Leer 100XL or ARE Z Cap

[Mactruck]

A. R. E. is one of the best cap companies out there.
I have also heard that LEER's quality is not very good.
I wanted to get an ARE cap but the dealer was quite a distance from me. I had a Century on my old truck and had been happy with it. So I got another one.

If I had a choice between the 2, A. R. E is the way to go!

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Kevin MacGranor
2001. 5 D2500 QC SLT 4X4,Auto 295/75r16 BFG AT's, Century Cap, Bedrug. , Alpine Head & Amps w/ Boston Acoustic speakers & JL Audio Stealthbox center cushion Sub.
ON ORDER: Reunel rear and Denver Offroad front Bumpers, and Autometer Sportcomp gauges from Jannetty

 

[Pete Peterson]

A. R. E. I think is one of the better toppers that I have owned. Saving right now to get one for the new truck... ... . Pete

 

[Marco]

I don't know the A. R. E caps but I own a Leer.
Leer is absolutly a piece of ...
VERY poor quality. Don't trust them when you order a matched color. When I ordered mine I said Flame Red, it came Wine Red!
Marco

 

[RankRam]

ARE Z, I'm very pleased with mine. .

 

[DennyDay]

Don't even think about a Leer on a 3/4 ton 4 X 4 truck. It won't take the twisting or vibrations. ARE has aluminum stiffner on both side that bolt to top of rails and is almost bullet proof.

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Denny
'99 2500 4X4 White short Q cab to much added to put here

 

[JR2]

I have a leer 160XL and the only problem I had with it is that one of the windows leaked. I took it back to the dealer and he fixed it. Other than that it is perfect. The paint match is also perfect. The dealer even commented that he had not seen such a good paint match in a long time. To see a pic of the cap hit the "my truck" link in my sig.



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John D. Rathert Jr.
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01 2500 Forrest Green Sport SLT+ QC LWB 4x4 Auto 3. 54 rear end with all options avail. DC Nerf Bars, DC Grill Guard, DC mud flaps, Line-X bed liner, Leer 160XL Topper, Power Edge, EZ Edge, SPA Boost/EGT Gauge on pillar mount, DTT's tc/vb combo, 275 RV injectors, DD 4" Exhaust and a KN RE0880 where the air box use to be. New turbo (HX40), SS fuel lines and bigger injectors 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) Winter fun - 2000 Skidoo Summit 700
I am my own warranty station. ZOOM ZOOM
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[Fireman Dave]

I have a Leer fiberglass tonneau cover. The color matches very well, and it's not a bad unit. Now, Leer's customer service is another issue. The yahoos that installed it scratched up my 2 week old - perfect, no scratches, box. They could care less. Not Leer's fault, but I wrote them a letter including a copy of a letter I had written to the yahoos. No response. So that's Leer for you. I'll never buy another thing with Leer on it, and I'll tell as many people as will listen that Leer doesn't care about customer satisfaction. Their product isn't bad, but their service sucks. I should have gone with an A. R. E.

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2001 2500; SLT; 4x4; QC; LWB; Auto; 3. 54 LS; 265s; Camper; Tow; Sliding Rear Window; Travel Convenience Group; Cab Clearance Lamps; Forest Green

 

[COBRAJET]

I have owned three ARE's including the present one. They are a very nice product. I have not had one problem with any of them. I really like the flush mounted glass which is available now. It looks a lot better than the glass with the seal on the outside... CJ

PSD Picks

 

[Patriot Diesel]

CobraJet, I really like the cap you have on your Ford, is that an ARE "Z" ?


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2000 2500HD QUADCAB CUMMINS, AUTO WITH 3. 54'S,LB,4x4,ALL OPTIONS MINUS LEATHER,UWS DP TOOL BOX,SPORTMASTER CUSTOM MADE SOFT TONNEAU,CARR STEP, VENTVISOR, 305/70/16 PRO COMP'S, RANCHO RS9000, RS5000 STABILIZER, AMSOIL 15W-40, PATRIOT BLUE/DRIFTWOOD

 

[Patriot Diesel]

I want to put a cab high cap of good quality on my truck. I have narrowed it down to the Leer 100XL or ARE Z. What do you guys think ?

P. S. They are priced within just a few dollars of each other !


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2000 2500HD QUADCAB CUMMINS, AUTO WITH 3. 54'S,LB,4x4,ALL OPTIONS MINUS LEATHER,UWS DP TOOL BOX,SPORTMASTER CUSTOM MADE SOFT TONNEAU,CARR STEP, VENTVISOR, 305/70/16 PRO COMP'S, RANCHO RS9000, RS5000 STABILIZER, AMSOIL 15W-40, PATRIOT BLUE/DRIFTWOOD

 

[Neal Cassady]

I have an ARE on my truck, good cap, nice and strong, very solid. The only problem with mine is the paint match, their Bright Silver Metallic looks more like Driftwood.

Dave D

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2001. 5 QC, LB, 4x4, Auto, 3. 54, Everything but Leather, Bright Silver Metallic, ARE K Series, Diprocal EGT, Boost and Autometer transmission Temp(sensor in the line) in an Autometer Dash Pod, ,Westin CPS Platinum Step Bars - Black on Stainless

 

[JBechtel]

I have had an ARE K series cap for over a year now. The color match is perfect. A good solid cap.

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Jeff Bechtel
1997 RAM, 2500HD, Standard Cab LT, 4X4, 4. 10 Limited Slip Diff, Automatic, Long Wheel Base, 7. 5' Meyers plow, factory bedliner, ARE K-series cap, Smittybilt Nerfbars, Drivers Design 3 piece bug/stone deflector,
VentShield step shields, Rancho 9000's, Rancho stabilizer

 

[AYSCII]

I have an A. R. E. brand on mine, almost 3 yrs and still very happy (MX Series). I took my truck by an automovie paint supplier (Kar Kolor) and they used a hand held computer to match the white of my truck for the paint codes. The A. R. E. dealer recommended I do this (no charge on the scan) and the dealer sent the codes off to A. R. E. when he placed the order, came back perfect match.

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Steve Ayscue -- email address removed --

• 98 2500HD Cummins ISB,LB Quad,White, A. R. E. Topper,Line-X, Rancho 9000's, BFG AT KO's 295/75/16, Cobra 75WX, USCGAUX
  DDII's Waiting to go in
  Autometer Ultralite's (Boost/EGT) soon fuel pressure
• 86' Chevy 1ton M1008 w/6. 2 Dsl
  ready to fix up

 

[COBRAJET]

Jeff,
The shell is a CX series. It was $1129. 00 plus tax painted to match and installed. It was purchased 20 months ago so they may call it something different now... CJ

 

[Ken55]

I've got the CX series cap by A. R. E. and it is a nice unit. Just got it last fall and no probs. with anything except the installers scratched the paint on the cap when they installed the full rear door. They touched it up and gave me the rest of the paint that came from the factory. A nice unit.

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95-2500-4x4-5Sp-Isspro Boost & EGT,ARE CX cap w/ full door

 

[Neal Cassady]

Jeff,

Don't where you are in VA, but if you are close to MD give Lunds in Brandywine, MD a call for a quote on a cap. Pete, the older fellow who runs the place, is a nice guy and is usually a couple of hundred cheaper than anyone else.

Dave D

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2001. 5 QC, LB, 4x4, Auto, 3. 54, Everything but Leather, Bright Silver Metallic, ARE K Series, Diprocal EGT, Boost and Autometer transmission Temp(sensor in the line) in an Autometer Dash Pod, ,Westin CPS Platinum Step Bars - Black on Stainless

 

[Patriot Diesel]

If I'm not mistaken, I think the CX and the Z are the same, for the most part. I believe the only noticeable difference is the all glass rear hatch on the Z. I stopped at the ARE dealer, and took another look at their caps, the ARE seems to be a quailty product. I would already have a cap, but I spent a good bit of money on a D/P toolbox, D/P bed rails, and a tonneau cover, less than two years ago !

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2000 2500HD QUADCAB CUMMINS, AUTO WITH 3. 54'S,LB,4x4,ALL OPTIONS MINUS LEATHER,UWS DP TOOL BOX,SPORTMASTER CUSTOM MADE SOFT TONNEAU,CARR STEP, VENTVISOR, 305/70/16 PRO COMP'S, RANCHO RS9000, RS5000 STABILIZER, AMSOIL 15W-40, PATRIOT BLUE/DRIFTWOOD

 

[Patriot Diesel]

Back to the top... still lookin' for opinions, at this point it definately looks like ARE is the strong favorite !


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2000 2500HD QUADCAB CUMMINS, AUTO WITH 3. 54'S,LB,4x4,ALL OPTIONS MINUS LEATHER,UWS DP TOOL BOX,SPORTMASTER CUSTOM MADE SOFT TONNEAU,CARR STEP, VENTVISOR, 305/70/16 PRO COMP'S, RANCHO RS9000, RS5000 STABILIZER, AMSOIL 15W-40, PATRIOT BLUE/DRIFTWOOD

 

[Sleeper]

My Leer looks great. Nice styling, good colour match and strong like bull.

However, the windows leak, the bed rails are hard to seal and the rear latches don't work that well. I'm told that the new (I got the old ones)latches are a great improvement but I've had stuff sucked out with my trailer in tow.

If I had to do it again... . I wouldn't.

Sleeper

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98 QC 2WD 5 Sp 3. 54 BD Mods: K&N, #11 plate, 16cm, 4" back from gutted cat. 340 RWHP

 

[Patriot Diesel]

One last time... to the top !!!!

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2000 2500HD QUADCAB CUMMINS, AUTO WITH 3. 54'S,LB,4x4,ALL OPTIONS MINUS LEATHER,UWS DP TOOL BOX,SPORTMASTER CUSTOM MADE SOFT TONNEAU,CARR STEP, VENTVISOR, 305/70/16 PRO COMP'S, RANCHO RS9000, RS5000 STABILIZER, AMSOIL 15W-40, PATRIOT BLUE/DRIFTWOOD