Blind Spots With Topper
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Freshman User
Joined: Jul 2018
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Blind Spots With Topper
Hello all,
I am on the fence about buying a topper (camper shell) because of blind spots. For the ones that made the plunge how bad are they? I know the newer stuff has a lot more glass. How is backing up? I rely on mirrors mostly anyways. And what about the chimsel camera? I do tow a bumper pull trailer for camping. Any negative there? Obviously not worried about seeing directly behind while towing. Can see most of what is needed while backing up through mirrors. Looking at the storage point while camping. Tired of climbing on hands and knees to retrieve stuff under bed cover. Currently have a trifold. Would love to see pictures of some long bed setups. Not many super cab trucks with toppers that I have seen.
Thanks
I am on the fence about buying a topper (camper shell) because of blind spots. For the ones that made the plunge how bad are they? I know the newer stuff has a lot more glass. How is backing up? I rely on mirrors mostly anyways. And what about the chimsel camera? I do tow a bumper pull trailer for camping. Any negative there? Obviously not worried about seeing directly behind while towing. Can see most of what is needed while backing up through mirrors. Looking at the storage point while camping. Tired of climbing on hands and knees to retrieve stuff under bed cover. Currently have a trifold. Would love to see pictures of some long bed setups. Not many super cab trucks with toppers that I have seen.
Thanks
More Turbo
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 594
Likes: 42
From: fly-over country
I've got a supercab shortbed with a topper. It is a lower case xl without radar, x-rays, and only a gravimetric anomaly. When I am stuck and grudgingly rent a car I have to get used to the idea that I must rely on it's blind spot monitor instead of my F-350's mirrors. As far as I am concerned the SD mirrors do not have blind spots. For backing up I rely on my Garmin backup camera and it's GPS display, and mostly the mirrors.
edit: spell gravimetric
edit: spell gravimetric
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 1,502
Likes: 165
This super duty is my first daily driver in years to not have a cap. T100, tundra, f250 all with caps.
I find the obstruction of the view isn’t a big deal. The mirrors on these super duties are the cats meow. Your side mirrors will be what you use for all backing, except when you get into a Tight spot, and then it will be backup camera on the tailgate.
CHMSL? I’ve used that thing like twice.
I find the obstruction of the view isn’t a big deal. The mirrors on these super duties are the cats meow. Your side mirrors will be what you use for all backing, except when you get into a Tight spot, and then it will be backup camera on the tailgate.
CHMSL? I’ve used that thing like twice.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 19,690
Likes: 12,816
From: Wyoming
^^^ What they said. The mirrors on the Superduty are great! I had a topper on my prior 1/2 ton that had similar tow mirrors and the topper wasn't a big deal. The only issue was that the topper's rear window was tinted also. So double tint to see anything directly behind you - without using a camera - could be challenging.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 1,765
Likes: 502
I do not have a cap on my Super Duty but have on my last couple of trucks. No issues with visibility although it did get snowed up in the winter so I had to rely on my side mirrors only (I grew up driving rack body trucks so that does not bother me).The dry, lockable storage for camping is awesome and I used to put the dog back there after hikes if he decided to go swimming in the swamp. My boys are older now and the toys have gotten bigger so I went with a Diamondback Cover this time. I also tow a travel trailer. You can always get the glass open to access the bed, even with the trailer hooked up. Keep the locks lubed up, they are cheap and corrode/freeze in the winter.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,830
Likes: 253
From: NorCal
Use your mirrors and back up camera more
On my GMC truck, the windows and topper are limo black and cant see through the rear view mirror.. I can see headlights only. You will get used to relying on the mirrors.
My new F350 has no topper and i forget to use the rear view mirror since im so used o not using it on the GMC
Gonna get a topper on the F350 and black it out also..looking at LEER and ARE cab height
On my GMC truck, the windows and topper are limo black and cant see through the rear view mirror.. I can see headlights only. You will get used to relying on the mirrors.
My new F350 has no topper and i forget to use the rear view mirror since im so used o not using it on the GMC
Gonna get a topper on the F350 and black it out also..looking at LEER and ARE cab height
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Freshman User
Joined: Jul 2018
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I agree that the mirrors are very good. I use them 99% of the time anyways. The camera on the back of the cab I never use as well. I am concerned about topper clearance as I have seen this a problem. The sliding rear window I will miss as I use this daily for air flow but I’m guessing air will still flow well enough. After two years of owning this truck you learn very fast it’s much easier to back in while parking. I just have never towed with a topper and don’t want to regret a purchase as this.
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More Turbo
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 594
Likes: 42
From: fly-over country
I rented a 19ft Airstream Bambi for two months with a cap on the truck and had some difficulty backing. It steered quicker than my 27ft sailboat that I backed with no difficulty but without a cap. My hypothesis is that it was easy to see the bow on the boat move left or right but the with the wide expanse of aluminum it was harder to detect motion thru the cap. Next time I tow a TT I intend to put a vertical line of painters tape on the cap's rear window and another on the TT to see variations in alignment.
Part of my difficulty was gauging the trailer/truck angle with the side view mirrors. I won't go without the cap.
Part of my difficulty was gauging the trailer/truck angle with the side view mirrors. I won't go without the cap.
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