Hi
I have a 2020 2WD 6 ft bed - standard cab

I want a topper / shell with windows (ideally fiberglass or alum) more for simple camping (not commercial/tools etc.)

Interested to hear folks' views on best options?Quote

 

The only suggestion I can make is get one with the accessible side doors. Opening the back, dropping the tailgate and crawling in gets really old really fast. Being able to open either side gains you stand-on-your-feet access to most of the bed. Another choice is to decide whether you want passers-by to be able to see inside. My preference is to either have no glass at all, or at least put 80-90% perforated vinyl on the glass. DO NOT get the 'smoked' plastic sheets from WalMart/Amazon/eBay. That crap will bubble in just a few weeks in the summer sun and look like crap. Find a local commercial vinyl wrap outfit and have it done right. I had mine done like this... and got a color matched to the pin striping on the body. 90% perfed, so it keeps out all but the most determined prying eyes and I can still see through it (no wrap on the front/cab glass of the topper) and it still lets in enough light to see during the day.

If you want total security, go with NO glass but steel/aluminum/fiberglass instead. You'll lose the use of your rear view mirror and the ability to swivel your head to check your blind spots, but you'll eventually get used to it.

One other option: Buy a brand that allows you to key the topper locks to your truck key. This precludes the need for a second key just for the topper. Some manufacturers have remote locks, which is a real nice feature to have.

There's a plethora of other options designed to not only make the topper easier to use yet lighten your wallet. Like roll-out drawers, lighting packages, ladder racks...

Whatever you get, first order of business (if you're installing it yourself) is to get the 3rd brake light wired. If it doesn't have one (it should, unless you're buying used), get one and install it. Your life is worth the time and expense.

 

Totally agree on the "Win-doors" for side access. Although, unless you are 6' 3" or so, it's not super easy to use the side windows due to body height of the truck. Make sure the doors are all keyed the same!

Keyed that same as the truck Is a rare feature for a standard fiberglas cap, maybe it's available on the all metal ones. But having different keys for the side windows and the back is a pain. You do not want that. I had it for 20 years on the old S10, and hated it.

I got a LEER cap. had to wait for it, as they were not ready with the mold yet when I first looked for it toward the end of 2019. Got it in DEC 2019, and it has been perfect. Got that brand because they had the tallest cap. I wanted the maximum height of rear door.

Had one on a previous truck, not LEER, but same win-doors, and it was fine for camping (aside from the keying) Of course, the lift-up win-doors have no screen capability, if you ever want to sleep in the back.

Side note.... the lockable tailgate is good. Without that, I think it would be possible to get access by just forcing the tailgate open and not opening the locked cap window.