Truck topper recommendations

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duckn66

Well-known member
I retired from the military a couple of years ago and went straight to work the day my leave started to double dip for awhile. Been working ALOT since I got out to keep busy and have decided that I am going to take some time this year to do some SERIOUS hunting and alot of it. First trip will be to North Dakota for an upland/waterfowl week. Fortunately my current job is work as much or little as I want. So this coming season is going to be for me and my dogs.

I have an 07 chevy ext. cab truck and am wanting to put a nice fiberglass shell on it for the comfort of my dogs and safety of my equipment. I have been checking out the A.R.E shell which look very nice but was wanting some feedback on them and any others anyone may have.
 
I am looking for one too I was looking at A.R.E the qualitiy seem better than Leer and A.R.E was actully cheaper than Leer, uni-cover, fourwinds etc... I think ARE had a special going on you might want to check the their website.
 
Are

I have a new F150 Lariat on order at the moment and so have been shopping nice FG toppers. I've had Century fg toppers on my last two F150s and have been very happy with them over the 10+ years on both.

However, the Century dealer left town and none is close. The ARE are prpbably what I get in a couple weeks. They seem very nice and I hear nothing but good things re them vs Leer, for example.

NB
 
Any one is pretty nice these days. Just get one that has a door on the length of the side with a slider window in it as well, well worth it. You can then build a platform with drawers out the back. Then have crates side ways. You can put more in then and open the doors from the side window. they can head out the back to get out. Works great. Pluss you can open them for lots of air.
 
I was definately going to get the side doors that open. Good idea on the crates. On the roll out drawers. How deep and long would you make them?
 
FCSpringer said:
You can then build a platform with drawers out the back. Then have crates side ways.
Click to expand...

You mean like this?
box2-1.jpg
 
I added one of those tailgate gasket thingamabobs, but some dust still finds it's way in. I don't think you can completely seal it up tight.

I got a little greedy with the depth of my drawers. While the inside height will fit a large vari-kennel, the opening is just a tad shallow. I have to assemble the kennels inside, so once in there they stay there.
 
birdshooter said:
You mean like this?
box2-1.jpg
Click to expand...


Yep, I just make the platform and drawers so they clear the wheel wells.:thumbsup: Same deal. I get 3 large porters sideways in my Ranger. Big enough to double the girls if needed. And my crates are pushed all the way to the right, leaving a big hall on the drivers side. I have a 10 gallon preasurized water tank in my platform box as well. Works great. Can keep gear in the drawers and guns etc.
 
As far as dust, I built mine like a regular cabinet drawer. here is the tank etc. My drawers have foam rubber seals and locks, so no dust at all. I used spray on bed liner to coat the whole thing. And a drip cap made from Aluminum. So it can be in a down pour and stays dry inside with the topper off. I had the topper on with this box, but not in the pics. I sold this box and have porters now, cause I am getting a dog topper or dog trailer. And I can spray it all out to clean it up.


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A.R.E. Toppers

I've had 2 A.R.E. "Z" series toppers and been very happy with both. I got my current one in July for my 2010 Dodge 2500 MegaCab. For options I got the tilt-down front window to allow cleaning the truck and topper front windows, two 12V dome lights, and the A.R.E. factory installed Yakima rack tracks. The "Z" costs a little more than the CX series but I liked the looks better.
PairOfLabs
 
I am partial to Leer. I have the Leer XQ on my truck, and I had one on my last truck for 7 years prior with no issues. I haven't built anything fancy, but it suits my needs. A tuck cap is awesome. it keeps your gear out of sight, secure, and gives the dogs an added level being out of the elements. I have no concerns with them getting too cold (as long as they are dry) no matter the temperature. I do worry about overheating if I am driving a long ways in the early season, and yes the windows have screens and tip out. Overall, a truck cap is a great investment for your hunting rig.
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I see you use those insulated kennel covers to. They seem to work real well and the dogs sure appreciate them later in the season.
 
duckn66 doesn't say if he's going to sleep in the back but having at least one side door for cross ventilation if it's hot is a must. I've got an 88 Chev. 4wd that I bought new and a steel Capital Camper I bought at the same time. It's got 350,000 miles on it and with some window problems (as in they won't open due to the rails swelling over time and locking the glass) it's still as good as when I bought it. I bought the optional boat and lumber racks for the top so if you are doing any heavy timber hauling give that some thought.
It's very strong as evidenced by me driving under a garage door with a 10' boat on the rack and crushing the boat but barely denting the rack. The company had pictures of trucks that were rolled and the camper protected the cab like a roll bar.
It's heavier and not as sleek as the glass campers but built tank tough, you can weld stuff to it and the weight helps traction and handling by evening out the front to back weight distribution.
I've had those kinds of boxes and a platform I can put in and remove as I need them in my trucks since 1970 and, other than my friends calling them coffins, there is no downside to them.
 
I wasn't planning on sleeping in it but now that you mention it, it may not be a bad idea for some of those longer trips.
 
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