"Need help" To buy or not to buy camper shell

So I found a nice camper shell for sell and it's exactly what I'm looking for except..... I have a silver tacoma and the shell is white. Should I pass on it or would it be worth to get it repainted?

 

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IMO It would only be worthwhile if you could get the shell AND paint it for less than what a new one would cost you. Or just be patient and wait for one to show up in your color.

Do you need the roof racks and all that jazz?

If not, a new basic topper wouldn't cost an arm and a leg.

 

I agree. I would call the local paint shop and get a quote to paint the shell to match your truck, then decide. Otherwise, I would keep looking for a used one or buy a new one.

 

It will usually run $300-$400 to get it factory matched maybe cheaper if you go the maaco route. It usually is never cost effective to buy it and having to repaint it. Do like others have stated, wait for a silver one. Heck, I bought one and had a buddy repaint it with me buying the paint and I still lost money when I sold it a month later. The thought of having to beef up my rear springs, needing easy bed access for hauling and building a garage lift for storage made me decide to sell that quickly.

 

A new one like that would cost you about $2,000. It's second to best in Leer's line. How much do they want for it and add the painting. You then decide if it's worth it. I just bought one, a Leer with racks, slider take out front window and inside net. $2,200, There top of the line cap.

 

That is up to you man. My tacoma is the first vehicle i've ever had a cap on and i'll never do it again. Its heavy, i have no where to store it but on the truck, i leaks around all the side windows, the locks can and have frozen in snow(but that happens with any lock covered in snow), can't haul motorcycles under it, can't haul ATVs under it, i had one of the tempered glass windows shatter all over me in the rain one day, can't haul bulky furnature under it. I could go on. Its nice to have lockable storage that is bigger than the bed is tall...but unless i can take it off when i need to use the truck for bigger stuff, its useless to me. Someone will buy mine or it'll stay on the truck til i really get tired of it. OP, i would get one that matches or get that one dirt cheap so you can paint it. Because even if you don't like it, at least it'll be color matched to your truck. Good luck with whichever decision you choose.

 

He is selling it for $800. Thanks everyone for there opinion. I think I'm just going to hold off and wait for something else

 

I know the feeling. Camper shells are good for owners that use it for camping and transporting pets but if you use your bed alot for hauling, the shell is a major negative. I guess mine was a 'spur of the moment' CL purchase but in reality, I didn't need it but at least I was able to keep the Yakima rack setup from the sale. Much happier now with my Bakflip/tailgate lock combo.

 

Thats what i'm asking for mineOBO....but its even farther from silver than that white one

 

I got soft topper and love it. I was in same shoes as you and decided on the soft one.

 

OP, I'd suggest wait. Unless you absolutely need it right now, or can talk the guy down even more, you probably won't be happy with it. You can have someone paint it, if you did buy it. If that's the case, remove the glass to ensure all surfaces are painted (you don't want to open your glass up to see an unmatched section under it.)
Also, check local dealers, they get a lot of used ones in and sometimes you can have them look for a used one that is the correct color.

 

I have mixed feelings about a shell, its nice to cover your gear from weather and such but its is a super pain in the ass when you have to haul something in the back of your truck with a camper shell and taking it off in my case took 2 people. When i had a shell on my 1st gen i installed pullies in my garage to store the shell when not in use and i needed 2 people to get the thing off my truck and hung in the garage.

consider a soft topper or bestop soft shell

 

Only way i'd have a cap like choice again would be a soft topper so i could stow it away.

 

Leer. Its several years old and has leaked since about 6 months after i got the truck. No covers for the locks either...but i just wapped my hands around it for about two minutes and it broke the ice free...it wasn't a problem just annoying.

 

Never had a warranty on the cap. Bought the truck used. I should re paint the handles and get some covers.

 

Every time it rains, every time i wash my truck, the back edge of the side windows leak. Even the vents in the front of the cap where the stationary side windows are....leak occasionally.

Here i took two paper towels and folded them up, held them down on the carpet of the fiberglass cap, and soaked up the water from washing the truck last night. Same thing on both sides.









I bet there is a fix for it, but i don't care enough pay to have it fixed or to look. A $1500+ cap (i don't actually know what the guy paid for it but i looked on the site of the place he got it from) shouldn't have to be fixed in 5 years of normal use. :/

 

Imho you're better off waiting. I paid 475.00 for my cover but it is a pita to take it off and on and I use my bed alot. Just wasn't cost effective for me. It if wasn't for keeping the bed super dry when traveling I would sell it..... but then again mine is white as well lol

Also i would suggest getting a roll Bak or something similar.

 

How many people have trouble with leaks on soft toppers?