Camper Top Options
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Tuned
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Columbia, MO
Camper Top Options
Hello all,
I am looking to get a camper top for my 2007 F150 FX4 Step Side pickup. I have looked at fiberglass and was qouted $1249 for tinted sliding windows (w/ screens), front sliding window, painted to match and installed. I was qouted $749 (if they can make it for my step side) for an aluminum with a color red that is so close to mine you can't tell the difference.
I would love the fiberglass top but I will not use it all the time and have very little place to store it since I live in town. I do have a shed in back that is big enought but the guy who sells these says that it is around 250 lbs and my wife would not be able to help since she is 5'0 95lbs dripping wet so I would need to get a friend to help me every time I need to take it off or put it on. I only plan on using it when going on trips or when hauling things in bad weather. The fiberglass also looks so much better when it is on.
I remember the aluminum tops when I was a kid and I was able to put them on myself but they looked cheap and were noisy after they got old. But this I could do myself and since I won't be using it 95% of the time the cheap looking I could probably deal with.
But, I will be hauling my dogs around and my fear with the aluminum on is that it will get to hot for the dogs inside.
He also mentioned a different option of a taneau cover type (like they use on Jeep tops) that would fold up into a camper shell and when not needed would fold down to almost nothing. This would be ideal cause it would be on the truck all the time and easy to use. My worries are the fact that it will be outside all the time, the windows are plastic and velcro, and being black, would be hot as hell.
So what have you guys done? Any of you gone through this before. I don't mind spending the $1200 just worried about putting it on taking it off.
Thanks,
Greg
I am looking to get a camper top for my 2007 F150 FX4 Step Side pickup. I have looked at fiberglass and was qouted $1249 for tinted sliding windows (w/ screens), front sliding window, painted to match and installed. I was qouted $749 (if they can make it for my step side) for an aluminum with a color red that is so close to mine you can't tell the difference.
I would love the fiberglass top but I will not use it all the time and have very little place to store it since I live in town. I do have a shed in back that is big enought but the guy who sells these says that it is around 250 lbs and my wife would not be able to help since she is 5'0 95lbs dripping wet so I would need to get a friend to help me every time I need to take it off or put it on. I only plan on using it when going on trips or when hauling things in bad weather. The fiberglass also looks so much better when it is on.
I remember the aluminum tops when I was a kid and I was able to put them on myself but they looked cheap and were noisy after they got old. But this I could do myself and since I won't be using it 95% of the time the cheap looking I could probably deal with.
But, I will be hauling my dogs around and my fear with the aluminum on is that it will get to hot for the dogs inside.
He also mentioned a different option of a taneau cover type (like they use on Jeep tops) that would fold up into a camper shell and when not needed would fold down to almost nothing. This would be ideal cause it would be on the truck all the time and easy to use. My worries are the fact that it will be outside all the time, the windows are plastic and velcro, and being black, would be hot as hell.
So what have you guys done? Any of you gone through this before. I don't mind spending the $1200 just worried about putting it on taking it off.
Thanks,
Greg
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Tuned
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Columbia, MO
Just got off the phone with my dealer and they only option I have is the Fiberglass. Is $1249 a reasonable price. It has tinted windows, sliding side windows with screens, front sliding windows, painted to match my truck, but how heavy is really?
Freshman User
Joined: Nov 2006
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I know what you are going through,I have seen the soft top ones like you were talking about and they come in other colors than black but I'm not sure what the cost is or if they make one for your particular truck.The fiberglass ones are very nice but once you put them on you tend to never want to take it off do to storage and just a big pain in the butt.
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 662
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From: CO
$1100-1300 is about the going rate for a good base model fiberglass top. The dang fancy ones get up over $2K in a hurry.
They should have some tops on display that you can go heft for yourself and see how bad 250lbs or whatever it is actually feels.
They should have some tops on display that you can go heft for yourself and see how bad 250lbs or whatever it is actually feels.
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Joined: Feb 2005
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Mrpositraction,
If your shed is big enough to back the truck into, you can make a lift/sling system to lift the cap yourself. I helped an elderly friend of the family put up one in his garage so that he could lift his fiberglass topper off when he needed to haul something larger. It used an old chain hoist to do the actual lifting. The slings were 2 inch webbing that he could just slip under the corners of the topper. He used vice grips (I don't know what the safety would be with those, but I personally prefer clamps) to attach the shell to his truck.
To remove the capper, he would back into his shed, lift up each corner just enough to slide the webbing under and then raise it up a couple inches. To replace, he would back in and just lower the capper back onto the truck. Since it was hanging, he could manuever it easily enough to get it lined up on the truck.
If your shed is big enough to back the truck into, you can make a lift/sling system to lift the cap yourself. I helped an elderly friend of the family put up one in his garage so that he could lift his fiberglass topper off when he needed to haul something larger. It used an old chain hoist to do the actual lifting. The slings were 2 inch webbing that he could just slip under the corners of the topper. He used vice grips (I don't know what the safety would be with those, but I personally prefer clamps) to attach the shell to his truck.
To remove the capper, he would back into his shed, lift up each corner just enough to slide the webbing under and then raise it up a couple inches. To replace, he would back in and just lower the capper back onto the truck. Since it was hanging, he could manuever it easily enough to get it lined up on the truck.
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Tuned
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Columbia, MO
Originally Posted by hydrology_joe
Mrpositraction,
If your shed is big enough to back the truck into, you can make a lift/sling system to lift the cap yourself. I helped an elderly friend of the family put up one in his garage so that he could lift his fiberglass topper off when he needed to haul something larger. It used an old chain hoist to do the actual lifting. The slings were 2 inch webbing that he could just slip under the corners of the topper. He used vice grips (I don't know what the safety would be with those, but I personally prefer clamps) to attach the shell to his truck.
To remove the capper, he would back into his shed, lift up each corner just enough to slide the webbing under and then raise it up a couple inches. To replace, he would back in and just lower the capper back onto the truck. Since it was hanging, he could manuever it easily enough to get it lined up on the truck.
If your shed is big enough to back the truck into, you can make a lift/sling system to lift the cap yourself. I helped an elderly friend of the family put up one in his garage so that he could lift his fiberglass topper off when he needed to haul something larger. It used an old chain hoist to do the actual lifting. The slings were 2 inch webbing that he could just slip under the corners of the topper. He used vice grips (I don't know what the safety would be with those, but I personally prefer clamps) to attach the shell to his truck.
To remove the capper, he would back into his shed, lift up each corner just enough to slide the webbing under and then raise it up a couple inches. To replace, he would back in and just lower the capper back onto the truck. Since it was hanging, he could manuever it easily enough to get it lined up on the truck.
Thanks for the idea though.
Tuned
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 266
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If your pets wouldn't mind the occasional rain, and can handle an open bed, I'd suggest a tonneau cover. They roll up to virtaully nothing and the good ones will last as long as the truck. I only have a 5.5' bed, but I can load it up as high as I want to with a tonneau cover.
On the other hand, you can double your protected area with a topper... If I had a topper, I would have taken the f150 camping this summer. I don't like toppers- I'd rather pull a trailer... As it turned out, we jammed the grand caravan full of sh$% and headed north.
Buy what fits you best; topper or cover... I do think fiberglass is much better looking and worth the extra hassle over alum, but would take any toneau cover any day...
good luck -jim
On the other hand, you can double your protected area with a topper... If I had a topper, I would have taken the f150 camping this summer. I don't like toppers- I'd rather pull a trailer... As it turned out, we jammed the grand caravan full of sh$% and headed north.
Buy what fits you best; topper or cover... I do think fiberglass is much better looking and worth the extra hassle over alum, but would take any toneau cover any day...
good luck -jim
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