Looking for a used topper

Hey y'all! Just bought a 2012 Tacoma last night and very excited for my first truck. I am looking for a used topper for the bed, and I was wondering if y'all could suggest where or what exactly to search for. I search 'hard shell' 'camper shell' and 'topper' without much luck.
I have looked online at the new ones, but they are a little out of my price range.

Thanks for the help!

 

Welcome to the site. Try "camper shell".
Also are you looking for the fiberglass or the soft top?

 

I am looking for fiberglass. A hard cover.

 

Iv been looking myself. I have a hard tonneanu cover. But I really wanna trade it out for a camper shell!

 

Look up Softopper. Much cheaper than a fiberglass topper but just as great.


You’ll be waiting decades for a used one though.

 

Depending on where you are, you'd probably have a better chance of finding one locally off Craigslist or maybe Offerup or Letgo. I see them here but they usually go fast.

 

I put a "WTB" ad on Craigslist and had one within a week. It was less than 100 miles away. It needed about $300 in door parts (latch, trims and seals) but since I only paid $300, it was still a deal considering a new one (according to the place I ordered the parts from) is $2300.

 

I think I saw a "softtopper" on the road a few weeks ago. I could not see any name on it, so I cannot be sure. But it was going maybe 55-60 and did not look like it was fluttering in the wind at all. It did not look bad, not as nice as a good fiberglass Leer or ARE, but acceptable.

I am wondering about any roof load specifications? I need to carry ladders and long boards sometimes. The Soft Toppers web site is slow and clunky.

I just checked the site, https://www.softopper.com/ , will not work for me as I need some roof load carry capacity.

 

Some regions call Camper shells "canopys" which is silly to me considering they are HARD and a canopy is soft. But using the term canopy may help your search.

 

I found my shell here in the forums in the 2nd Gen MP
2nd Gen Tacoma Parts Marketplace (2005-2015)

I'd also consider looking here: Cap/Topper trade tread as well as your local region

Lastly, Craigslist. Often times CL has some pretty good deals too.

Edit: You're better off buying a used shell in my opinion. You'll pay half the cost if it was new if not less.

 

Craigslist is your best bet. In the west most people call them camper shells, in other areas they call them toppers or canopies, just depends on the area you live.

I have been looking for a used matching black shell for the last year and had no luck, silver and white come up very regularly for cheap prices.

 

I have a Bestop soft top and there is no load carrying capacity as it's not meant for that. Most get it because it's super light and folds away in minutes. I have seen other's set up where they have done rails that go over the soft top to carry their tents or what not.

 

Do the soft tops have a locking capability?

 

Nope

 

It's a canvas top and unfortunately they do not lock. It uses zippers to remove the side and back windows. I figured if anyone wants whatever is inside, they're gonna get in regardless of soft top or hard shell.

 

CL is your best bet - they go fast though. When I sold mine this summer I had 4 people respond within a few hours of me posting the ad. Had one guy offer $200 more than what I was asking and he drove from a neighboring state to come pick it up.

 

Played the used market for over a year before giving up and buying new.

If you want a minimal with literally no features and maybe a few leaks, easy to find for under $1k. Want headliner, windoors, roof rack tracks from the factory, etc you will have to be fast.

For me, I wanted the extras so it was just in the end better to go new.

 

I've looked for a long time and just happened to check this site out

http://www.car-part.com/

A week later I had a like new topper on my truck for less than 1/2 price in a matching color.

I've been looking consistently for several years. Even chased a guy down with an exact truck like mine and tried to buy his topper from him on the spot.

 

You can get a rack for the softopper that extends Out from the bedsides and goes over the topper.

 

That's a beautiful truck you have there, sir.