Truck Caps, Camper Shells, Toppers... call them what you will, lets see them

[Warrens69GMC]

my truck

[daddyjeep]

It looks to be in good shape... nice find

[ilnvyb360]

New to me “dog house”. I couldn’t pass up this deal when the owner agreed to move on the price. Already started polishing up the bubble windows and ordered LED clearance lights.

[jocko]

period for a 79 - note this truck has only 10k miles on it too (but it was a plow truck and the chassis is very rusty).

[ilnvyb360]

I’m calling my “granopy” update done for now...
Repainted. LEDs. Resealed. Tinted.

[808_67C10]

Originally Posted by ilnvyb360

I’m calling my “granopy” update done for now...
Repainted. LEDs. Resealed. Tinted.

That looks awesome!

[Whamo]

Pulled one out of a field this weekend...time for a restore...

[ilnvyb360]

Originally Posted by 808_67C10

That looks awesome!

Thanks, Frank. Work in progress...

[808_67C10]

Nice!!!!!!

[kipps]

Can someone give me an idea of what these aluminum or fiberglass toppers weigh? Could I remove and install one on a longbed truck in just a few minutes by myself? Or are they too heavy for that? I'm not a gym rat, but I'm definitely not feeble either, if that makes a difference.

I really like the concept of a topper to keep my collection of toolboxes dry, particularly for those sudden summertime thunderstorms. But I also intend to use this truck regularly with a gooseneck trailer. I'm just wondering if it will be feasible to remove/reinstall the topper on a weekly basis.

[daddyjeep]

Originally Posted by kipps

Can someone give me an idea of what these aluminum or fiberglass toppers weigh? Could I remove and install one on a longbed truck in just a few minutes by myself? Or are they too heavy for that? I'm not a gym rat, but I'm definitely not feeble either, if that makes a difference.

I really like the concept of a topper to keep my collection of toolboxes dry, particularly for those sudden summertime thunderstorms. But I also intend to use this truck regularly with a gooseneck trailer. I'm just wondering if it will be feasible to remove/reinstall the topper on a weekly basis.

I would think my aluminum cap is well under 100 lbs. it is real easy with two people and i would think it would be manageably by yourself.

[kipps]

Originally Posted by daddyjeep

I would think my aluminum cap is well under 100 lbs. it is real easy with two people and i would think it would be manageably by yourself.

Thanks for the reply! How are they typically fastened? Is it just a handful of bolts through the bed rails, or is there some sort of quick attach system that works well? Would Jeep hood straps work, by any chance?

[1967KaiserM715]

Originally Posted by kipps

Thanks for the reply! How are they typically fastened? Is it just a handful of bolts through the bed rails, or is there some sort of quick attach system that works well? Would Jeep hood straps work, by any chance?

I would say aluminum cap is closer to 125 pounds, its manageable by 1 person, 2 is ideal

As for attaching, you could drill and use bolts, but they make these aluminum C-clmps that
Are made for attaching truck caps and tonneau covers, 6 for a long bed, I think last I'll checked it was around $30 for a set of 6

[SKT]

[daddyjeep]

I picked up another one.... It is a couple inches narrow, but it works. I have another long bed one that I will probably use to modify this one. It has full length glass with a slider in the last couple feet with good screens. I really need to tint the glass though. I found it on Marketplace for $25.

[1967KaiserM715]

Without, and with truck cap.

[sweetk30]

Scored this old girl yesterday off c-list . Off a mid to late 70's 3/4 ton truck .

Still has the makers tag and the sellers decal on each end .

[808_67C10]

Originally Posted by sweetk30

Scored this old girl yesterday off c-list . Off a mid to late 70's 3/4 ton truck .

Still has the makers tag and the sellers decal on each end .

Something about this one speaks to me! Love it!

[daddyjeep]

I finally got around to modifying my cap to fit my truck properly... and my needs. I pulled all the skins off to get down to the base frame and did the same to the other cap that I had. I cut out pieces of the framework from the parts cap to widen the one I will be using. There were even some angle aluminum that worked perfectly to join everything together. I widened it 2".



Since I was here and had a camping trip planned I figured that I might as well insulate the cap while I had it all apart. I used the skin from the parts cap to make an inner skin to trap the insulation.



I had some 2" foam so I made a hot wore cutter with a saw horse, a couple screws, some .035 mig wire, and a battery charger. I ripped the foam down to 1" and put it between all the supports.



A couple thousand screws later and a bunch of screwing around cutting and fitting pieces of aluminum it was done. I picked up some static cling window tint to add some privacy. That **** is garbage. I should have just got normal adhesive stuff, but it does it's job for now.





It worked great camping. The temps were down around 30 degrees and it stayed nice and warm in there. I built a mattress platform to get above the wheel well so it was a bit tight to the ceiling, but that helped to keep it warm.

[808_67C10]

Originally Posted by daddyjeep

I finally got around to modifying my cap to fit my truck properly... and my needs. I pulled all the skins off to get down to the base frame and did the same to the other cap that I had. I cut out pieces of the framework from the parts cap to widen the one I will be using. There were even some angle aluminum that worked perfectly to join everything together. I widened it 2".



Since I was here and had a camping trip planned I figured that I might as well insulate the cap while I had it all apart. I used the skin from the parts cap to make an inner skin to trap the insulation.



I had some 2" foam so I made a hot wore cutter with a saw horse, a couple screws, some .035 mig wire, and a battery charger. I ripped the foam down to 1" and put it between all the supports.



A couple thousand screws later and a bunch of screwing around cutting and fitting pieces of aluminum it was done. I picked up some static cling window tint to add some privacy. That **** is garbage. I should have just got normal adhesive stuff, but it does it's job for now.





It worked great camping. The temps were down around 30 degrees and it stayed nice and warm in there. I built a mattress platform to get above the wheel well so it was a bit tight to the ceiling, but that helped to keep it warm.

Oh WOW, that is super cool. Never seen a shell torn down like that. I am sure it wasn't that bad but, came out perfect. Dig it!!!

[1976gmc20]

Originally Posted by 808_67C10

Oh WOW, that is super cool. Never seen a shell torn down like that. I am sure it wasn't that bad but, came out perfect. Dig it!!!

I may have posted this before, but I got a shell that was wrecked for free and tore it all apart like that and re-arched the bent ribs and bought new sheet metal for the roof and plexiglass for the rear window. I spent a bunch also on nuts/bolts/washers and corner brackets to put the frame back together.

[1976gmc20]

Back in the old days we just bolted them down, usually 8 bolts on a long bed.

I'm pretty sure that I put my first cab-high, unlined, aluminum shell on the pickup by myself. I had been manhandling it for weeks in the rebuild process. I think that I just tipped it up and got under it and balanced it on my shoulders by myself. It's a lot easier with at least two people, though.

[Desert1957]

My 87

[808_67C10]

...

[808_67C10]

I used to take my aluminum cap on/off by myself. Basically squat underneath it and lift while holding the cross bar. I'd put a blanket on each side of my bed so I wouldnt scratch the truck then, slide the blanket out when it was close to where its gonna sit... then, clamp her down... had a couple sketch moments but, 2 people is max, all you need... or if it has racks, could use pull straps and eye hooks in the garage. Used to take my jeep top on and off that way.