Well, the Undercover Tonnueau cover serves very well, but for the functionality of Camping or moving cargo, it just doesn’t hold enough cargo or as a good sleeping quarter function. There are a lot option on how to increase the volume of the truck bed; soft cover, hard cover, or aluminum camper shell, but at end, the fiberglass camper shell seems to be the best choice. Then There are choices of manufactures, types of campers shell, and what basic design and function it will be using for. Since this is a lot bigger purchase than my previous Tonnueau, so there are a list made to find the one camper shell that will do the job.
Companies that was considered:
Leer – Not too interest in the style. There are reports of shell warp
Snug Top – was really considered due to short distance near factory to get low price, but after some forum user reported that certain Tundra model doesn’t fit, and quality is not up to the par.
Innovation – shell warp, paint matching
A.R.E. – There are some report of paint miss matching and some issue with window fit.
After all those choice, the people mostly recommend A.R.E. due to better quality and better fit, and Therefore there is a decision for the ARE MX Camper shell, and only option that was added in this campers hell is the flip down front window. So after 3 weeks, the shell was arrived & installed. Everything is great, black cab with gray interior, which fit perfectly with the Bedrug color. Front windows flip open but there are another windows on the Cab, so to connect camper shell or talk to people inside, would need to open 2 windows. There are sliding windows on each side with screen on tailgate half. The camper shell open by one lock with rod to open both side, and have a instead 2 will simplify the opening set. The camper lock overtop of the tailgate so won’t have issue of security. The rise of the MX have a view window to see out so looks great and nice fitting.
The camper shell works great and protect my items perfectly for five year until I sold my truck. The camper shell is heavy of 250 LBs, and connect with 6 Clamps, and I only need to tighten it up every 6 month to make sure it’s good. Its perfect camper shell and I do recommend to everyone who want a camper shell and MX model do have additional rise above the cab.
