Truck Cap

[lawdog]

Prairie Dog,



I took the wife to the cap store today and looked at the caps. She picked the 100XL from leer and I agreed. I looked at some pics he had with some Ram shortbeds with the 100XQ and the 100XL and the XL definantly looked better. We both liked the XQ hinges better, but the one piece flex window for ventilation was scary.

We ordered a 100XL with carpet and a tilt in slider. We got a $70. 00 off coupon from the Leer website. The dealer said to go to the website and get the coupon and he held off ordering Until I called him back with the control number from the Coupon.



I also looked at the fact the the owners truck, a Chebbie, had the XL as well and not the XQ.



Thanks for the heads up.

I will post some pics in a couple weeks when it comes in.....

 

[lawdog]

Prarie Dog,

I just noticed in your Sig that you have the bed rug.

How do you like that? Would you sugest that over a spray in liner???



Thanks again.

 

[sellisrulz]

I like my Leer. No problem yet. Been in the cold and hot. Fits nice, looks great, and solid. Been on almost a year now. Dealer painted it to match paint code. I'll take it off this spring to load my atv.

 

[johncameron]

You should also expect to loose between 1-2 MPG if you get a high top cap. I've taken mine off and gains are noticible.

John:--)

 

[lawdog]

I ordered a cab high, I do not like the tall ones..... Besides can't fit in parking garages then... .

 

[hammersley]

Honest opinion guys - if you live where it can get wet -

Do you think - you can keep that front flip down window from leaking? I know you want to believe it will work - but I don't think there's a snowball's chance in h_ _ _ that it will hold up for the long haul. I'm having an impossible time with leaks around my front and side windows. I've had the shell (not ARE but RAVEN) back to the dealer here in Portland 3 times and they've resealed the front window twice and the rears as well - THEY still Leak! I guess I'm not sure that it's possible to keep a shell from leaking. My son has the same shell - same problem! Now I don't know if it's the brand or endemic with the use on a pickup, where the racking of the bed may cause the seals to always be loosening.

 

[bighammer]

Prairie Dog, yours is the picture that led me to think I want an XQ. (I haven't bought it yet) You sound like you aren't happy with it. (looks, latches, & leaks?) The price seemed pretty steep so I put the purchase on hold.



Another question I had was if you want to take it off, are the windows right to the bottom? Like if I put down some lumber and set it on the ground, is it on the frame of it or on the windows too? (Not sure I want it anymore, anyway )

 

[bkaiser]

I have an ARE CH series without side windows. The CH is cab profile, without a raised rear. By ditching the side windows, the cap is lighter (it weighs about 150 -160 pounds) which is a big deal for me since I have to remove it by myself to put the camper in the truck. With the QC, there isn't really any difference in the blind spots. I have had the cap off several times, and it is resealing nicely everytime. My only complaint is how hard it is to unlatch the sliding window. Once unlatched, it slides fine, but what a bear to get unlatched. I looked at Lears and the AREs and felt the AREs were put together better with better materials.

 

[Prairie Dog]

Bighammer, there's framework all the way around the window - the front and bottom edge is just hidden by the window. So yes, you could set it on a couple of 2X's. I feel a little bad about your having held up your purchase on account of me. I just don't wan't anyone else to be disappointed when they see one on their truck. I will say this about Leer, they're fiberglass finish is second to none and the unit seems to be very strong. Hopefully you'll see one on the road someplace so you can make your decision easier. Good luck!



Scotty

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

I had the SnugTop XV (XtraVision) on my '01 and really liked it and will probably get the same on the '03.



One thing that's a challenge on these trucks is the goofy bubble roofline and having it look like it transitions nicely to the canopy roofline. Some I've seen look oddball, especially ones where the canopy height is level to the back edge of the cab which makes it shorter overall than the middle of the roof. I am a little disappointed Dodge did the roofline like they did. Regular cab guys don't have as much of an issue.

 

[bighammer]

Thanks for the info. I did NOT hold it up because of you. What I meant was that I saw the picture of you truck and really liked the look of it on there. I wanted one, but the price was a bit steep and I was hoping to see one in person first. (dealer is about an hour away) I sort of wondered how it would do being removed like I've done with my old one. (TriGlass on my 94)



I want to sell the old one and put a cap on the new truck. So far, no takers on the old one, and I really don't want BOTH trucks with caps. (therefore the delay in making the purchase)



It sounds like you don't like the latches. Do you mean on the side windows or the rear? And where is the leak(s)?



Sorry to be a pest, but I still like the look.

 

[Prairie Dog]

Glad to hear that. It leaks around that front window (I have the one that flips down for cleaning), also it leaked around several of the screws that hold the side windows in. I removed them and coated them with silicone RTV and they sopped. Never could get the front to quit leaking entirely but it's better. The latch doesn't latch when the door is shut in a normal manner. Both I and the dealer have adjusted it many times but it never stays adjusted. If I slam it hard enough both latches will work.

It's probably not as bad as I've made out, and I can live with it's little idiosyncrasies. Maybe I'm just a whiner?

 

[DF5152]

here is a link to my truck with the ARE Z series cap on it.





ARE Z series cap





Dan

 

[bighammer]

Originally posted by DF5152

here is a link to my truck with the ARE Z series cap on it.





ARE Z series cap





Dan

That does look nice too. I just can't decide