Which topper and why ARE?

[Taconatron]

I’m ordering a topper soon. Struggling with brand but I think ARE is the way to go. I want a paint to match topper so please don’t worry about the smart cap suggestions. Three questions.

First does anyone have a used bronze oxide 6 FOOT BED they want to sell?

Second is ARE has a few models. Any reviews or suggestions on which model to get?

Also which options do you regret getting/not getting?

Pfa

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[Gampy164]

I had an ARE V Series cap on my 2024 Tacoma. The quality has definitely declined over the years.

 

[CanyonFisherSummitSeeker]

I had an ARE V Series cap on my 2024 Tacoma. The quality has definitely declined over the years.

I was set to buy an ARE until my buddy with a 2022 Tacoma talked me out of it based on his experience, which was pretty similar to yours. I know OP said no Smart Cap but my buddy said if he could do it over again that’s what he’d do. He had previously had an ARE on his 2014 Tacoma he was really happy with and he feels the same way you do.

 

[Sagebrush]

I know OP said no Smart Cap but my buddy said if he could do it over again that’s what he’d do.

I sure like mine.

 

[CanyonFisherSummitSeeker]

I sure like mine.

Your ARE or Smart Cap?

EDIT:
Sorry ha! I worked all night and need to go to bed. I’m about ready to pull the trigger myself. Maybe you’ve posted the info on other threads but which model and options did you not for? You have dogs? Thanks!

 

[Hedgehog]

I’m ordering a topper soon. Struggling with brand but I think ARE is the way to go. I want a paint to match topper so please don’t worry about the smart cap suggestions. Three questions.

First does anyone have a used bronze oxide 6 FOOT BED they want to sell?

Second is ARE has a few models. Any reviews or suggestions on which model to get?

Also which options do you regret getting/not getting?

Pfa

[/QUOTE

 

[jbaiv1999]

I had an ARE V series on my 2019 F-150. It was pretty good and I liked how many options there were with the locks and the windows. I really loved how the inside window that faced the back of the cab would drop down so you could clean it and the truck’s back wind as well while the cap was on. It wasn’t perfect though. The paint match wasn’t exact and it leaked a little bit but I was never expecting a truck cap to be 100% water tight.
I would say a smart cap or an alu cab contour canopy is a better option if you are doing a lot of off-roading. A fiberglass cap is going to be a bit heavier and since the bottom edges of the cap go over the edge of the trucks bed the cap will eat into the paint of the truck bed over time with off-road use. The alu cab and smart cap sit in top of the truck bed rails so they won’t do that.
I will say I think the fiberglass shells look the best but I personally won’t be getting one again unless I buy it for a tow rig that doesn’t see much off-road use.

 

[Hedgehog]

I work at a shop that sells and installs both ARE and Leer As well as Smart Cap. out of the three if I was ever gonna buy a cap, it would be the smart cap ever though I do like the body match paint better. After seeing how these caps get delivered to us I could never spend my money on one. 80% of the caps we get have issues we have to address before we can even call the customer for installation.

 

[Sagebrush]

Maybe you’ve posted the info on other threads but which model and options did you not for? You have dogs? Thanks!

Excuse me, a Smartcap Adventure. It's much better than my old Leer.

Dogs? Yeah, two, but they ride in the back seat. If you've got the digital mirror, it still works with a Smartcap.

 

[Taconatron]

I had an ARE V Series cap on my 2024 Tacoma. The quality has definitely declined over the years.

Thank you. This is for sure something to consider. Will give Leer a second look.

 

[Taconatron]

Excuse me, a Smartcap Adventure. It's much better than my old Leer.

Dogs? Yeah, two, but they ride in the back seat. If you've got the digital mirror, it still works with a Smartcap.

Yes but I don’t want a big black box on my truck. I want a paint to match shell. Smart is not cheap and don’t want to add another grand to get it painted.

 

[CanyonFisherSummitSeeker]

Excuse me, a Smartcap Adventure. It's much better than my old Leer.

Dogs? Yeah, two, but they ride in the back seat. If you've got the digital mirror, it still works with a Smartcap.

That’s awesome! Thank you for the pictures.

I don’t have the digital mirror which while I didn’t want at the time of purchase I can see now how great it would be with a shell and kind of wish I had it!

Regarding the dogs, I always did the same. Love having my dogs in the cab with me. That being said (and not trying to convince you to do the same, just explaining why I asked) I’m now of the belief that crash proof kennels are the way to go for the safety of the dog, and unfortunately I can’t fit two inside the cab. If I only have one dog with me I put the single kennel inside the cab. If I have both I have to get creative.

Both my current dogs are juveniles but having lost a 16 year old lab and 14 year old herding dog prior to these two new ones, those dogs rode inside sans kennels 100% of the time. Miss it.

 

[Sagebrush]

just explaining why I asked) I’m now of the belief that crash proof kennels are the way to go for the safety of the dog

That's a good idea.

 

[Gampy164]

Thank you. This is for sure something to consider. Will give Leer a second look.

LEER is not much better from what I’ve heard. ARE did give me $350 for the inconvenience in lieu of returning it for repair. The dealer warned that it could be returned to me in worse condition after repairs were made. Whichever route you go, be sure to have the installer use the thicker padding on the bedsides.

 

[Pappy]

Those of you with caps, how does the hatch close? It seems that ridge on top of the tailgate would keep the hatch from closing.

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