2019 Truck cap/topper/camper shell thread

[Will_T]

If the ARE does not arrive until mid July I will miss having it for the first two long trips with the TT. Wanting to have something weather and dust resistant for those trips, I just ordered a $195.00 soft tonneau top to use until then. Should arrive next Tuesday. Even if I can't sell it when the ARE arrives, it is worth it to me. Kind of annoying though as really what ARE's delay is doing is adding $200.00 to the cost of their shell!

 

[Rockcrawlindude]

If the ARE does not arrive until mid July I will miss having it for the first two long trips with the TT. Wanting to have something weather and dust resistant for those trips, I just ordered a $195.00 soft tonneau top to use until then. Should arrive next Tuesday. Even if I can't sell it when the ARE arrives, it is worth it to me. Kind of annoying though as really what ARE's delay is doing is adding $200.00 to the cost of their shell!

I just used the big camping totes to keep our gear dry til I got mine.

 

[SFAngus]

If the ARE does not arrive until mid July I will miss having it for the first two long trips with the TT. Wanting to have something weather and dust resistant for those trips, I just ordered a $195.00 soft tonneau top to use until then. Should arrive next Tuesday. Even if I can't sell it when the ARE arrives, it is worth it to me. Kind of annoying though as really what ARE's delay is doing is adding $200.00 to the cost of their shell!

For what it's worth, I just got an update from my installer that my Rsi Smart Cap is not expected to arrive until mid July now. (I ordered it in March). So, it seems everyone is delayed.

Also, you'll have no problem selling your tonneau cover. I've bought and sold them on Craigslist before. I bought a truxedo soft tonneau to hold me over as well. Got lucky and found one in great shape for $100. I expect I'll be able to sell it for the same price in a few months when I no longer need it.

 

[Will_T]

I just used the big camping totes to keep our gear dry til I got mine.

I thought of that but we only have one and don't need more long term so would have had to get a couple more. With the price of the decent ones, would have been 1/2 the cost of the cover so just went that route. To be honest my biggest concern is attaching and then having to remove the triangular side pieces that go on the top of the bed side rails. They must have double sided tape of something and sometimes that can be a mess to remove.

 

[Scooter29]

Today I installed my Fas-Top tonneau/ soft topper. I went with this setup as I like the functionality of a shell at times but at other times I like having a normal bed. When I searched for a tonneau cover that works with a softopper I came acros Fas-Top. I caught a sale on them plus got a military discount so from $1500ish I got the whole setup and some accessories for $1300. Less than half a hard shell would cost me and just a little more than a softopper by itself.

Install is pretty easy. You start with the tonneau cover part first by mounting the side rails with 3 clamps on was his side. After talking with Grant at Fas-Top when I asked about getting a good water tight seal at the froe recommended a rubber or foam weather strip material. I used an RSI front seal meant for camper shells. Got it off Amazon for about $30. The toughest part of the install for me was attaching the actual tonneau cover to the rails as my foam seal put the front piece at an angle so lining the bolts up took pressing down on the front of the tonneau to compress the seal I installed. Next was getting it aligned side to side to make sure the tonneau was aligned left to right. After you unroll it and lock it in. From there I adjusted the locking position as it was too tight at first.

Next you assemble the softopper frame which is all color coded. Then I simply moved it to the bed and slip it over the two pins you starch to the side rails at a position provided by Fas-Top. For the 6’4” bed it’s 39.5” and that’s where the dram will pívot. I then attached the front window to the Velcro that is exposed when the tonneau is rolled up. Pull it open and attach 4 clips at each corner. Tighten as needed and the front and rear corners zip up. Sides will Velcro to the side rails and the back window rolls down and locks in place.
Sorry for the long post but I haven’t seen anyone else provide a review on this yet so figured I’d do my best. I only installed and setup real quick as it started to rain again.

 

[Scooter29]

More

 

[jadmt]

I have a softopper listed in the want ads

 

[smokedbystang]

Leer 100XQ. Had it painted and came out great!

 

[jcourant]

Mine is just like yours. Can open the tailgate but can’t close it with hatch closed.

Great looking truck and cap! I have a EVO Sport on order and have a question. I'm going to mount an AEV Vertical Tire mount for my 40" Toyo spare. Is there enough vertical height at the cab end of the cap for that? Thanks if you're able to measure!!

 

[Will_T]

Got the call that my ARE finally arrived today. A few days short of 5 months. Appt to get it installed is Sat.

 

[Rockcrawlindude]

Got the call that my ARE finally arrived today. A few days short of 5 months. Appt to get it installed is Sat.

Don’t look too closely at it. Lol. Enjoy it, ours has been extremely useful. we love it.

 

[jcourant]

I got word that my RSI SMartCap arrives next Tuesday. I ordered in the end of April. Apparently new orders are now arriving in end of Nov. Its crazy out there. I can't wait to get this cap mounted and see if it fits with my AEV Vertical Spare Tire mount.

 

[Will_T]

Don’t look too closely at it. Lol.

Yeah, I am worried about that. I just hope the options I ordered are all there because with the wait times now, ARE has you over a barrel if anything is off.

 

[Rockcrawlindude]

Yeah, I am worried about that. I just hope the options I ordered are all there because with the wait times now, ARE has you over a barrel if anything is off.

Yep. When mine was missing the slider front (rear?) window I didn’t raise hell because I had just waited 17 weeks for the topper and didn’t want to send it back. I could nit pick the QC all day on mine but overall the color matches and it doesn’t leak.

Looks like it’s only getting worse as far as timing goes and if they’re having a hard time finding people who want to work (like everyone else) then the quality is going downhill as well.

 

[Will_T]

They told me it was also a fiberglass shortage.??

 

[Eatonpcat]

They told me it was also a fiberglass shortage.??

Wow, Not even sure what that means...LOL

 

[Will_T]

Well the ARE MX finally arrived and is installed. I looked it over pretty well and it actually seems OK as far as fit and finish and it has all the options I ordered. So that is a relief! Time and use will tell for sure but it looks good. I washed the truck with it on and even though I sprayed water at every possible angle, front, sides, and rear, it stayed dry inside. I got the Yakima Landing Pads / Skyline Towers with the Core Bar Rails for the canoe. Installed the Rails just to test fit them with the canoe and they seem good also. Unless using them, I'll leave them off for now. Forgot to get a photo with the canoe on top but the next time it is up there I will.
.

 

[DMC1]

Got the topper prepped and coated. Installed it today.
View attachment 12478View attachment 12479View attachment 12480

Anybody around the Charlotte NC area need a topper? Since I bought the 5th wheel RV, no longer need it. Been in dry storage in my shop all summer. Does have one small tear in the carpet on the inside that is not very noticeable. New LED brake light and lock set. I'll post it in the 4 sale section.

 

[Gondul]

Well the ARE MX finally arrived and is installed. I looked it over pretty well and it actually seems OK as far as fit and finish and it has all the options I ordered. So that is a relief! Time and use will tell for sure but it looks good. I washed the truck with it on and even though I sprayed water at every possible angle, front, sides, and rear, it stayed dry inside. I got the Yakima Landing Pads / Skyline Towers with the Core Bar Rails for the canoe. Installed the Rails just to test fit them with the canoe and they seem good also. Unless using them, I'll leave them off for now. Forgot to get a photo with the canoe on top but the next time it is up there I will.
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Would you mind a couple of pics of the back gate? Primarily the corners? Mine had huge gaps, which I fixed, but I'd like to see if yours is similar of if they've addressed the issue.

 

[Will_T]

Would you mind a couple of pics of the back gate? Primarily the corners? Mine had huge gaps, which I fixed, but I'd like to see if yours is similar of if they've addressed the issue.

Here you go. One thing I have noticed is that the rubber gasket right at the bottom where the handles latch is already a little chewed up but the edge of the door/window and two screw heads at that location. I can see that the gap is larger on the passenger side than the driver. The photos make them look roughly the same, but when measured, the divers side gap is about 1/2 the passenger side. Mine did not leak when tested but it might be good to even the gaps out. How did you adjust?