Alu-Cab Contour Canopy installed on Ranger Raptor

[a_speckles]

Had the Alu-Cab Contour Canopy installed last week at OK4WD in New Jersey. I think it’s fits well and am impressed with how light but sturdy the topper feels. The factory plastic bed rail tops were removed and replaced with the aluminum bed rails seen in the last photo. Have driven about 500 miles since the install and haven’t noticed any real changes in handling or MPG.

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[BlancoRaptor]

What's the cost of that good looking camper shell??

 

[a_speckles]

What's the cost of that good looking camper shell??

$3.7k - $4k depending on configuration. Similar to the RSI Smart Cap pricing but a bit less.

 

[SolarWinds]

I've been looking at these recently. Have you noticed any increase in wind noise? And any reason why you picked this over GFC's? The cost looks similar

 

[John E Davies]

Nice! Can you please post a closeup picture of the bottom tailgate flange and seal? Where is the rubber seal located in the underside, and what type is it? Bulb, flat, special…? Is it adjustable in any way?

The design is dramatically different from my Go Fast Camper Topper, which has serious fit issues, bad enough for me to file a warranty claim. Thank you!

John Davies
Spokane WA USA

 

[a_speckles]

I've been looking at these recently. Have you noticed any increase in wind noise? And any reason why you picked this over GFC's? The cost looks similar

No increase in wind noise that is noticeable! I went with the Alu-Cab over the GFC as I knew OK4WD was a dealer and they shared they had installed one previously and it fit well.

 

[a_speckles]

Nice! Can you please post a closeup picture of the bottom tailgate flange and seal? Where is the rubber seal located in the underside, and what type is it? Bulb, flat, special…? Is it adjustable in any way?

The design is dramatically different from my Go Fast Camper Topper, which has serious fit issues, bad enough for me to file a warranty claim. Thank you!

John Davies
Spokane WA USA

See photo's below:

 

[John E Davies]

Thanks, those are helpful. That rubber bulb seal should be easy to source locally or on Amazon …. Yours appears to be WAY too short, a longer one would help to fill the large gaps at the side.

Or am I seeing an optical illusion?

See the red stains? Rust!!! They used a cheap seal with plain steel wire insert. This is really common, try to find replacement in the same size with stainless! Yours will get loose within a year and the rust can stain your truck.

Here is a better seal, I don’t know if it is the correct size. “Feature: U shape trim made of EPDM rubber with internal stainless steel clips”

https://www.amazon.com/Tintvent-Automotive-Weather-Stripping-Automobile/dp/B0BC8K4MRR

Do you get water or dust leaks? If you do plan to seal your bed, don’t forget to seal the bottom edge of the plastic tailgate cap, just below where your hatch contacts it. That will also help to reduce paint wear from chafing against dirty plastic (as the topper flexes and from slamming it closed).

John Davies
Spokane WA USA

 

[ctrippy]

@a_speckles are the aluminum bedrail caps part of the kit from Alucab or are they a third-party product? I would like to replace my shimmed plastic caps my GFC is sitting on.

 

[SolarWinds]

Is there no way to open the alucab contour from the inside? Was hoping I could use it for camping in a pinch

 

[a_speckles]

Thanks, those are helpful. That rubber bulb seal should be easy to source locally or on Amazon …. Yours appears to be WAY too short, a longer one would help to fill the large gaps at the side.

Or am I seeing an optical illusion?

See the red stains? Rust!!! They used a cheap seal with plain steel wire insert. This is really common, try to find replacement in the same size with stainless! Yours will get loose within a year and the rust can stain your truck.

Here is a better seal, I don’t know if it is the correct size. “Feature: U shape trim made of EPDM rubber with internal stainless steel clips”

https://www.amazon.com/Tintvent-Automotive-Weather-Stripping-Automobile/dp/B0BC8K4MRR

Do you get water or dust leaks? If you do plan to seal your bed, don’t forget to seal the bottom edge of the plastic tailgate cap, just below where your hatch contacts it. That will also help to reduce paint wear from chafing against dirty plastic (as the topper flexes and from slamming it closed).

John Davies
Spokane WA USA

Thanks @John E Davies for the advice! So that "inner" bulb seal is the width of the tailgate, but does not extend past it. However, see the photo below - there is additional sealing that extends from the bottom corner of the topper. You can see where that inner bulb seal ends near the end of the tailgate. But overall, it is a great call-out to get a better bulb seal that will not rust.

I am coming from an ARE Z2 topper on a F150 and this Alu-Cab topper is such an improvement for water and dust leaks. I'll get a very small amount of water leakage after washing to the truck - but it is minuscule and I remove anything in the bed when I do wash it. I have not noticed any true leakage from driving in the rain or snow while I am hauling anything. Dust has been dependent on dirt road I am driving on - clearly some will almost get in, but again it seems minimal, especially in comparison to my previous cap which was twice as expensive and did a much worse job. Overall I am still very impressed with the topper and would recommend it! Below is a photo with everything closed up:

 

[a_speckles]

@a_speckles are the aluminum bedrail caps part of the kit from Alucab or are they a third-party product? I would like to replace my shimmed plastic caps my GFC is sitting on.

The aluminum bedrail caps come as part of kit from Alu-Cab!

 

[a_speckles]

Is there no way to open the alucab contour from the inside? Was hoping I could use it for camping in a pinch

I believe you could camp inside if you installed a handle on the rear door to pull it down and then manually actuated the locking mechanism from inside - I will try it and report back.

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