A.R.E. DCU Cap

I have a lead on an A.R.E. DCU series cap and was wondering if anyone had any experience with this type of cap. Pros/Cons? Price seems reasonable and thinking of pulling the trigger just wanted to get some insights from anyone who has direct experience.

Its this cap:

 

I'm sure they will step up but they are bulletproof. I was going to buy one, and then I built my own.
Zim

 

I've got one. Cab height, so a bit lower than yours, barely makes any extra noise/mpg reduction. It's solid, but make sure to check the welds on the frame. They are known to crack under heavy offroad use but for the year i've had mine its great.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/commercial-shells-especially-on-dcsb.434505/

 

Got some quotes back from both ARE and Leer. Sounds like I’ll need to budget $3k for any of my options.

I received quotes for a Leer 180 with windoors, headliner, sliding front window. For ARE I got two DCU quotes, one for a wedge style (23”-29” front to back) and a normal dcu (26”). They are all around $3k give or take.

Now just need to make a decision. The Leer is the cheapest so I may go that way.

 

I'm ordering one of these for my 2017; thinking the 23 inch but it will stick up above the cab a little plus the ladder rack. I'm curious if anyone has experience with the impact it might have on fuel economy?
There is a 20" option that I think would be flush with the cab and maybe that would be better...
Currently using a fiberglass canopy that's cab height and the weight hasn't hurt my mileage. Obviously the aluminum ones weighs less but will give me more drag--highway speeds for road trips is my main concern.
thanks gang

 

I run the 23 DCU and get 21 mpg combined. No noticeable drag on highways unless there are strong crosswinds

 

Cool, that's good to hear. thank you

 

Update on the ARE DCU cap:
The cap is a well spring of utility and versatility and I think it looks cool on the truck.

It has impacted fuel economy more than I'd hoped, though.
Before the DCU I had a cab height fiberglass cap and consistently saw around 10.2 L/100 Km on flat-ish highway; in a bad head-wind I'd see up to 11.4

With the DUC the best I've seen is 12.8 L/100 Km and 13.2 pretty regularly. I've seen 15 to 15.6 in bad winds.
Sidenote: kayak on the roof rack doesn't seem to make any difference.

All #s are for highway kms; city L/100km is a noticeable decrease but less so.
Overall I have to call it a solid 20% decrease in fuel efficiency--arguably higher.

I still really like the cap just putting the info here for anyone making choices.

 

I'm wondering if you still have the cap and would be willing to sell it?

 

Late to the game here, but love this cap and truck combo...pretty much won't get anything else! Just picked up a 2018 and having a time tracking down a 23" DCU! If anybody out there knows of one...let me know! I've got a double cab long bed in cement...silver would be a bonus, ha! Thanks OP for sharing!!

I should add...yakima tracks work really well on these in place of the factory ladder racks. They require some minor engineering and carpentry; I've done two with thin glue ups (finished dimensions 1.25x2") in a hardwood, oak is great. Dado out for the crossbars and install with PL glue. The finished product is super versatile, looks great, and strong!

 

Nice what height is just the cap, this is what I got goin on in my head right here, nice

 

cab height are 20”

go to 4are.com and build one to see the options
The wedges are pretty nice, little extra headroom with theoretically a bit better aerodynamics

 

Thank You

 

Good info thank you

 

I have one in white if anyone is still looking

 

I just posted mine if you're close to Pennsylvania