Truck Cap Recommendation???

John Paske · Jul 24, 2009

Thanks to my new dog (4.5 month BLM) and the smell of birds in my wife's minivan, I am in the market for a truck cap for my 2006 Toyota Tundra.

I am looking for recommendations on brand and style that work best for keeping it cool for the dog.

And also if anybody is familiar with good dealers in South Central or Southeast Wisconsin.

Thanks, in advance, for the help.

JS · Jul 24, 2009

The side windows that flip up AND have a slider allow you to get a breeze going thru while on the road, assuming you will have a front slider.

When I bought mine, the only brand I found that offered that side window was A.R.E. Might be others now, but I have been satisfied with mine an all respects.

You can really make it cool by installing a slider in you truck's rear window if you don't already have that. I would guess that would pull cooled air from the cab back thru the cap.

JS

Lee Nelson · Jul 24, 2009

JS said:
The side windows that flip up AND have a slider allow you to get a breeze going thru while on the road, assuming you will have a front slider.
JS

I agree. I know Swiss makes one, also.

Illinois Bob · Jul 24, 2009

I put the Century Fiberglass skirted Ultra on my F-150.The cap window is a slider and folds down so you can clean it and I have sliding windows with screens on the sides.The tinted windows are nice too.Looks good and no leaks.If you want to cross the border into Illinois you can get one at Tri-County Caps (Round Lake or Algonquin)but I'll bet Century has somebody near you to install one.

Dan Wegner · Jul 24, 2009

I have an A.R.E. with dark tinted side flip-up windows with screen sliders in them. The other thing I did was special ordered a front window with slider that not only tilts down for cleaning, but actually comes right out.

If you use a thermometer to monitor temps in the back during hot weather, you'll see that closing it up to travel really causes temps to soar back there, even with side windows open. Having a front slider helps a bunch, but I remove the entire front window for the summer. It allows maximum airflow from the gap between the cab and cap while traveling and maximizes airflow while parked. Have never had rain get in since the cap has a bit of a forward angle to it in order to match the angle on the back of the cab.

Leer offers the removable front window, but A.R.E. only offers the tilt-down option. I simply ordered my cap with a solid window and ordered the removable window from the window supplier in Indiana (Creative glass - I think), my local A.R.E. dealer made the switch when my cap came in at no additional cost. I'd never go any other way.

Steve Peacock · Jul 24, 2009

I have an A.R.E. with the vented side Windoors like All Out, wouldn't have a top without them. Now I like a fiberglass top but actually aluminum tops are cooler than fiberglass. I have a cargo light that is hooked into the hot wire in my trailering package and am thinking about hooking a 12 volt outlet in back in case I need fans. Having said all this the dogs are generally in a trailer except when I an taking 1 or 2 dogs.

TN_LAB · Jul 24, 2009

Steve Peacock said:
I have a cargo light that is hooked into the hot wire in my trailering package and am thinking about hooking a 12 volt outlet in back in case I need fans.

Whatever you decide, I'd think a fan would be handy.

Mike Boufford · Jul 24, 2009

I wouldn't get another Century cap if they paid me to take it. Same goes with Leer.

ARE is the best cap on the market with the slip out window option.

I would get a slider on the cap if your truck has a slider as well. The Endless Breeze box fan fits almost perfectly into the window opening and provides heat and AC to the dogs when needed. Make sure to get a window boot too.

BonMallari · Jul 24, 2009

Mike Boufford said:
I wouldn't get another Century cap if they paid me to take it. Same goes with Leer.

ARE is the best cap on the market with the slip out window option.

I would get a slider on the cap if your truck has a slider as well. The Endless Breeze box fan fits almost perfectly into the window opening and provides heat and AC to the dogs when needed. Make sure to get a window boot too.

X2....the only drawback to A.R.E. is the price $$$

brandywinelabs · Jul 24, 2009

Aluminum toppers are by far the coolest. I have had both.
I do like my hard shell a bit better. It seems to be more durable.
Aluminum is also way lighter and thus easier on the gas. Unless you go real expensive in the hard shells.

Kent S · Jul 24, 2009

Unicover Pro Sport Package. It is simply awesome. I had one on my 2002 Chevy 1500 HD and now I have one on my 2008 Chevy 2500 HD. I then bought 12 volt fans from NAPA (Auto Store) had the company that put on the Unicover run a hot line back to the inside of the bed and hard wired the fans to that and zip tied the fans to the cover clamps. One on each side right by the sliding window with screen. Dogs get air all of the time and I can get into the truck in front of the kennels thru the flip ups. I love it. Hard wired light inside.

Labs Will-Do · Jul 24, 2009

I have an A.R.E on full size GMC - white color with inside carpet, it has screened middle sliders on side that I always keep open and entire side windows flip up as well that I open when I park or short travel; I leave back glass open to allow air to flow through even driving down the highway. I use wire crates and have no fan system with 4 dogs in short box bed. I also purchased the truck and top with with sliding glass thinking I would send air from cab, but have never done so, I wouldn't worry again about the truck and top opening to each other on the next one. I am on my second summer in SC without a problem...but I do look for shaded parking and as much natural breeze as possible.

Chris Meyer · Jul 24, 2009

Leer make the best quality when comes to longevity and overall customer reviews. Problem is they're more expensive than A.R.E.

Dave_Quindt · Jul 24, 2009

I've had good luck with a local option for you; Lakeland truck caps over in Greenbush, WI. They also have stores in Madison and Milwaukee.

I had the option of buying an ARE cap at my dealer's wholesale price; I passed since the Lakeland cap was cheaper, even with the drop-in bedliner that was part of the package.

Lakelandtruckcaps.com

FYI,
Dave

badbullgator · Jul 24, 2009

Get a "slight" rise so air can flow over the crates.

Richard Halstead · Jul 24, 2009

brandywinelabs said:
Aluminum toppers are by far the coolest. I have had both.
I do like my hard shell a bit better. It seems to be more durable.
Aluminum is also way lighter and thus easier on the gas. Unless you go real expensive in the hard shells.

I had aluminum topper and put 1/2 styrofoam insulation in the sides and top and then covered them with a white masonite and used self tapping screws. The added inslation kept the bed and dogs cooler.

Hambone · Jul 24, 2009

I just bought a SnugTop and I like the camper itself but the windoors I bought SUCK. The windoors have a cheap little piece of plastic with a screw down the middle of it that is supposed to act as a stop and keep the window from creeping forward when you open it. One side did not even have them when delivered and the opposite side lost the front one the first time I used it. I am still fighting with the place I bought it to get the windoors fixed. Wish I had bought the ARE now. Definitely get the windoor option and make sure they have the sliding window so you can get ventilation while traveling. I did not get the sliding side windows and it gets hot on the road.

T. Mac · Jul 24, 2009

My vote is also the ARE http://www.4are.com/

Here they were a bit cheaper than the others, yet offered more; tilt out slider front window, flip up side windows with slider vent, t handle locks, interior light, etc. You can even order with built in clothes hanger to use hanging up your handler jackets, etc.

T. Mac

Alan Luthy · Jul 25, 2009

I also recommend an ARE cap with the front slider and flip-up side windows. I have had one on my Ford Ranger for nine years. It is holding up well and still looks great. I would suggest getting one of the models with a rise so you can install a platform in the bed of your truck to get the dog's crate up off the floor and into breezes coming through the side windows. After I got my rig set up I was pleasantly surprised just how cool the dogs remain inside it. It is no problem at all to leave a dog in the back of the truck without a fan on the hottest of Florida days in the middle of an asphalt parking lot in full sun with the back door locked, so long as the front slider and the flip-up side windows are open. I wouldn't do that all day without a fan, but it is plenty good for running errands under those conditions.

Also, if you are going to get a fan, I would suggest looking at the Endless Breeze 12 volt fans. Several of my friends use them to cool dogs in their vehicles and my Jones six hole dog trailer has one for its ventilation fan. They can move a lot of air with relatively little drain on the vehicle battery.

croppiemstr · Jul 25, 2009

Kent S said:
Unicover Pro Sport Package. It is simply awesome. I had one on my 2002 Chevy 1500 HD and now I have one on my 2008 Chevy 2500 HD. I then bought 12 volt fans from NAPA (Auto Store) had the company that put on the Unicover run a hot line back to the inside of the bed and hard wired the fans to that and zip tied the fans to the cover clamps. One on each side right by the sliding window with screen. Dogs get air all of the time and I can get into the truck in front of the kennels thru the flip ups. I love it. Hard wired light inside.

I am just tring to find one that is not so dang expensive. where can you find the unicovers at? Never heard of this one before

Truck Cap Recommendation???

John Paske

JS

Lee Nelson

Illinois Bob

Dan Wegner

Steve Peacock

TN_LAB

Mike Boufford

BonMallari

brandywinelabs

Kent S

Labs Will-Do

Chris Meyer

Dave_Quindt

badbullgator

Richard Halstead

Hambone

T. Mac

Alan Luthy

croppiemstr

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