Before we bought our F-250 Super Duty, I had decided we needed a camper shell, or what is now mostly called a “truck cap.” There are several reasons why I wanted a cap. Before purchasing I did a little bit of research, which I am going to share here.
Why
Back in the ’90s I bought a small pickup truck, a 1998 Ford Ranger. It was small, with bench seat that could accommodate three skinny people. It was called a super cab, with a small area behind the front seat that could store extra stuff. The back area had two fold-down “jump seats” that, with the aid of a huge shoehorn could stuff two elves into the back. It was a nice truck. It had limited storage, except for the truck bed, obviously. The difficulty with a truck bed, aside from its cargo capability, is stuff could get wet in the rain, and it was easy for a thief to take steal the contents. So I bought a truck cab, which at the time cost under $500 including tax and installation.
My next three vehicles were a Ford Explorer and two Ford Expeditions. All them were able to fold down the rear seats, leaving ample secured space for cargo (e.g., camping gear). The Expeditions even had third row seating. Since we rarely hauled passengers around, the back seats were almost always left down.
But I really missed the utility and convenience of a pick up truck, since we don’t need all the seating comforts of a SUV, and a truck can hold more cargo than a similarly sized SUV.
Another Option
A tonneau cover, which provides about 1/2 the potential storage capacity.
These come in folding models and solid covers. Some have the ability to lock with a key.
Fuel Milage Increase
Many companies advertise that a truck cap or (especially) a tonneau cover will improve fuel economy. They even quote some nebulous studies. My research indicates this isn’t the case.
The Features I Required in a Truck Cap
There are many, many options available. For me, I needed three:
- A lock to keep the honest people honest. Nothing is going to deter a thief if he has enough time to steal your property.
- Tinted sliding side windows. Tint helps camouflage the contents in the bed. I often sleep in the back, usually when I drive a long distance to a trail head and need to sleep before or after a backpacking trip. Sliding windows with a screen to keep bugs out provides ventilation and I can even cook meals inside.
- An interior light.
Construction Materials
Sorted by lowest cost first:
Aluminum
- least expensive
- light weight
- few matching paint options
- lots of storage options, especially for people, like contractors, that will use it for business
Composite/Plastic
- mid price
- few matching paint options
Fiberglass
- most expensive
- heaviest and hardest to remove if needed
- can usually match the color paint to your truck
- durable and easiest to repair if damaged
There is no best option. Each person needs to weigh and balance their needs and cash outlay.
For me I wanted fiberglass, paint to match the truck, limited options, and the lowest price available in a major brand. I knew whatever cap I decided on would require ordering it and a wait time for delivery, as caps are sold through dealer networks.
Warranty
Major brands such as A.R.E., Leer, and SnugTop have lifetime warranties to cover most problems, should they arise. Some even guarantee the paint to last as long as the truck’s original paint. The major brands are most likely to still be in business should you need warranty service in the future.
A.R.E. V Series Truck Cap
I kinda figured this would best fit my needs. Based on customer service reviews, I drove to a dealer in Riverside, CA, (Fuller Truck Accessories) because the closer dealers didn’t have stellar reputations.
Fuller sells several brands of truck caps. I just explained what I was looking for, and waited for the sales guy to make a recommendation, which was what I thought would work best for me before arriving at this dealer: the A.R.E. V Series Cap. He didn’t try to upset me on any options or pressure me in anyway. Good sign.
The factory is located in Ohio, so I knew it would take a while. He estimated 7-8 weeks, with the caveat that we can’t know if the COVID-19 pandemic would interfere. 6 weeks later he called that it had arrived, and we scheduled an appointment for the following week.
It took less than an hour to install it, with a team of 3 men doing the work, which required running electrical under the body and up through the bed to connect the third brake light on the back of the cap, and the optional interior light I had ordered. After the install, we were walked through the operation of the cap, provided information on maintenance (mostly washing and waxing), and the warranty was explained. Very thorough. Total price for the cap, options, shipping, tax and installation was under $2,000. The paint matches perfectly.