Let's see your bed Topper / Cap / Canopy - pros/cons

[momodog]

Got mine installed yesterday. I wrote a post this morning. Here are some photos. Costs me about $4700.

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[ShadowDragon24]

My A.R.E topper is now on the truck .
I really like how it turned out.

They didnt use black clamps? My upfitter used black clamps

looks great!!! On the interior I’m jealous of the lighting. But not jealous of the clamps. Did they not have a bolt-on option? Either way, looks great. Minor differences with the side windows. Primary difference is the ARE rear curved vs LEER flat window… great to have options.

time for me to order some kingpins and get some better lights like yours haha!

I added Alpena trunkz strip leds just above both side windows, was a $360.00 option to get rhe dual rope lights from ARE. bonus the alpenas have a magnetic switch, I added in fron the wire for dome light, so when I open my back glass, light turns on, I can reach up and disable the lights altogether with the switch on the light.

Thanks !

I have not had a chance to really look it over in detail, but looked like they did both, bolted it and clamped it. Looked like there was 4 holes drilled into the top of the rails. I didn’t get a pic of the drilled locations, I was just a slightly irritated they didn’t clean up drill millings from the carpet.
I need to investigate that bit more as well as vacuumed up the carpets where they drilled the holes.

It comes bolted to some wood, to not damage the bottom/side corners I also have holes in the rail of my are cx classic. thats the shipping holes. mine also had sawdust embedded in the carpet. They do not line up with the stake pocket bolt holes.

Dont mind the chickens(picture was the show the lights at night). That was me rescueing them from my father inlaws, after was under evacuation order from a forrest fire 1100meters from him, and the womens nan was less then 700meters from it. when the fire died down enough and they opened up the airspace again to regular air traffic, a heli went up and got video of the smoldering, and you could see their places still intact, they were out for 5 days. (sorry for going off topic at the end. lol)

 

[cc1999]

They didnt use black clamps? My upfitter used black clamps


I added Alpena trunkz strip leds just above both side windows, was a $360.00 option to get rhe dual rope lights from ARE. bonus the alpenas have a magnetic switch, I added in fron the wire for dome light, so when I open my back glass, light turns on, I can reach up and disable the lights altogether with the switch on the light.


It comes bolted to some wood, to not damage the bottom/side corners I also have holes in the rail of my are cx classic. thats the shipping holes. mine also had sawdust embedded in the carpet. They do not line up with the stake pocket bolt holes.

Dont mind the chickens(picture was the show the lights at night). That was me rescueing them from my father inlaws, after was under evacuation order from a forrest fire 1100meters from him, and the womens nan was less then 700meters from it. when the fire died down enough and they opened up the airspace again to regular air traffic, a heli went up and got video of the smoldering, and you could see their places still intact, they were out for 5 days. (sorry for going off topic at the end. lol)

Great info thanks!

Your lights look great!

I do like those black clamps a lot better then mine.

My lights are triggered by tge rear window/hatch , really not had a chance yet to see if there is any extra on off features .

Great info on the mounting and those holes and shavings in the carpet.


Thanks again !

 

[ShadowDragon24]

Great info thanks!

Your lights look great!

I do like those black clamps a lot better then mine.

My lights are triggered by tge rear window/hatch , really not had a chance yet to see if there is any extra on off features .

Great info on the mounting and those holes and shavings in the carpet.


Thanks again !

you got the prop switch option lights. mine is essentially the same thing. but yours you maybe able to turn lights on with cap closed. I intercepted the power wire near the main plug before the light, so right now, my lights will only come on when door is open. I'm trying to find any literature at all on the light used, and the extra pins. I found that pins on the right side of light(right sid eof truck, left side of light if your inside looking out at the light) have power when the light is on, and no power when off. so I tied my alpena's into that. there's 1 pin left on the side the main power wire come in, but I blew the fuse when I put the main power to that, so I never went further. I like to have options, glass closed, but want on? yupp you can, want automatic on/off lights? yupp got that too. too much light, simply unplug the strip lights. lol

 

[cc1999]

Got the truck back from the shop that was finishing up the vinyl wrap work and sound dealing stuff.
‘Build is pretty much done.

Shot some pics and short walk around video.

 

[cc1999]

Oh, and here is that short 1min walk around video.

 

[cc1999]

I took a few of the inside of the A.R.E topper .

 

[cc1999]

I did fix my sloppy dealer installation of my bed rug.

 

[momodog]

I did fix my sloppy dealer installation of my bed rug.

u have another matt over the bedrug cc1999

 

[cc1999]

Yea, and rhino liner under it. Lol
‘Maybe a bit of overkill. Lol

https://www.ebay.com/itm/226669206011

 

[Pic-N-Stick]

Yea, and rhino liner under it. Lol
‘Maybe a bit of overkill. Lol

https://www.ebay.com/itm/226669206011

Looks great! Question...With the various openings in the bed, was something done to keep the interior/Bedrug from getting wet? Just wondering what I will need to do to cut down on the water intrusion with factory spray-in liner and camper shell. Thanks!!

 

[cc1999]

Looks great! Question...With the various openings in the bed, was something done to keep the interior/Bedrug from getting wet? Just wondering what I will need to do to cut down on the water intrusion with factory spray-in liner and camper shell. Thanks!!

I am not really sure what sort of seals are under the topper.

I did drive the truck in the rain last week, and no sign of water intrusion.
I imagine the real test will be the car wash at some point I. The not to distant future.

I think the bed rug is designed to be fine if it should get wet.

 

[bigb]

Looks great! Question...With the various openings in the bed, was something done to keep the interior/Bedrug from getting wet? Just wondering what I will need to do to cut down on the water intrusion with factory spray-in liner and camper shell. Thanks!!

The sides of the A.R.E. overhang the bed rails and I doubt any water could get in there. The front of the bed and the tailgate are another matter. For the front bulkhead I am using rubber inserts in the small round and oval holes and Eternabond tape on the two larger holes at each upper corner.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B09Q2R7GML?ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title&th=1

Those two corner holes will be the hardest as they are barely accessible between the cab and bed. I will cut my Eternabond carefully to fit before peeling off the back, then push it into place.

For the tailgate I am going to order a tailgate seal kit.

The Bedrug is not harmed by water but just the same if I can keep it out I'm going to give it a shot.

 

[Pic-N-Stick]

The sides of the A.R.E. overhang the bed rails and I doubt any water could get in there. The front of the bed and the tailgate are another matter. For the front bulkhead I am using rubber inserts in the small round and oval holes and Eternabond tape on the two larger holes at each upper corner.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B09Q2R7GML?ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title&th=1

Those two corner holes will be the hardest as they are barely accessible between the cab and bed. I will cut my Eternabond carefully to fit before peeling off the back, then push it into place.

For the tailgate I am going to order a tailgate seal kit.

The Bedrug is not harmed by water but just the same if I can keep it out I'm going to give it a shot.

Thank you! I won't go with the Bedrug but still want the space to stay somewhat dry.

 

[dbowles22]

Installed a softopper last night, got it on their black Friday sale to replace a $50 FB marketplace trifold id found when I got the truck a few weeks ago.

A couple of notes on the install for anyone going this route,

-Push pin holes on the frame assembly on one side were misaligned, preventing the pins from popping and holding the bars together. Had to bore all holes on this side out with a drill bit to get enough clearance for the pins to seat.
-Have a friend help with installing the canvas the first time, one person to put all their bodyweight into stretching the fabric while the other can button the snaps on the bed rails, wasn’t getting done with one person.

We had some serious rain last night and the bed was decently wet this morning but I definitely have to go through and QC everything I did when I get the chance.

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