Cap for pickup truck

widgeon13 · 10-14-2007, 09:10 AM

Anyone have any experience with pricing on caps for trucks? I have a short bed (60" I think) crew cab Chev Silverado, and tired of using the cover that's a PITA to put on and off. I have tried looking for pricing on the web and while I can get info on the caps no one seems to post any prices. Looking for a nice contoured cap, high quality, good fit, nice fiberglass, same height as the cab and same color as truck (white)....... Anyone give me some reasonably good ballpark pricing. I'll be shopping in the NE area, CT and NY.

Don't want the POS corrugated AL ones like you find sitting in the front of some redneck's house.
Thanks in advance for the assistance

rouxroux · 10-14-2007, 10:27 AM

Although I can not help you with pricing, I have had a Leer cap on my old Ford for 25 years and it has held up beautifully! On my new Chevy crew cab, I mounted an "Undercover" hard tonneau.

pwd72s · 10-14-2007, 10:31 AM

The only drawback to canopies and tonneaus is the work involved to remove 'em when you wish to haul something tall...Cindy's Ranger runs a tonneau, I keep the Dodge, with it's heavier load capacity, an open bed.

speeder · speeder's Garage

Try to find a used one on craigslist or eBay that is not too far from you. Do a "xx number of miles from my zip code" search on eBay with your search terms and save the search so that it emails you every time a new one comes on close to you.

They depreciate like a used refrigerator due to shipping cost. A new Leer or Snug-top is ~$2k custom painted to your truck color, (although having a white truck makes this easier-many are white). A perfect used one is ~$5-600, you can have a body shop paint it for a couple hundred. I paid $300 for mine, the guy I bought it from paid $1700. It's nearly perfect. Good luck!

speeder · speeder's Garage

I'm too lazy to have it painted, maybe one of these days...

jrdavid68 · 10-14-2007, 10:43 AM

Lots of choices out there. I bought a shell from Astro for my '72 Chevy C10. I sent the astray in for them to do a color match. It turned out pretty well.

http://www.astrotruckcovers.com/pages/main.aspx

widgeon13 · 10-14-2007, 10:58 AM

Thanks very much for the quick turnaround and good ideas. I'll have to do some more research in the local area as I'm not going to pay $2K for one of these things, better places to out that kind of money. Never considered a used one, maybe Wayne would pay me to cover it with Pelican stickers and I could be a moving billboard.

I'll start the search.

speeder · speeder's Garage

Just to give you an idea of how far your dollar goes on these things used, someone paid ~$2k for this a couple years ago:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=260168397481&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=016

rouxroux · 10-14-2007, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pwd72s

The only drawback to canopies and tonneaus is the work involved to remove 'em when you wish to haul something tall...Cindy's Ranger runs a tonneau, I keep the Dodge, with it's heavier load capacity, an open bed.

You obviously have not looked at the new generation of ABS and aluminum tonneaus. The Undercover I have only weighs 50 lbs (MUCH lighter than a fiberglass unit). It's off in 30 seconds (disconnect the 2 hydraulic arms, and pull the unit back and out). Waterproof with great gaskets all around and a large Flap gasket for the front, lockable, I can stand on it, LED lighting for the bed, and best of all, no holes to drill. Under $600.00 Time to install/adjust : 30 minutes

Dantilla · 10-14-2007, 01:02 PM

I paid just over $1000 for my Chevy HD K2500 long-bed, painted to match.

Part of the depreciation is that they are actually quite specialized, depending on the truck. Mine is a "Vision" brand, and it is different for Chevy's HD line than for the standard truck. Chevy, Ford, Dodge, long, short, 150, 250, yada yada...

To find the exact canopy used takes a while- And selling to the right guy will also take a while, so most go for sale cheap to the guy who doesn't care that it doesn't fit quite right.

I take mine off in the summer, put it back on in the winter. It's kind of like getting a new truck twice a year.

porsche930dude · porsche930dude's Garage

You really need to get lucky when looking for a cap. It seems everyone i know has gotten super lucky finding used caps. three gus i work with got color matched caps for 200-400$ all from the local paper

widgeon13 · 11-19-2007, 09:00 AM

Still on the hunt for a used cap. I have found one attractively priced and looking at it Wed. It was on a 1996 Silverado and I want to put it on my 2005 Silverado, given that the beds are the same size, (72"X68") should it fit the truck. It is not a customized cap in any way, think it's a Leer and looks nice in spite of being on a 96 model. Any special tools for mounting or other stuff needed for installation???
Thanks

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

I bought a used one for $400 when I had my GMC some years ago. I imagine you can find similar deals on Craigslist and at yard sales.

rouxroux · 12:14 PM

You can buy single-sided adhesive truck cap gasket material at any hardware store, and your choice as to mounting: Either drill through the cap & bed rails or use a bunch of heavy-duty C-clamps. I've had the cap clamped on my old F-150 for 25 years, only check the clamps about every 6 months.

widgeon13 · 11-05-2010, 03:52 PM

Well, I got a new truck last March and just picked up a used cap in very nice shape, not the same color but will do for now. No cracks, fold out windows on both sides and tool cabinet on the driver's side, 5 bills.

Should serve me well.

Rick V · 11-05-2010, 04:02 PM

$200 craigs list pickup. Not the best fit but a W bodied Dodge is an oddball. Excellent shape with 3 sliders. As stated earlier it has to be removed to carry taller objects but I can unbolt it and have it on the ground in 15 mins. (with help)

porsche4life · porsche4life's Garage

Pretty awesome if you ask me... Dads one his 3rd truck with a shell. Don't have any pics of the '97 chevy...

carreradpt · carreradpt's Garage

Just before I moved from the Northwest I was on the hunt for a shell for my Dodge Dakota to help protect plants and things I was taking to FL with me. Got lucky and found a LEER on Craigslist, in great condition and matched my truck color perfectly. I paid $400 for it. Have tried to sell it here on Craigslist and have had no interest. Getting kind of used to it as we keep all of our beach gear in the truck now. And it is protected and lockable.

widgeon13 · 11-07-2010, 06:43 PM

Ok, sorry to beat this truck cap thing to death but now that I have the cap on, i need to wire the third brake light on the cap. There is a connector in the cap by the driver's side tail light housing. Is there an easy way to tie in to the left brake light? or can I tie it in to the trailer wiring harness that is under the chassis. Right now, I'm speaking from ignorance because I really haven't had any time to look at the existing wiring since I got the cap. Between rain, snow, cold weather and a new grandchild; I've been kicking the problem around in my mind but haven't looked at the actual wiring diagram.

Any logical solutions are welcome. Truck is a 2010 Sliverado crewcab LT1, do the manufacturers make any provision for installation of truck caps.

porsche4life · porsche4life's Garage

Pull the taillight... Scotchlock into the taillight wires.... Reinsert taillight....