2014 Toppers, Caps, Campers

[dryan117]

Finally getting around to post the after pic of the GMC Bedrug. What a great addition to these trucks! Now...what's next....

 

Very neat clean install. Why don't you have the usual aluminum clamps holding your cap on? did you drill/bolt it to the bed? Or is there some other way to attach it through the stake holes?

 

Dan

[Spurshot]

 

Very neat clean install. Why don't you have the usual aluminum clamps holding your cap on? did you drill/bolt it to the bed? Or is there some other way to attach it through the stake holes?

 

Dan

 

 

Because it's probably a SnugTop, with steel plates under the lip and a bolt thru the topper rail (not the truck rail).

[DONKEY KONG]

Picture of my topper ARE Z-Series. Paid $2500 comes with the following options rails on top, front tilt down window, and LED rope light. Dealer also mentioned the newer toppers now have a smooth bottom surface to make it a clean line against the truck bed. The older toppers had a small bevel support lip at the bottom which they have eliminated to have a cleaner look to the toppers. Overall very happy with the outcome.

 

[PMattras]

Picture of my topper ARE Z-Series. Paid $2500 comes with the following options rails on top, front tilt down window, and LED rope light. Dealer also mentioned the newer toppers now have a smooth bottom surface to make it a clean line against the truck bed. The older toppers had a small bevel support lip at the bottom which they have eliminated to have a cleaner look to the toppers. Overall very happy with the outcome.

Looks very nice!

[Mad Max]

Ok lots of questions for you all!

I'm thinking of getting a cap for two main reasons:

 

1) I am an electrician and would like to be able to get rid of my van and use this to move a 32' fiberglass ladder occasionally.

Yakima rack/rails?

Strong enough for (2) 32' ladder(s) once in a while?

Removable racks?

 

2) camping. Brand? Leer, ARE Z Series, SnugTop, other?

So I would like to get the "best" one. (Subjective I know but I'm interested in your suggestions/experiences because I've never had one.)

Tailgate or doors?

Insulation?

Raised top or streamlined/level top?

Remote lock available on either?

Sliding glass with screens sounds like a plus?

Tinted for privacy (except the rear I hear for viability)

Gloss Black to match - pre-painted?

Roof Vent with fan

LED interior lights with switch (My bed has the LED option)

Heater?

My cab does not have the sliding glass. Should I remove the solid glass and order the cap with a fold down or sliding or removable window of some sort or just keep it sealed and heat it with a 12v electric blanket or heater?

Where/how should I order it?

Sorry for all the questions but I have no clues yet and hopefully you have owned one or more for a while!

Cheers!

[OkieDavid]

Ok lots of questions for you all!

I'm thinking of getting a cap for two main reasons:

 

1) I am an electrician and would like to be able to get rid of my van and use this to move a 32' fiberglass ladder occasionally.

Yakima rack/rails?

Strong enough for (2) 32' ladder(s) once in a while?

Removable racks?

 

- Yes. When you order the top, you can choose from a ladder rack type of rack (square bars) or a sports rack (round bars). If you factory order your top with the rack installed, they add extra stuff to the roof for strength (at least Jason did, and my previous one was an ARE and they did also).

 

2) camping. Brand? Leer, ARE Z Series, SnugTop, other?

 

- OK, so, I've now owned an ARE and now the Jason. They are essentially the same build but I would have to give the slight edge to the ARE, but that might be because the ARE was on my Dodge RAM and the Jason is on the GMC of course so the fit is hard to compare, but again, I would give a slight edge to the ARE's build quality (things like hinges, how the sealant was applied, etc, small stuff)

 

So I would like to get the "best" one. (Subjective I know but I'm interested in your suggestions/experiences because I've never had one.)

Tailgate or doors?

 

- I went with the tailgate because I will often just toss the kayak in the back for short trips rather than use the rack.

 

Insulation?

 

- You definitely want the carpeted top if you're going to be camping in it, but keep in mind its not air tight at all with the tailgate, I use a bed rug with mine and that helps. It will always be colder than a tent since you are sleeping off the ground.

 

Raised top or streamlined/level top?

 

- I went with the level top because I can still put it in the garage with the rack on it (without the kayak saddles) but the extra height would be nice when camping, I'm short and even I hit the top sometimes when camping back there.

 

Remote lock available on either?

 

- I don't know, I never lock mine. I figure the shell was about $2,000 and the camping gear inside is closer to $200, I would rather they just steal the gear than break into the shell.

 

Sliding glass with screens sounds like a plus?

 

- Definitely, you'll want that for warm weather for sure.

 

Tinted for privacy (except the rear I hear for viability)

 

- I have them all tinted, it actually helps with visibility at night and during the day, close enough. You get used to the mirrors pretty quick between having gear in the back and having the glass between the cab and the shell dirty (it's a pain to clean).

 

Gloss Black to match - pre-painted?

 

- Anytime you order the shell they paint it to match the factory colors, the only time you see someone driving around with one that doesn't match is when they bought it used (i.e., craigslist).

 

Roof Vent with fan

 

- I don't think this is available with the cab level shells, but even if, do you want something up there with your ladder rack? I wouldn't. Side windows do a pretty good job of venting.

 

LED interior lights with switch (My bed has the LED option)

 

- Definitely, and get two, one at each end, if you plan on camping in it. With the shell lights, the switch is on the light (make sure you get this and not the ones that go on when you open the shell, a pain when camping). With the factory truck lights, the switch is in the cab, so you can really take advantage of the lights easily. Also with the shell, the lights are up high so you can read, etc, with the factory lights, they are down so low that when you have a bunch of camping gear in the back they are blocked.

 

Heater?

 

- No comment, I don't have one, just use a good sleeping bag but it is much colder than a tent since you have air underneath you.

 

My cab does not have the sliding glass. Should I remove the solid glass and order the cap with a fold down or sliding or removable window of some sort or just keep it sealed and heat it with a 12v electric blanket or heater?

 

- Absolutely DO NOT remove your glass. There is a gap by design between the bed and cab and the shell follows this. It's there for flexing on bumps and heavy loads. I have the center sliding glass and it makes a lot of noise when open. They do make an inflatable donut to put between the shell and the glass for those of us with the sliding window but that's a non-start for the full window. Between the noise, the exposure to rain, etc, you definitely do not want to remove the glass from the cab and you don't want to drive with the fold down window in the shell open.

 

Where/how should I order it?

 

- As I said before, I had an ARE and then went with a Jason. The reason is that there is one ARE dealer serving my city and they were not the best to deal with when ordering and I had good luck with the Jason dealer in the past on other truck accessories so that's where I ordered shell #2. However, if I could do it all over again, I would probably order another ARE and just hope for a different rep that day. Bottom line, the shells are exclusive to certain dealers, so you won't have two ARE dealers next to each other, won't have two Jason dealers too close each other, etc, so the brand might drive the where and how to order.

 

Sorry for all the questions but I have no clues yet and hopefully you have owned one or more for a while!

Cheers!

 

Good luck on your decision, you can see my replies to your questions above.

[Mad Max]

Thank you very much for all the answers and ideas! I should be all set to get he ARE (or Jason) if and when I can. Soon I hope. Where would you recommend I tap into power for the bed lights and maybe add a cigarette lighter/adapter or two for accessories while camping?

[Sierra2015]

Will be putting a Leer XL on ours, coming in 3 weeks, also includes dome light with switch activates with key in on accessory. Had same cap with 2009 Silverado and was excellent.

[Spurshot]

Thank you very much for all the answers and ideas! I should be all set to get he ARE (or Jason) if and when I can. Soon I hope. Where would you recommend I tap into power for the bed lights and maybe add a cigarette lighter/adapter or two for accessories while camping?

 

I need to tap power for some power accessory sockets as well. On my last truck, I found the trailer wiring near the back of the truck was always powered. I put 2 sockets in the left side of the bed near the tailgate. This time, I'm putting 3 sockets in. I run a refrigerator (ARE) and charge dog collars.

 

I also put in a second battery.

[tyrich88]

Here you go ... the back window has a lip at the bottom that covers the tailgate plastic on top, and has a complete seal around it. washed it yesterday and figured id test it out and no water made it inside as i sprayed all around the window

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Ok this is freakin sweet.

If you dont mind me asking about what does this topper run? I'm looking to get a topper and love the look of this one.

[Imcrazy]

I feel like the Crew Cabs look better than DBL Cabs with a cap, anyone else agree?

[ridewithben]

Just joined group to get in on this topic. Just got Snugtop SuperSport on my White 15 Crew cab 6'4 bed. I'll post pics asap but it looks bad. The plastic lip that goes over the gate is way too long. Fortunately my dealer is going to work with me and most likely swap for a Leer and refund the difference. They advised me to trim the plastic but I just spent $2900 on this thing and don't feel I need to do that. Back to the dealer at the end of the week to get it sorted. Debating the outback, but I fear it may make me look like animal control vehicle! Looks good in the tungsten, but I can't imagine the bill to rewire the factory back up cam. The snug top glass lifts higher than the leer and the lock is steel rod instead of cable on the leer. Other than that seems very similar.

[tyrich88]

I have a paint matched ARE Outlander sitting here waiting to go on my truck. I have been 5 weeks and waiting on truck to arrive. The topper will be installed with Bed Rug day it arrives. I'll take some pictures and let you know my thoughts. I am ARE fan for many reasons but both your picks should be safe,

Did you ever get a chance to get some pictures of that Outlander topper on your truck?

[ridewithben]

Having very difficult time uploading pics. I got them up but the orientation was messed up. Any advice to make this easy from iPhone6?

[tyrich88]

Having very difficult time uploading pics. I got them up but the orientation was messed up. Any advice to make this easy from iPhone6?

Email them to your computer haha

That's what I do, it's easy.