In the market for a truck cap. Any recommendations on brand, material, racks etc would be appreciated.
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Anything but a Raider. I bought one for my p.u. here in Idaho. It literally fell apart within two years. Its fiberglass with standard sliders, pretty much a standard cap. It also developed waves down the sides and windows started leaking within the first year. Just got a Century for my wifes pickup...we'll see. Lotsa luck.
ive had a sportsman brand topper. No complaints with that brand here.
Leonard and Continental aluminum caps with the largest lift up side windows have worked well for me for the last 10 years... I like a wooden rack on top, lots of attachment points... It's okay, I can fix it!
I remeber gtting one from cap city years ago, drove up to site, everyboby whipped out their keys and opened it up.
no turn left unstoned
Luckily, folks with keys don't usually mess with stuff that doesn't belong to them :) It's okay, I can fix it!
I know. Sure helps out when someone goes"hey, you got a _____?"
"yeah, back of the truck"no turn left unstoned
I've had four different caps on four trucks - one was a Brahma (?), which I couldn't get a replacement locking handle for. None were high-end types. The one issue I had to attend to on all of them was keeping them sealed against leaks (I hate rusty tools and soggy materials). Make sure they are well sealed, whatever you get.
As for racks - my current one is my favorite - I built it myself. I bought some square aluminum tubing (1 1/2", though its a bit overkill), found someone to weld plates on the bottom of four angled pieces and then weld a cross bar to each pair of uprights, bolted it to the top of the bed sides and then bolted on the long rails running front to back. Its strong and light and fits my truck perfectly.
Has anybody ever made their own cap? I'm thinking a 1" or so steel or AL frame with steel skin riveted or screwed on. I'm sure the door would be the most difficult part. Is it possible and worth it?Jon Blakemore
what is a truck cap?
Helps keep the sun off the windshield while you're driving. Often used to cover lost paint on the roof. ;-}
truck cap = camper shell
I have a Lakeland (local brand I believe) all fiberglass. It's their basic model but has held up fairly well after a year. I'm not sure if they're sold outside of Wisconsin. But it was $699 installed, and they matched the color of my new dakota perfectly.
Not sure where you are located, but I had an Indian of Maine fiberglass cap on a Ford Ranger I had. Nice and tight and it had racks on top that were adjustable. I could take off the front rack and clip it onto the rain gutter on the cab to carry material or ladders up to 20' long. Great truck, great cap , I miss it. good luck.
Dana
Salmon Falls Housewrights
Actually not too far from you ......... midcoast near Boothbay. Never heard of Indian of ME ...still in business? Thanks for the pic, bb
Edited 9/22/2002 9:37:41 AM ET by jc
The dealer where I got mine was in Kennebunk. Went out of business. I think the nearest to you is in Auburn. I'll try to find the name and let you know.
Dana
Salmon Falls Housewrights