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I am looking for information on truck caps. Does anyone have pictures of period correct truck caps? What currently made caps will 1980 F-100 5.0V8 C4 2.79-1 rear gear
fit our trucks?
I've always gone with Gem Top. The family owned company went out of business a few years back. You might be able to buy a used one. I like them because they are made of steel and are very tough. Strong enough to put a roof rack on the canopy. I have a remove-able Yakima roof rack. I had to bolt down the "rain gutter" attachment plates through the top of the canopy. I can haul long boards, lumber or kayaks on top. Remove-able racks are nice to have so you don't have as much drag when you don't need them.
They are heavier than a fiberglass or aluminum cap. You will need a hoist to remove it...or 4 strong people.
A few years ago I bought this Leer cap for my '97. At the time the dealer said that they couldn't order Leer caps for these older trucks anymore, but when they contacted the manufacturer they found that Leer still would make them, but just didn't list them anymore. So find a dealer and ask. That was 5 or 6 years ago, so they might not still be available. i don't know about other manufacturers.
As to what will fit, all US pickups had a standard bed size/shape until sometime in the '90s ('97 for the F-150, '99 for the F-250/350). I'm not sure what years Chevy and Dodge went away from it. But any used cap off any older truck will fit the bed, although some might line up better or worse with the cab lines.
Originally Posted by Odisvan
I always liked the looks of one, but after owning a nice Leer, I don't want another. Too hard for ME to see out of.
Personally I've found the visibility through a cap to be acceptable as long as two things were true. Some caps have tinted plastic side windows, and the ones like that on my first truck cap weren't good. All of my subsequent caps have had glass side windows, and even with some tint they've been OK. At the other is that the back window in the cab and front window in the cap can NOT be tinted. Any tint there and visibility is completely unacceptable to me, so I've ended up replacing back windows in two trucks. Not saying everyone will like what I like, but that's what's worked / not worked for me.
When you get old your neck is too stiff to turn around and look out the back window anyway. Two good mirrors on the sides with peep mirrors are all you need.
I am old and stiff. My camper top was bought used and did have plastic side windows I think, and did have dark tint all way around. It was handy, but really rough on me at night trying to back around. My house is out in county and dark. Tough to navigate backing around. Mine had come off a dodge and fit my 00 f150 sport standard cab. I needed it to haul my doghouse bass fiddle.
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