Contractor Shell

anyone running one?

i've been tasked with upgrading a couple trucks in my work's fleet and i'll need to get a contractor shell for whatever truck i end up getting. probably a DCSB.

i've tried searching for contractor shells/ caps/ etc. but have come up short. specifically i'm looking for a wedge style with a ladder rack. i want to see what it looks like beforehand.

 

bump for the night crowd.

 

you probably won't find much for tacomas, beds too small and payload is too low to use as a work truck to me.
At my work we either use the e3500 or whatever, the large extended length cargo vans.
or 8ft bed trucks with a cap.

 

There are plenty of Tacoma work trucks out there, and a bunch are even 5-luggers. ARE makes a couple of versions or contractor cap for the Tacoma. I'm looking at buying an old one to fix up for general use.

 

i work for a WISP company, we use Nissan NV2500s for our installation vans, but we need small 4x4s to get to a lot of infrastructure sites-- mountain top solar repeaters and towers. we've beaten an 02 Astro Van, 06 E150, and multiple 90s Explorers into the ground and i've discovered that my current truck (and last one, '98 Dodge Dakota) is perfect for some of the narrow/ steep trails we hit.

we don't take too much gear and mostly operate in 3 man teams so a DCSB is pretty useful for our needs.

 

This ARE has been for sale on the local Craiglist for ages: https://vancouver.craigslist.ca/bnc/pts/5833257914.html . I see plenty of work trucks running this canopy around town.

 

Lifetime "Workmate" makes them in any configuration you want.

http://www.socaltruck.net/workmate_shells

 

not sure whats on the market for the tacomas besides ARE.
I work commercial and industrial electrician so the tacos would never meet our payload needs. Bed is too small and material can get too heavy for it fast.
City of Toronto is using the new tacomas for their parks and service vehicles and they all have ARE caps. Not sure there is much else out there for them. Maybe that Workmate one that @SwollenGoat posted above.

Good luck with the hunt. Demand isn't as high for the tacomas in this field so might not have too much to choose from.

 

Snugtop, ARE, and Leer make fiberglass versions too.

Pretty much the same as a regular shell, just with toolboxes and side doors.



Caravan Camper will build you anything you want as well, but they are all steel, probably too heavy for a Tacoma.

http://www.caravancamper.com/gallery/

 

ARE DCU series or ARE tool master series

We use the DCU series on a lot of F150s and they are great shells. however the weight of the shells with the payload you are carrying, you may need to add airbags in the rear to help with the load.

 

How do these types of caps attach to the bed? Do they used clamps or some other method?

 

I am not sure how they attach on the Tacoma but on the F150 the DCU series requires drilling and uses bolts on the side bed rails as the main anchor points. I believe the DCU is also secured around the rear of the tailgate if you get the door option that removes the tailgate.

 

I did a little more research and talked to a guy selling one near here, and they appear to use clamps that connect into the bed rail system, like the ones shown here: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/how-are-camper-shells-mounted.273566

 

They don't look bad when color matched.

 

I don't use this aluminum topper for work, more for offroad adventures and carrying surfboards, but it's well-made. Made by Century (which I heard is a division of Leer).

 

My bad, just saw this was for 3rd gens. But I think they make these for 3rd gens, too.

 

I plan on getting a SnugPro for my 3rd gen camping rig.

Looks like the one below.

 

I ordered a tradesman, they are made in winters,CA about 40 miles out of Sacramento.
There is a thread on them if you google tradesman camper tacoma world.
Full custom very well built.

 

if you really loved us you would have posted the link: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/tradesman-truck-tops-commercial-style-topper-shell.504188/page-2