Topper Visibility Impact?

SierraMatt · March 4, 2017

I recently traded my Wrangler on a new '17 Sierra short box Crew Cab because I wanted a bigger vehicle (and it definitely is!) that could tow a little bit.

Since I live in the pacific northwest and it rains basically continually most months of the year, that makes the uncovered bed useless for anything but debris and trash most of the time. And even then, wet debris is less fun to deal with than dry. I've got MDF and some drywall that is coming out soon, and unloading after a 30 minute drive in the rain to the dump would probably not be fun.

I'm going to go with either the Fold-a-Cover with the built in storage box or a topper. I think I'm leaning towards a topper. But, one of the things I really love about the truck is how you can see everything around you and I'm not sure what putting a topper on the back will do to that.

Can anyone with a topper please comment on what topper you have and how much difference in visibility you noticed when you added it?

I am going to use the truck for camping a few times a year, Home Depot and dump runs (my house is older and there are some relics I am going to tear out), and helping the occasional friend move. It is going to be getting use as a truck for sure, but I don't think I'll often be hauling stuff tall enough where the tonneau cover, much less a topper, would be a limitation. I know that realistically I'm not going to be able to pull a topper off by myself, though the Fold-A-Cover is manageable if I need the whole bed or have something tall. The only thing that MIGHT be a pain with the topper is my bike, but I still have my hitch mount bike rack from the Jeep if it didn't fit with the topper or was more painful to load than putting the rack on.

When I have the truck paid off in a couple of years, I'm also going to look into picking up a small teardrop to pull with it, so the impact of the topper on towing visibility is also interesting. I have an All Terrain, so no Max Tow mirrors for me. But in the meantime, the option to occasionally be lazy and toss my sleeping bag in the bed with a topper would be nice. Not to mention being a potentially good place to run a tarp off the side for easy camp kitchen setup. My biggest concern is visibility though, and if a topper creates new blind spots or makes it tougher to shoulder check for cars, I think that probably kills it for me.

Opinions on the best way to go? Have I missed an option?

Thanks!

michigan2500hd · March 4, 2017

A topper is nice for keeping things dry and secure but climbing into the back to reach things gets old for me. I used to have a light weight alum. topper for occasions I need one. I could put it on and take it off myself in a few minutes. Blind spots increase for sure depending on how many window you have. I tend to think you would like a cover for what you want to do.

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SilveradoSaver · March 4, 2017

I recently traded my Wrangler on a new '17 Sierra short box Crew Cab because I wanted a bigger vehicle (and it definitely is!) that could tow a little bit.

Since I live in the pacific northwest and it rains basically continually most months of the year, that makes the uncovered bed useless for anything but debris and trash most of the time. And even then, wet debris is less fun to deal with than dry. I've got MDF and some drywall that is coming out soon, and unloading after a 30 minute drive in the rain to the dump would probably not be fun.

I'm going to go with either the Fold-a-Cover with the built in storage box or a topper. I think I'm leaning towards a topper. But, one of the things I really love about the truck is how you can see everything around you and I'm not sure what putting a topper on the back will do to that.

Can anyone with a topper please comment on what topper you have and how much difference in visibility you noticed when you added it?

I am going to use the truck for camping a few times a year, Home Depot and dump runs (my house is older and there are some relics I am going to tear out), and helping the occasional friend move. It is going to be getting use as a truck for sure, but I don't think I'll often be hauling stuff tall enough where the tonneau cover, much less a topper, would be a limitation. I know that realistically I'm not going to be able to pull a topper off by myself, though the Fold-A-Cover is manageable if I need the whole bed or have something tall. The only thing that MIGHT be a pain with the topper is my bike, but I still have my hitch mount bike rack from the Jeep if it didn't fit with the topper or was more painful to load than putting the rack on.

When I have the truck paid off in a couple of years, I'm also going to look into picking up a small teardrop to pull with it, so the impact of the topper on towing visibility is also interesting. I have an All Terrain, so no Max Tow mirrors for me. But in the meantime, the option to occasionally be lazy and toss my sleeping bag in the bed with a topper would be nice. Not to mention being a potentially good place to run a tarp off the side for easy camp kitchen setup. My biggest concern is visibility though, and if a topper creates new blind spots or makes it tougher to shoulder check for cars, I think that probably kills it for me.

Opinions on the best way to go? Have I missed an option?

Thanks!

I'm not a fan of toppers. I feel they make the truck look too much like an SUV (IMO). I would say they are probably more secure and going to give you the best "dryness" though. I have a Bakflip Tri-Folding hardtop tonneau cover (I also live in British Columbia, so we get tons of rain as well). I found that they work pretty darn good and when I first got it I didn't notice any water in the bed of my truck. Now that I have levelled it though, I notice a tiny bit (nothing that I'm losing sleep over). I think the reason for that is the tonneau has a gutter system on both sides, that allow the water to roll off the cover, into the gutter, and then feeds towards holes in the front of the truck. Before levelling it, the rake of the truck allowed for this to happen. Now that it's levelled, the water kind of just pools in the gutters. I also love the fact I can fold it up and still have 99% of my bed available, if needed.

Anyways, for what you need the topper is probably the way to go. There's so many options out there I'm sure you'll find one that doesn't have too bad of blind spots.

Donstar · March 4, 2017

I am currently looking for a topper and I also live in the pacific northwest region.. I am bothered about limiting the type and size of loads I can carry, but keeping things dry and secure outweighs this worry. Your primary concern of visibility should not be a deciding factor. You should be able to safely drive your truck without having to rely on shoulder checks for those times there is a load in your box. (like a windowless van) I always do shoulder checks but am not stuck if my vision is blocked! You will have an over the shoulder view with a canopy over an empty box but just a little more restricted. I drove with one for a couple of years in the past with no problems.

tenscourts · March 5, 2017

I have a Z series from a.r.e. Rear view has never limited me and if you're checking for vehicles in your blind spots you're looking through the rear seat side windows so cap is of no concern there. I don't have towing mirrors either. Your mirrors should easily cover what's along side you in the bed area. Also if you have the backup camera I use that and my side mirrors mostly for backing up. If you're going to tint your windows don't tint the back glass. The factory tint plus extra tint will be too much once you've put the cap on.

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SierraMatt · March 6, 2017

I am currently looking for a topper and I also live in the pacific northwest region.. I am bothered about limiting the type and size of loads I can carry, but keeping things dry and secure outweighs this worry. Your primary concern of visibility should not be a deciding factor. You should be able to safely drive your truck without having to rely on shoulder checks for those times there is a load in your box. (like a windowless van) I always do shoulder checks but am not stuck if my vision is blocked! You will have an over the shoulder view with a canopy over an empty box but just a little more restricted. I drove with one for a couple of years in the past with no problems.

I've driven mirrors only in my Jeep and car before, but not while I was still getting used to them. If I go topper, I was going to put it on pretty much as soon as I can buy it, and I'm definitely not totally comfortable with the truck yet. Maybe the right answer is to wait until I am. I only have about 300 miles on it, and I still am underestimating the size and how much further I have to pull ahead to make it through a tight part of the parking garage at work. Right now, more visibility is better, and not yet 100% on where exactly the blind spots are. Driver side is good because of the inset mirror, but I'm spending so much time in the right lane trying to break it in nicely that I haven't had a chance to watch a car go all the way past in the passenger mirror yet. It is too bad they won't just drop one on the back and let you see what it is like!

I have a Z series from a.r.e. Rear view has never limited me and if you're checking for vehicles in your blind spots you're looking through the rear seat side windows so cap is of no concern there. I don't have towing mirrors either. Your mirrors should easily cover what's along side you in the bed area. Also if you have the backup camera I use that and my side mirrors mostly for backing up. If you're going to tint your windows don't tint the back glass. The factory tint plus extra tint will be too much once you've put the cap on.

Thanks for the feedback on the A.R.E. topper! There is a Tacoma around here running one of those and it looks good. I'm curious, you never find yourself looking out the topper windows, it is all back seat windows and mirrors you use? I'm definitely looking out the back and over the sides of the bed in one of the tight parking garage turns and when I'm backing into one of the spaces that has a pillar on the side. Haven't quite got the hang of navigating by camera yet, just mirrors and head checks.

I had a few questions about the A.R.E, if you don't mind. Are you happy with it and would you do it again, or would you shop around for something else? With the inward slope, can you sit on the tailgate in the rain and still stay pretty dry with the glass up, or are you out of luck because of the angle? Did you opt for the power lock that works with the truck's fob? If so, how does it work and how does it integrate with the power tailgate lock? If you get snow, is the weight of the topper enough extra over the back wheels to deal with the snow or do you still toss some sand bags in the back? I noticed the back was a little loose in the snow, even keeping my foot as far out of the 6.2 as I could, so I want to get more weight back there, just not sure how much I need. And lastly, is it like buying a car where you have to ~~argue~~ ~~haggle endlessly~~ negotiate over the price? I noticed their web site wants me to talk to a dealer to get a price, which is not promising. Thanks again!