Whether you need it for recreation, work, or commercial use, we offer them all. First things first, the standard camper shell is light—about 300 pounds—making it ideal for payload-challenged half-ton and mid-size trucks. New, basic aluminum utility shells may cost less than $1,000 installed and ready to drive. Ships for $3.29. When compressed by a properly mounted and tightened camper shell, this provides a strong seal against rain, dust, and wind. 775-323-0270 caravancampers@hotmail.com It doesn’t matter if it’s a slide-in or a chassis-mount, a hard-side or a pop-up, if it’s a truck camper and it’s carried on a truck, we cover it. And while tonneaus (which must be able to open) cannot be fully weatherproofed, camper shells are not only typically mounted with weatherstripping, but can be additionally caulked with silicon caulk or butyl tape as well for added assurance. On top of this, camper shells facilitate roof racks to mount all sorts of outsize cargo which might not otherwise fit inside the bed. The shading of the silver and bronze actually are about the same so while the color is different, is is quite pleasant to look at, unlike some of the color combinations I have seen. When it comes to choosing high quality, professional grade commercial truck tops, truck camper shells, truck caps, truck canopies, and truck toppers, Access Manufacturing, Inc. is an industry leader with over 40 years of experience in product design, manufacturing, and installation. Anyhow, a coworker wanted one for his WHITE ’03 Ram 3500 long bed and after some Craigslist searching he stumbled onto a WHITE top of the line LEER with the flushed in frameless windows, which was a real steal at $500 and about a two hour drive. Thank you for your time. Our mid/high-rise caps are with you for the long haul and large haul. Craigslist is a perennial favorite for deals on used camper shells, but finding a shell on Craigslist which fits one’s exact truck model, generation, and with the right color to match is like finding a field of four-leaf clovers. Side and rear windows on truck caps make driving one’s truck nearly as easy as with a bare bed, and increase comfort and ventilation while camping inside. Less-common builders of camper shells include Four Wheel Campers, Bestop’s soft camper shells, ProTops, AT Overland, Ranch, ATC, and Jason. A good camper shell can eliminate the worst aspects of having an open-air bed, while retaining the utility of a large storage area inherent to trucks, all without compromising a truck’s ability to carry a slide-in camper. Aluminum shells are generally cheaper than their fiberglass counterparts, although heavy-duty commercial-type aluminum shells can be the most expensive options many manufacturers offer. Four Wheel Campers supported the open house [read more], Prescott, Arizona-based AT Overland recently released a Summit truck topper for the Jeep Gladiator, the first enclosed camping solution for the popular 4WD pickup truck. An even simpler option for storage under a bed platform instead of drawers is to use low-height sliding storage boxes commonly found in college dorms. Truck Caps & Truck Accessories manufacturer of fiberglass pick-up truck caps, truck canopies, tops, toppers, truck toppers, camper shells, canopies, hard … Find the right part to get the job done with eBay. High-rise shells may impact fuel economy negatively, though this is slight at most and a subject of contention on many automotive forums. every new camper shell comes painted to match your truck at no extra cost and all new camper shells come with a warranty. Depending on one’s personal philosophy, a shell can represent an investment of a few hundred to nearly ten thousand dollars. Join our email list to receive special deals and discounts, and stay in-the-know about new product updates and more. Removal is a common need for truck camper owners, as the shell must be removed before mounting a slide-in camper. YOU’LL LOVE OUR NEWSLETTER. FOR SALE - Humboldt County, CA - Camper shell for truck 6 by 8 foot. Flexible caulking is important as camper shells, especially when heavily loaded on the roof or taken off-road, will work slightly and can break the bond of a non-flexible caulk. Automotive headliner fabric is easy to find online, and can be installed using heavy-duty spray adhesive. The rear walk through door option by itself was an additional $1300. In either case, a few upgrades make camper shells comfortable for short or even long-term trips. Mid- or high-rise shells add another one to two feet of vertical space without the hit to efficiency that awkward loads protruding above the cab incur. Choosing a shell without a headliner can be problematic, as chopper-gun construction leaves fiberglass shells with a rough finish inside and aluminum shells have inherent condensation and insulation problems. In a pinch, a tarp or mosquito net secured with bungees can also provide this coverage. #2 The Bel-Air shell offers a roof vent. It is important to consider whether one will be able to drive with the rear of one’s camper shell open or not—cargoes like watercraft, furniture, and lumber often require more length than even long-bed trucks can offer. Post your items for free. The simplest thin-wall models may not be capable of supporting a roof rack, but weigh the least of all hard-side camper shell options. Here are the results to this week’s Question of the Week, “How tall is your truck and camper rig?” Pop-Up Campers Tom Surles: 2008 Ford F250 / 2003 Northstar 850SC – 9’4” Some companies offer shells which replace the rear tailgate entirely, but it is more common for shells to sport an opening window which compliments the existing tailgate. Workmate Camper Shell is what the name implies: a Workmate (helper). For these reasons, mid- or high-rise shells, like the Leer 180, Leer 122, or Century T-Class, are better for outsize cargo or comfortable camping. If the impact of the camper shell on maximum payload is not as significant a factor, a heavier-walled aluminum shell can support more weight on roof racks. I've ordered uniform nameplates from galls.com…, Mike--good article.....I have had great luck by going to a local trophy shop in San Diego.....They make labels for all…, I don’t have awnings attached to my 96 Bigfoot 3000 because they provide very little shade, they block the view…, MAJOR UPDATE FOR WINTER EXPLORES DOLLY SODS! Powered by WordPress. You must go with these DIY camper shell plans if you have gotten bored from putting up a camping tent. Which camper shell is right for your Tacoma? $325.00. We will be posted within a couple weeks or so on my website on the repair page! WANTED: Tall Camper Shell. Which means your new truck cap is part of you, too. Whether you seek SUV aesthetics, raw functionality, or a lightweight alternative to a standard slide-in truck camper, a camper shell, also known as a shell, cap, or topper, is a great addition to your truck. Racks are custom fit to each camper shell and available in two styles, Standard & Low profile, (Standard with tie down rings up high) (Low Profile with tie down rings down low) the front racks are made from angle iron which helps to reduce wind noise. Leaving the rear window slightly ajar is one option, but sliding, screened side windows are the best choice for this. Furthermore, as fiberglass shells are built from molds specifically designed to fit particular truck models and generations, they tend to feature closer fits and more similar styling to one’s truck than one-size-fits-all aluminum shells. A fiberglass shell will improve on insulation, options for accessorizing, and features better color-matching and aesthetics if that’s a concern. Article by Toni Sumner. This is the SnugTop XTR model. Broken windows, either from rubble kicked up while off-road, shifting cargo, accidents, or just general bad luck can be a huge expense. However, if the shell is used for camping at all, swing-out windows tend to preclude window screens, which will be a huge inconvenience if one spends any time in bug-prone areas. Anyone with an open-bed pickup truck has likely experienced something flying out on the highway, a sensitive load getting soaked in an unexpected rainstorm, the theft of even the most seemingly worthless items, or garbage thrown into the bed. Any number of inflatable mattresses exist to fit between the wheel wells of specific styles of truck, but I am not a fan of air mattresses and prefer something solid. Like slide-in truck campers, there are a variety of camper shell styles and manufacturers. Most 6-foot mid-size truck beds are able to fit a full-size mattress in this way, and full-size trucks should have no issues at all fitting full-size mattresses. We cover all types of truck campers here at Truck Camper Adventure. The Decked system is a pre-built version of this featuring slide-out drawers, but at a relatively high cost to what can be achieved in a weekend with power tools and some lumber. The rally. It’s worth reading manuals, talking to dealers, or calling the factory itself to more clearly understand the difference between these two ratings. Furthermore, as the adhesive is secured to the bed rails and not the camper shell, this will not bond the camper shell to the truck bed. Great article! Camper shells provide, at a minimum, cab-height clearance for cargo or more. Tradesman By Access Manufacturing, Inc. Have you had trouble getting your custom canopy designed and manufactured? It’s Bigfoot’s glass secret. Check your inbox or spam folder now to confirm your subscription. Rear window replacements may run upwards of $500 on some premium models. Ships for $13.99. To give added headroom in the camper a six-inch high box beam was built between the bottom of the topper and the rails in the truck box. HAVE: This is what I have... 99 Tacoma, 4wd automatic, SR5, V6, diff lock, TRD with a camper shell. I have to give it to ARE, they build a great product. When it comes time for the greater comforts of a slide-in, most camper shells are easy to dismount and leave behind. Free shipping on many items! For those of us in a rainy or theft-prone environment, a shell is an all-but essential upgrade. This is often a two-person (or more) job, as some fiberglass shells can top 400 pounds for long-bed trucks. $200.00. Andreas tells me that it takes 18 hours to assemble a camper body. Doors and windows are also available. Each one is handmade to order in Fort Collins, Colorado, using beautiful woods like western red cedar and beetle kill pine. It only takes a few seconds. Mello Mike is an Amazon.com associate. While many slide-in camper owners are used to not relying on their rear-view mirror, this can grow tiring especially if the camper shell stays on one’s truck most of the time, particularly in cities. The cheapest option which still retains some utility and aesthetic value is to cut a sheet of Plexiglas or Lexan sheet to size and to mount it with heavy-duty construction adhesive to the shell. They also offer a camper body design that is ready to assemble. While most of us have likely seen a camper shell “augmented” with plywood in place of a window, this removes the benefit of having a window in the first place and looks ugly. The T-handles to be found on most styles of camper shell are another place to hang a camping light, which is a boon to those of us using the tailgate to cook on. Utilize 15% more space than a cab-high model and save on fuel with stunning aerodynamics. While utilitarian-minded owners of camper shells may prefer to keep them and their truck beds bare, camper shells serve as passable living quarters for short-term trips where the work of loading, stocking, and driving a slide-in camper might not make sense. Regardless of the name, we offer America's Best Selling selection and have thousands of dealers to help you find the best truck cap for your lifestyle. More exotic shells, like the Four Wheel Campers Project M and AT Overland Summit, near $10,000, but sport the utility of a small pop-up truck camper. While this mattress would not fit between the wheel wells of a Tacoma without squeezing, the bed platform sits atop them. Camper shells turn the traditionally exposed truck bed into a lockable, weatherproof space for storing cargo or even oneself on camping trips. Toyota pick up camper shell. Because I live in Texas, I went with a Leer 180 with one windoor for my 2015 Access cab. There are five main categories for camper shells: cab high, high-rise, commercial, pop-ups, and full-size campers. They gave us $1000 in trade so our investment ended up being $1600 spread out over 6 years ($266 per year). Bel-Air Camper Shells (714) 534 - 1373 Up front prices are easy to find and listed on this website. As such, I use a full-size futon mattress, about 6 inches tall, atop a sleeping platform. Unlike a bed-mounted toolbox, a shell doesn’t require the sacrifice several feet of one’s bed—already a problem for short-bed trucks. Truck Camper Adventure is a free, online magazine offering truck camper news, reviews, travel tips, and more. Monday-Saturday 9am-5pm Church on Sunday We appreciate your business and will work hard to earn it. 4.7 out of 5 stars 561 $18.99 $ 18 . We got so much use and comfort from it. In this case, or if the camper shell sticks to the truck bed in general, using a screwdriver to separate the caulking or gently levering the camper shell off the bed rails is a fast way to unstick a shell for removal. In 2010 when we purchased, the standard ARE MX model was about $1300 (with window & interior options options). One problem people have is the back of the shell spreading and leaving gaps where the back window closes on the seal, and a poor fit or overhang of the edge of the bed. Zachary Hesse is a Massachusetts native, writer, and former commercial tuna harpooner. You can find more about him and his travels at ZacharyHesse.com. Ships for $7.49. We don’t take that lightly. Discussion Starter • #1 • Nov 16, 2004. To date, over 160 campers and their owners have enrolled in what will probably be the largest truck camper rally ever held. If you have something like any of the camper shells pictured please contact me at . 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