removes the tailgate, that is a sweet setup.

 

I tried, actually. .. couldn't get it any tighter up front than that.

 

Why ?

Contact ?

 

I paid about the same for my Leer 180. Had to add a wee bit of weatherstrip around the rear window frame to make it totally dustproof and waterproof. The Leer 180 is not a sophisticated rear window like some shells. Also, I believe the Taco with the composite bed is not as rigid as an all-steel bed, so it tends to bend outward at the tailgate.

Had to take the Leer 180 back to the dealer to have one of the windoors replaced after 8 months (leaking water), but they were pretty good about it with a little "hands on" input from me telling them to spray it with a hose, not just look at it.

Heh, I see dbcltmp went for the ARE MX. That's a topnotch shell.

 

Mine was like that at first. When you loosen the tie down points, go around the topper from the outside and lift it up off the bed. Mine was stuck to the rails. Then slide it on all the way. However I do wish mine sat about a 1/4" closer to the cab...

 

Thanks for the tip, I'll give it a shot.

 

I have ordered a SnugTop Supersport for my '13 DCSB TRD Sport. It has the tilt out rear windows, fold down front window, yakima rack tracks, and a remote operated prolock on the rear window. $2690 from my local dealer All American Truck in Portland, OR. My research, mostly here, showed Snugtop as being one of the best, although expensive. I'll post a pick of my rig once it is together.

 

A quick question for you guys. I have a stock 2013 Off Road. If I put a shell on my truck will my ass end drag and ride really rough, or will it sit level?

 

Put 150 lbs of water, sand, cement or whatever in your truck bed and drive around for a day or two and you'll know for sure.

My stock off-road model truck does just fine with shell and random 50 lbs of junk in the truck bed daily.

 

The amount of drop also depends on which shell you get. Mine is a commercial-grade shell (Leer 100RCC) so is heavier than most. Between it and my gear box that stays in the bed, I'm hauling roughly 300 extra lbs at all times. With the TSB rear springs and 5100's all around (front at 1.75), I had a 1/4" rake. After a year, I've lost a little over 1/2" in the rear so now have a slight reverse rake. This is in an AC with the 6' bed and it still rides just fine.

 

Without the shell, I get a little "truck bounce" from the rear suspension (part of the fun of driving a truck).

My truck actually has a smoother ride (both on the street and on fire roads) with a Leer 180 plus Thule Roof Rack (about 180 lbs).

At 300+ lbs (shell + kayak, bike and camping gear) it gets a little wobbly.

I sagged about 1" when the shell went on and another 1/2" with each additional 100 lbs or so.

I'm planning on doing some version of an AAL (probably Super Springs) so I get the "truck" ride with just the shell and the best ride with the full camping load. Should also get me about 1 1/2" of lift.

If I had more money, I'd load my truck up, drive to Colorado and let Alcan build me a custom rear spring pack.

 

Not to get too far off the subject...but is your taco lifted? If so how high and what size tires are you running, I've got a 2013 Reg Cab 4x4 and I'm planning on getting bigger tires after the factory dunlops are toast.

 

Any shells that would support a tent on the top by any chance? Looking to buy the All Pro bed rack and a tent but I am becoming more and more interested in a shell.

 

Snugtops are rated at 500lbs IIRC , the Leer commercial series caps , the 100RCC ( which I have ) , and the 180RCC are rated at 400lbs

 

Picture of my truck today - Leer 100XR

 

Leer 100RCC-

 

100 XQ being installed tomorrow!!

 

Has anyone installed a factory roof rack to their caps? Not necessarily from a Tacoma but from another vehicle that may have the same contours as the cap.

 

Here's a pic. I will get better ones later but here's one for ya.