Fiberglass camper shell

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I am looing for a fiberglass camper shell that looks good on the Dodge Quad cab and has a high enough door and ceiling height to enable a four wheeler to go in the truck. Does anyone have the LEER 160XL?. I had an ARE on my 2000 truck, but it did not improve the trucks looks.

 

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I am going to give an opinion here, just for the hell of it, and don't mean nobody no flame.

Any shell other than a clean cab-height unit makes the truck look BAD. The worst are the big wedge shaped deals with about a dozen windows all over them. Ugly, ugly, ugly #ad


Get a good looking fiberglass color-matched cab-height shell. Take it off when you need extra head room for your larger toys. Keep America beautiful!

Just my not-so-humble opinion.

 

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Ditto's there, I have a cab high reinforced roof unit made by Ultra in Canada Eh! Top quality windows, hatch and finish, and lined with fuzzy stuff. Looks so good on my long bed, I bought an ATV trailer to haul the toys. Don't want to take it off. With my Bedrug bed liner, who needs a high topper?
Ron


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'99 QC SLT 4X4, Forest Green, long box, camper/trailer pkg, 3. 55 axles, auto, CD/cassette, power seat, heated mirrors, HD xfer case, Two meter Radioshack ham transceiver (license KC7MME),Proud member of the vast right wing conspiracy!
'98 Arctic Cat 300 4X4 ATV
'00 Honda Recon ATV
'99 Grand Cherokee
NRA Life member
"Bible thumping" Rush Dittohead!

 

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In the off-chance anybody wants it, I have a like-new SnugTop XV in white for a longbed 94+ RAM that I need out of my back yard. Was $1800 new, will let go for $1200 and it's still less than a year old. Has sliding side windows (deep tinted) with screens and flush rear window with LED brake light. Carpeted inside with dome light too.

Normally I wouldn't post a for-sale here, but the topic seemed to support it. Sorry if it's out of line.

Rob

 

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Well, I'll interject my opinion on the subject. I think ALL cab high canopies (tops, toppers, caps, camper shells) make a QC Ram look like a mile long SUV!

To answer your question Blue Goat; I have a Glasstite Vision II canopy. This is taller than cab high, expensive, and worth it! It has every feature imaginable as standard equipment. The rear fiberglass framed door is mounted to a patented sliding mechanism that allows the door (once fully opened) to be shoved back on top of the canopy roof, thereby allowing unobstructed loading of the interior. The ONLY thing better would be the FULL back door system offered on some canopies whereby, you remove your tailgate. I should note that I have about the largest (if not the largest) ATV (Polaris 500 cc 6x6) and was not able to transport it with the canopy on my Ram. Maybe some creative loading although, I doubt it. Anyway, a smaller ATV should load without problems.

I would seriously doubt you could load ANY "full size" ATV in the back of a Ram equipped with a Leer 160XL canopy. BTW, that's another very nice looking canopy. #ad
I believe JR2 has this one on his Ram... if not, it's on one of the other Alaskan Rams (I remember seeing it on his page).

Another suggestion; Andy Perreault has the Snug Top Hi-Liner canopy(above cab high) on his Ram... and it looks great! #ad


The only canopy I'M not partial to on a Ram is Leer's 122 (above cab high... lots of windows... some of them optional). My wife has this canopy on her truck (don't look at me. . she picked it out #ad
). She wasn't as concerned with style as with functionality (size)... and this was back in 1992 (many more styles to choose from now).

My personal opinion... if you want the best looking canopy on a Ram, buy the Snug Top, Top Gun. The ONLY catch is... they ONLY make it for SWB trucks (and don't have plans to make it for LWB trucks). #ad


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'98. 5 2500 QC 4x4 Sport, Glasstite Vision II, 285 BFG A/Ts on M/T Challengers, Warn 4X Boards, Mopar fender flares & tow hooks, NW Custom s/s-rubber mud flaps, Mag-Hytec diff. cover & trans. pan, Edelbrock IAS shocks, Reese Titan V hitch, VDO Vision gauges, Dynamat, '00 Sport grille & valve cover, '00 Sport headlights/PIAA Super White bulbs, PIAA Dual Sport 900 aux. lights, BD exh. brake and TorqLoc, Prime-Loc, Amsoil Dual Bypass, Optima yellow tops, Bosch 275s, VA CPC, (censored), Aeroquip braided s/s fuel lines, Banks 14 cm2 turbine housing/Big Head wastegate actuator, ATS 3-piece exh. man. , Banks 4" dia. s/s exh. sys. , BD V10/Cummins hybrid TC & valve body, BD trans. front pump & PressureLoc, Air Bulldog induction hood (with NACA ducts), plus MANY other trick modifications

[This message has been edited by John (edited 10-04-2000). ]

 

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I like honest opions. My 4-wheeler need only 44 inches to live within the cap. Your input is greatly appreciated.

 

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Blue Goat, I just measured the MINIMUM bed to door frame opening height on my Ram/Glasstite Vision II combination. I measured 43 7/8" although, the peripheral door seal can be easily flexed (without damage) to obtain the 44" dimension you require.

 

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Blue Goat- I have a leer 160XL and I like it. It do have some issues about it leaking around some screw holes but I still like it. Click the "see my truck" link in my sig to take a look. I am out of town for another 9 days so I can not measure for you... I can guess that it is going to be real close to what you need. I have some other pics of the shell if you want them email me.

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01 2500 SLT+ QC LWB 4x4 Auto 3. 54 rear end Forrest Green Sport with all options avail
DC Nerf Bars, DC Grill Gard, DC mud flaps, Line-X bed liner, Leer 160XL Topper, Power Edge and SPA Boost/EGT Gauge on pillar mount.
Bill K's torque converter and valve body on deck, injectors and Pyscotty air in planning stages.

See My Truck

Dads truck: 98. 5 3500 SLT QC LWB 4x4
Brother Truck: 92 W250 SLT CC LWB 4x4 (Dads old truck)

See 5 Diesels and a Gasser
Winter fun: 2000 Skidoo Summit 700

 

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I have the A. R. E. Mx series. It isn't cab high. I get tons of compliments on it and it ads to the looks of my truck considerably. It has a "walk-thru" door and the whole back opens up allowing total access to the back. My tailgate is a nice decoration in my office since I don't use it anymore. The gel coat color is an absolute perfect match. I went to a body shop to have a scratch looked at on my truck and the owner said he had never seen a gel coat, body paint match that well. Go to www.4A.R.E.com (I believe that is correct) and check it out. And while you are looking around check out BedRug.com What a great combination. On the down side, I e-mailed A. R. E. about a problem caused by the MORONS at VERN'S Topper sales in Torrance california, and got no response. Just don't want to leave any thing out ya' know. It's an honesty thing. Good Luck!

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2001 ETH 6spd 4X4 SLT

• Dark Garnet Red Pearlcoat
• A. R. E. MX Topper & Walk-thru Door
• 3. 54 Anti-Slip Diff.
• Trailer & Camper pkg.
• Turbo Silencer Ring in Glove Box
• Snow Plow Prep aka Moving to Colorado Prep

Nothin' could be sweeter than "Rammin' With My Newfys!!"

 

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Make that www.4ARE.com Sorry

 

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Blue Goat:

I have the Leer 160XL in bright white. Since we all have opinions, I think it looks much better than just an ordinary cab high topper. One of the selling points for me was the single push button release on the back window. Much easier to gain access when you have your hands full. Plus the pop out windows in the back match the pop out windows in the Quad Cab.

I need to get rid of it to make room for a slide in camper.

Where are you? If somewhere in SoCal, we can meet somewhere. If you're interested, will let it go for $800 ($1225 new). It was new in March this year and still in new condition. Also got a BedRug to go with it for an additional $200.

Regards... ..... Hal

 

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Responce is great. I like the LEER 160 XL but will look at other options. I came up with the door height requirement based on the ARE high top I had. The minimum height is approximately 42. 5"( Honda 300 four trax). Cut it too close and one becomes a zero. Thanks for all the input.

 

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As you can see from my signature, I have a Leer now, but come Friday, it will be swapped for an ARE. In addition to the leaks (patched under warranty), the rear door of the ARE appears to be more secure than the Leer. That's all I'm going to say in a public forum; I don't think anyone wants me to publish details on how to break in to either model - I'm just suggesting that everyone examine the security of whatever you choose very carefully. And yes, I already know a determined thief will break into anything or simply break out the windows. Wish I had an option for the Glasstight, but, had to stick with the options available from the dealer who agreed to give me a full refund on the Leer. (Goss Camper Sales, Little Rock, A+ for customer satisfaction)

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2001 ETH, QC, LWB, 4WD, 3. 54, SPA Pyro & Boost, Leaky Leer Cab-high shell, Rear ARB locker, and all kinds of synthetic fluids...

 

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I had some problems with my last REEL on my 95 Ford. I had a ARE on my 2000 and it didn't enhance the looks. I am going to take a look at the glasstite. It is pricey.

 

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HC, I wasn't the least bit impressed with Leer's (EXTREMELY thin #ad
) wire operated latch assembly (which could require periodic adjustment). Conversely, the Glasstite latch actuating assembly uses two heavy duty rods... very first rate. At least now I see Leer runs the wire through a protective plastic "tunnel".

One positive note; all canopies are exhibiting better quality with each passing year. #ad


[This message has been edited by John (edited 10-05-2000). ]

 

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I think that Snugtop has a good looking lineup. I kinda like their "CabHigh" design.
http://www.snugtop.com/