Community Forums

SeabeckS · 01-09-2014, 10:43 PM

It's me again! LOL

Now anticipating a purchase of an F-250 SuperCrew, which will be used to pull a TT.

Current F-150 has a LEER tonneau cover, and it's been a good addition for that truck. But, now that we have a pooch, think the next truck would be better with a canopy. Satisfied with LEER value (price/quality), but know NOTHING about canopy tops.

Been reading comparisons on a variety of websites about various products, and narrowed down to A.R.E. vs LEER vs Snugtop.

So? Any SuperDuty owners with a canopy that can offer up an opinion? Chev/GMC/RAM/Tundra owner opinions gladly welcomed too of course!

Cheers!

PS. Our house has been sold!!! 2014 will be bringing many changes!

SeabeckS · 01-10-2014, 10:30 AM

Oh, sorry I forgot to mention Titan owners too! No disrespect intended.

I have done some web searching on this topic, but seem to find mostly very old discussion threads....

Thanks for reading!

Cumminsfan · 01-10-2014, 10:58 AM

I had a SnugTop on my 2010 F150. Really nice quality. If I were to go back to a TT I would get a canopy again for my Ram 2500. IMO the ones like the SnugTop Outback with the two doors would be the way to go. When we had out F150 and a TT I couldn't drop the tailgate when hooked up because it would hit the power tongue jack. With the tow door type you could open the doors while hitched. At least it looks like you can. Some times we don't unhook for the night but still need some things that were in the back of the truck.

tuffr2 · 01-10-2014, 11:15 AM

Truck 'Canopy'? You mean a Truck 'Cap'?

My wife and I looked at a scenario where we would buy a 30' Airstream and tow with a 3/4 ton truck.

My 'Cap' of choice was Leer. Also it would be raised in the back to give a higher ceiling. All in all not a bad way to go. A 3/4 ton truck with a cap on the back can carry a lot of 'stuff'.

After reading this forum I now would buy a 1 ton SRW to carry even more stuff.

Scottybdivin · 01-10-2014, 11:16 AM

I can't use one on my truck, but I gave my wife one made by Undercover for her birthday.

I really like the way it looks on her truck and they did a good job matching the paint. They are easily removable and light enough to hang on the wall.

SeabeckS · 01-10-2014, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cumminsfan

I had a SnugTop on my 2010 F150. Really nice quality. If I were to go back to a TT I would get a canopy again for my Ram 2500. IMO the ones like the SnugTop Outback with the two doors would be the way to go. When we had out F150 and a TT I couldn't drop the tailgate when hooked up because it would hit the power tongue jack. With the tow door type you could open the doors while hitched. At least it looks like you can. Some times we don't unhook for the night but still need some things that were in the back of the truck.

Hmm. The door thing isn't something I'd considered! Good point, I'll checkout that option too. A.R.E. has an option that replaces the tailgate with a single lift up panel that also has a swing door in the middle. Wonder how that might work with a TT hooked up...

Thanks!

SeabeckS · 01-10-2014, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tuffr2

Truck 'Canopy'? You mean a Truck 'Cap'?

My wife and I looked at a scenario where we would buy a 30' Airstream and tow with a 3/4 ton truck.

My 'Cap' of choice was Leer. Also it would be raised in the back to give a higher ceiling. All in all not a bad way to go. A 3/4 ton truck with a cap on the back can carry a lot of 'stuff'.

After reading this forum I now would buy a 1 ton SRW to carry even more stuff.

Cap, canopy same to me...lol. Have a tonneau cover on current truck, but I like the idea of a canopy, particularly the sloped ones for more cargo volume.

Thanks!

SeabeckS · 01-10-2014, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scottybdivin

I can't use one on my truck, but I gave my wife one made by Undercover for her birthday.

I really like the way it looks on her truck and they did a good job matching the paint. They are easily removable and light enough to hang on the wall.

Thanks, we have a similar unit (LEER) on our 150. By no means light enough to hang on the wall. Well, maybe King Kong's wall!

myredracer · 01-10-2014, 11:37 AM

We bought a canopy for our superduty last year. After doing all the usual due diligence DW makes me do, we bought a SnugTop Rebel cab-high. Reasonable pricing and excellent quality. Very happy with it and highly recommended. Leer seemed overpriced for what it is. I'd have to go look it up, but I think we paid $1600 (installed) for a long box and the options we got. Leer would have been something like another $1K.

The only thing I would change next time is the smoked glass we got. We have it on the front window (fold down type for cleaning) and rear window and it's not easy to see through both pieces in rear view mirror. Can't recall if the front window could have been clear or not. Gotta have a fold down window at the front. Suffered for 10 years with the old truck and not being able to clean the glass between cab and canopy without having to undo and slide the canopy back. Totally love the wraparound rails and frameless rear window.

But maybe you're talking about a tonneau cover as opposed to a canopy or cap. Still, SnugTop is one to look at.

No problems for us dropping the tailgate with TT hooked up. Maybe heights of jacks are different, it's the fact that we're a little higher off the ground because it's a 4x4 or it's something to do with the type of WDH?

Cumminsfan · 01-10-2014, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeabeckS

Hmm. The door thing isn't something I'd considered! Good point, I'll checkout that option too. A.R.E. has an option that replaces the tailgate with a single lift up panel that also has a swing door in the middle. Wonder how that might work with a TT hooked up...

Thanks!

Yes those A.R.E's are nice too. Throw a sliding bed tray in and you would have a slick setup.

Scottybdivin · 01-10-2014, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeabeckS

Thanks, we have a similar unit (LEER) on our 150. By no means light enough to hang on the wall. Well, maybe King Kong's wall!

It weighs less than 1/2 that of a fiberglass cover like a Leer.

NFlcamper · 01-10-2014, 03:48 PM

In your research, make note of your TT tongue weight fully loaded, hitch weight, the weight of the cap, weight of things PLANNED to go inside the cap (I had a BedRug bed liner @ about 40 lbs or so and kept another 20 lbs of tools there too) and the RAGW and payload of the truck you plan to get. With a 250/2500 you may get close with a fully fueled and loaded truck. I had to move up to a 2500 from a 1500 because of my TT total weight. While I had exceeded the GCWR of the truck on a few trips over a few months, I removed the cap and BedRug from the 1500 right after bringing the TT home the 1st time, because I was also exceeding the RAGW of the truck. Exceeding the GCWR would have only made the truck work harder and I towed only in Florida, so no hills or mountains to overcome, I felt the amount I was over by, was close enough to what the truck was rated for towing in the mountains, it wouldn't hurt the truck, so I did what I had to for awhile. Exceeding the RAGW would have more than likely exceeded the tires capacity and MAY have caused a blow out and a wreck - NOT a chance I was willing to take. My cap had to come off! I am currently looking for an exceptional deal on a cap for the 2500 as I do have enough capacity to spare with my combo. Glad I have free use of the truck scales at work to get my weights right. I hope you have enough capacity to spare, for the cap you want.

SeabeckS · 01-10-2014, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by myredracer

We bought a canopy for our superduty last year. After doing all the usual due diligence DW makes me do, we bought a SnugTop Rebel cab-high. Reasonable pricing and excellent quality. Very happy with it and highly recommended. Leer seemed overpriced for what it is. I'd have to go look it up, but I think we paid $1600 (installed) for a long box and the options we got. Leer would have been something like another $1K.

The only thing I would change next time is the smoked glass we got. We have it on the front window (fold down type for cleaning) and rear window and it's not easy to see through both pieces in rear view mirror. Can't recall if the front window could have been clear or not. Gotta have a fold down window at the front. Suffered for 10 years with the old truck and not being able to clean the glass between cab and canopy without having to undo and slide the canopy back. Totally love the wraparound rails and frameless rear window.

But maybe you're talking about a tonneau cover as opposed to a canopy or cap. Still, SnugTop is one to look at.

No problems for us dropping the tailgate with TT hooked up. Maybe heights of jacks are different, it's the fact that we're a little higher off the ground because it's a 4x4 or it's something to do with the type of WDH?

.

Pricing is a bit of a consideration, interesting that you thought SnugTop was a better deal. Only dealer for Snug is a bit further distance, but not so far to discourage a close look. Need to spend more time looking at their website for configurations. I sort of prefer the up sloping models I've seen on LEER and ARE. Not overly concerned with bed access when hooked up, and the only time our pooch would be in the back is when a TT is not hooked up. But still worth thinking about.

Cab window definitely needs to be removable, and wouldn't consider a boot type installation. Not explored standard and optional features yet, but last thing I want would be smoked windows. Spent year in trucks with only visibility being mirrors, really appreciate unimpeded sight lines...

Thanks for your comments!

SeabeckS · 01-10-2014, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NFlcamper

In your research, make note of your TT tongue weight fully loaded, hitch weight, the weight of the cap, weight of things PLANNED to go inside the cap (I had a BedRug bed liner @ about 40 lbs or so and kept another 20 lbs of tools there too) and the RAGW and payload of the truck you plan to get. With a 250/2500 you may get close with a fully fueled and loaded truck. I had to move up to a 2500 from a 1500 because of my TT total weight. While I had exceeded the GCWR of the truck on a few trips over a few months, I removed the cap and BedRug from the 1500 right after bringing the TT home the 1st time, because I was also exceeding the RAGW of the truck. Exceeding the GCWR would have only made the truck work harder and I towed only in Florida, so no hills or mountains to overcome, I felt the amount I was over by, was close enough to what the truck was rated for towing in the mountains, it wouldn't hurt the truck, so I did what I had to for awhile. Exceeding the RAGW would have more than likely exceeded the tires capacity and MAY have caused a blow out and a wreck - NOT a chance I was willing to take. My cap had to come off! I am currently looking for an exceptional deal on a cap for the 2500 as I do have enough capacity to spare with my combo. Glad I have free use of the truck scales at work to get my weights right. I hope you have enough capacity to spare, for the cap you want.

Thanks for commenting, weight considerations are very much a concern. Even though we've moved up in our search for a 250 instead of a 150, I know we have to pay attention!

Washington has a few more hills than Florida!

We do intend to find a lighter weight trailer, but I want to do this right the first time!

Cheers!