I'm thinking about having a "Z" series A.R.E. cap installed on my 06 ext cab short bed. Is it really worth it? Does it really inprove the look of the truck? I was quoted 1800.00, thats a lot of bread to drop down to improve the looks, I really wouldn't take advantage of the extra security that much.

 

Leer. personally with the side flip up windows, removable rear window for cleaning, and gun box...

hmm that sounds familiar lol

 

i would look on craigs list you can come across a few in good condition for about 150-300 depending on the person get it repainted and you save about 1200 bucks that way. i look on there all the time and have seem some really nice ones but i have a stepside so im on there looking for a new bed aswell i want a regular bed

 

Same here?

I paid a hair under 1600 for my LEER topper and I checked just about every option box. The only things I can think of off the top of my head is a roof rack and an automatic magnetic switched domelight. The only complaint I have with leer, is I went through about 5 LED third brake lights in the year I had it. They always replaced them for free though.



~HJ

 

I have a custom painted, beat up freebie that I got. I love it but it's not necessarily your cup of tea, lol...

 

i would never get one unless it had the flip up side windows, i am not one for crawling into the bed just to get something in the back

 

Flip up windows sounds like the deal, money aside.....does it really improve the look of the truck?

 

What do YOU think? Are you a codependent, lol? If you like it do it! What does it matter what we think? You can see bunches of us have them, and bunches of us don't?

 

I got one off of Craigslist for $50, it's not perfect but personally I love having a cap and you can't beat the price if you find a good one. It all depends on the persons taste, some people like them, some don't...

 

i will not get one it kills the look of truck

 

I have the A.R.E Z-series cap and I think it looks awesome. Mine is just the basic one, with the boot and I got it for $1250 (i believe...)

 

I knda want to see if anyone has bought one and later decided they didn't like it and was out some big bucks.

 

when I get a garage i will look heavier into one...i would love one for camping trips and such, but not sure i would want it if i am offroading...

 

Get a cap if your going to use it, not just for looks. i had one on my old truck and never used it for anything. I ended up getting id of it and saved money on gas as well. They are heavy and takes 2 people to take it off if not more. When you want to use the truck as a truck and haul things you'll wish you didnt have it on at all. Besides where are you going to store it when its off. Clutter your garage with it or leave a $1800 investment on the graound in the yard.... just my opinion.

 

I'm sure you can dig up a thread about the story on getting my cap

Here's some comparison pics though if you're interested.

Before the Cap



After the Cap

 

i hate my cap you cant see when your off roading i wouldnt pay 1600 for a cap holy$hit no way

 

I like campershells. I has helping my gf move yesterday and it was perfect. I have the hi-rise shell and I had it stuffed to the top with boxes and some blankets. If I had a regular open bed I wouldn't be able to have carried so much stuff with out it being a pain in the *** and tying it down and then it still wouldn't be safe.

Before



After

 

At first I used to hate caps, but I traded my hard tonneau for a cap, and i LOVE IT.


Its nice having all that storage room thats covered, and locks


My next truck will have a cap too

 

You didn't answer my question: What do YOU want? Isn't that the point? If THEY didn't like it on THEIR truck, how does that influence what you will think?

You didn't ask about value or whatever -- you asked about appearance. You've looked at caps on trucks now over and over again... What do YOU like?

I'm sorry, lol -- but I really don't understand queries like your's about what looks good. How somebody else can tell you what looks good to YOU is pretty much a contradiction in terms -- unless YOU tell THEM.

 

another great cap for the ranger is the Glasstite "raven"

 

Before:
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After:
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Before:
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After:
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I love mine and I think they look best when on a lifted Ranger.

 

I do think that some of the bed caps look good on a truck. However IMO if I wanted somethin like that I woulda got an explorer or somthing simmilar.

Slap a bedbox, an maybe headache rack an bedrails on it an call it good.

It does all boil down to what your eyes like an what your uses are.

 

I have mixed feelings about the cap. First and foremost, I like having one in the winter because I HATE shoveling snow out of the bed. Plus my truck is my mobile job box, so again, in the winter, it's nice to have the tools in there stay dry.

But, I do not like it when I need to haul anything that is taller or longer then the cab or the bed. I really don't like driving with the toppers window open, or my tail gate open when I have long loads, and I also really hate not being able to haul tall things for work because of the cap (if I haul stuff, it means I don't have to work for however long it takes to haul it, plus I get paid for drive time :D).

Another thing I don't like about my cap is it isn't color matched, and it has too much window. I know, most people like having the ability to see with the cap, but honestly, I don't like that the windows are so long on it. Plus I can't haul anything on the top because it doesn't have a rack or anything.

I like the looks of a truck with the right topper. I honestly don't like the looks of toppers that match the same height as the cab of the truck. To me, it isn't as useful as a high rise or low rise topper. When I get a new topper, I am getting the A.R.E. MX series topper because I think it has the right looks with the right amount of options.

I was quoted $2100 for that topper with every option I want, and was quoted $2500 for the Leer 180 (same type) with the same options until they found out the year of my truck, and said that they don't "make" it for my Ranger (even though I currently have a topper from a 98 Ranger for it now and it fits fine).

 

I used to not like them, but after having one I don't think I'll ever have another truck without one. It made the truck 1000 times more useful. Not to mention four clamps and a couple guys you could take it off in a few minutes if you had too. My topper was worth every penny. I just wish I didn't need to sell the truck.

~HJ