Windoors or no windoors for camper shell?

Decided that I would make better use of my '16 DCSB Sport if I added a camper shell. Looks like it's going to be a SnugTop Rebel. My question is do those of you with camper shells think it's worth the extra cost to add windoors or not? I don't want to break the bank and am thinking the key features should be sliding and folding front window for easy cleaning and a carpeted headliner. Aside from that I'm not really sure what else I want/need s far as features are concerned.

Is it worth the extra cost for the windoors? Do those of you with them really and take advantage of them, or have you found over the years they don't get used as much as you thought they would?

The bed is basically where my dog is going to be most of the time. Mountain bikes will be on a hitch mounted Kuat NV rack, factory roof rack for surfboards and stand up paddle boards. The bed would also be for wetsuits after surfing, or dirty clothes after a hike or mountain bike ride, Costco and Home Depot runs, or packed up for road trips. I don't use the truck for work or anything like that, don't do any off-roading, etc. Just lots of outdoor sports.

So what do you think? Is it worth the extra cash for the windoors, keeping in mind I'd also have to add the slider feature to the windoor to let fresh air into the bed for the dog, or would I be just as happy with the bare-bones sliders with screen?

 

I've been internally debating the same question. Going to order an A.R.E. soon.

 

First, windoors only make sense if you are tall enough to actually use them. I am 5' 10" and would struggle to get enough "reach" to actually access anything in the bed that was low on the bed floor, like a wetsuit. Secondly, sliders with screens provides enough flow for a mut, as long as the ambient air temp isn't scorching and the truck is moving. Remember, the bed itself is black (heat absorber) and without the truck moving, the air is stagnant. I hope this helps.

 

Got 'em, love 'em, get 'em.

 

oh...get the vented ones if you can.

 

WINDOORS!!!!!!!!!!

I probably would not get them on my full size Duramax, but with the smaller Tacoma I can get to almost every thing in the bed just by reaching in. And you can do cool stuffs like this for more storage

 

I've had a couple toppers on a couple trucks and I'd never have one without the windoors. It is SO convenient to be able to load or grab stuff from the side. Without them you're crawling up into to bed from the back and over whatever is in your way. I personally don't think the slider on the front window or ability to open it for cleaning is that big of a deal. I'd save the money there and leave it a solid window. Being so close to the cab it doesn't get that dirty in there and you can always loosen the clamps and slide the topper back enough to clean the one time each year you feel like doing it. Just my 2 cents.

 

I love the windoors in the shell on my '96, and intend to get them on the shell I get once my '16 arrives. Much easier to grab things in the front and sides, rather than having to climb into the back. However, I'm tall so reaching in is not an issue. Well worth the cost to me.

 

I'm 6'2" but thought the same thing, and one of the reps at a dealer in my area actually trued talking me out of the windoors for the exact reason you mentioned of not being able to reach far enough into the bed to get anything. He said maybe 1 out of every 10 that's ordered by customers gets the windoors.

 

I know this is 8 years old but I’d like some more info on how this is constructed and operates.