How To Get The Most Use Out Of Your Truck Bed For Work & Play
Choosing the best bed topper (i.e. truck cap, camper shell, etc.) for your Tacoma largely depends on your use case. For example, do you go wheeling every weekend? Do you use it for work? How about a mixture of both?
No one topper is the be-all and end-all best choice. This is why deciding on one to invest in can be overwhelming. We did our best to help you out by finding the most popular ones and sorting them by category. Whether you’re looking for one to keep your work gear safe or you want to live off-grid, there’s an option below for you.
Daily Drivers
When it comes to truck toppers for daily drivers, you’ll want to consider things like gas mileage and aesthetics. You’ll also want to consider what you’ll be toting around – dogs, sports equipment, or tools. Oftentimes it improves the aerodynamics of your truck versus an open bed. However, the added weight might zero out that benefit.
Fiberglass models are popular for their durability and sleek appearance. You can even color-match them to your OEM paint. They’re often designed to match the contours of your truck, giving it a seamless, factory look. However, they can be a bit heavy.
The fiberglass models on this list have functional features to accommodate families and daily needs without paying extra for overkill features for commuting around town. Options like fold-down windows for easy access to items in the truck bed, fabric headliner, and LED lighting make the models in this category more functional and friendly for daily use.
While they add more weight to the back of your truck than a steel or aluminum topper, this is less of a stressor with daily commuting compared to offroading. That being said, when adding any topper to your truck, you may need to consider a leveling kit or upgrading your rear suspension.
1. Leer 100XR
The Leer 100XR (similar to Leer 100R but with frameless rear glass) is one of their more feature-rich truck toppers. Fiberglass construction, timeless edges, and an all-glass rear door give it a sleek, stylish appearance.
The flip lock rear door handle ensures that dirt and debris don’t get lodged in the keyhole and you can also upgrade to a remote keyless entry for added convenience. It also features 50/50 sliding windows that are pet-friendly and allow for a cross breeze. They come standard with insect screens and the option to upgrade to sturdy pet screens that your dog can’t smash through.
Most notably, the 100XR features tinted glass and Axalta Auto Paint that can be matched to your Tacoma. Overall, it’s a solid contender for one of the best truck options for daily drivers.
Pros
- Ability to paint match.
- Frameless curved glass rear door.
- 50/50 sliding windows.
- A 12-volt fuse box and 12-volt LED dome light standard.
- Insulated roof.
- Option for remote keyless entry.
- Large compatibility with racks and crossbars.
- Drawer systems are available as add-ons.
Cons
- Some reports of water intrusion where the curved glass rear door meets the tailgate. This has been remedied by adding weather stripping.
- Some reports that the 50/50 windows do not always latch tightly, leaving a gap between the glass and the frame.
- The J-Bolt installation clamps aren’t the most secure installation.
2. A.R.E CX Revo
The A.R.E CX Revo prioritizes sleek lines and frameless windows. It gives more of a luxury aesthetic than a rugged one to your Tacoma – sometimes preferred for daily drivers. The frameless tailgate-formed rear door is unique to the CX Revo and the glass is formed specifically to fit the contours of your truck model.
Frameless urethane side windows are the first of their kind. The side windows are bonded directly to the cap which eliminates the need for additional frames and screws. It also seems to help create a more watertight seal.
This option has a nearly unparalleled OEM look and offers functional features and options for family commuting, and pets.
Pros
- Color-matched paint standard.
- Option for durable OTR spray-on black coating.
- Attractive urethane frameless windows with improved watertight seal.
- Option for an aluminum framed picture or sliding front window.
- Window tilt-down option for easy cab access and cleaning the rear windshield.
- Frameless tailgate rear door is custom fit to your truck model.
- A.R.E’s OneMotion™ handle allows for one one-handed opening.
- Dark grey headliner standard.
- A.R.E’s trademarked ActiveTilt technology turns on the dome light automatically when the glass is opened.
- Keyed lock.
Cons
- Clamp installation isn’t the most secure.
- A sliding window isn’t included standard.
- The modern styling of the urethane windows looks great but there’s no option for win-doors for side access.
Offroading & Overlanding
If you spend a lot of time on overlanding adventures, you’ll want a something that can withstand a rowdy good time and the structural stressors that come with that.
The models listed below are all aluminum. This allows you to accommodate all of your gear while minimizing the weight and without sacrificing strength.
1. GFC Platform Topper
Every GFC topper is custom-sized to fit the dimensions of your truck and trim level. They have over 180 different truck-specific models (including 1st through 4th Gen Tacoma)! Likely the most expansive coverage of any of the other alternatives.
The GFC Platform Topper has a unique triangulated frame design that evenly distributes weight to make it the sturdiest and strongest on this list. It’s able to support a dynamic load of up to 800 lbs. which is ideal for a rooftop tent, a couple of people, a dog, and maybe some gear. To test it’s strength, GFC put an old pickup on top to prove their claims. Impressive!
Bolted connections eliminate areas of failure like stress fractures that often occur in welds.
The side panel doors fully open on a “bulletproof” gear-style hinge inspired by high-security embassy door hinges.
Pros:
- Sturdy, lightweight aluminum frame that evenly distributes weight.
- GFC touts that it can support an entire truck on top of it.
- Earlier generations offer interior locks to lock yourself inside for security when camping (now fixed).
- Option for a front window, rear window, both, or none.
- Innovative design features like unique embassy hinges should last a lifetime.
- Each side panel features secure low-profile locks with shields to block out dirt and debris.
- Architectural grade black anodizing will last a lifetime and comes standard on the frame.
- The lower panels can be customized with several different colors of durable powder coating.
- The attachment clamps are much beefier than most clamp-style installation mechanisms and meant for high stress environments.
Cons:
- No option for color matching to your OEM paint color.
- The triangulated aluminum arms can make it difficult to get larger items through the side panels.
2. Alu-Cab Contour Canopy
This Canopy out of South Africa is made for the trail. Its extruded aluminum build allows for countless mounting points to secure gear or accessories.
In true canopy fashion, the side panels and rear door open outward on gas struts for easy access to gear or tools. Innovative waterproof hinges are a small feature that keeps rainwater out when the full-length side and rear doors are open.
The Contour Canopy comes in a slick-looking, durable black powder coating and has optional side panel windows. Or, you can pass on those for a stealth look.
Pros
- The canopy is fully aluminum which minimizes weight.
- A mounting rail comes standard on the roof.
- Black powder coating is resistant to pinstriping and scratches.
- Offers tons of mounting points for securing gear and accessories.
- The newly designed roof panel is rigid and extra sturdy – it can support up to 880 lbs. of static load and 440 lbs. of dynamic load.
- Comes standard with three interior LED lights.
- Front-mounted positive pressure vent reduces the amount of dirt and dust that makes its way inside. It also helps add ventilation if you don’t opt for side panel windows.
- Waterproof hinges help keep water out, even when the canopy doors are open.
- The topper weighs only (approximately) 125lbs without windows and 136lbs with side windows.
Cons:
- You cannot open the door from the inside once it’s locked, so you can potentially lock yourself in.
- Reports that the gas struts do not rise enough for the doors to open all the way.
- The latches on the side panels and rear door can freeze in cold and wet weather.
- Older models had some powder coating issues.
Work & Play
For those who use their truck for work, a bed topper protects pricey tools and equipment from theft and the elements. These functional options include features like mounted toolboxes and cargo slides and are heavy-duty enough to survive the job site.
The options below can fulfill the needs of most work trucks while maintaining enough flexibility to accommodate the occasional offroad adventure.
1. A.R.E HD (CX/MX)
What makes an A.R.E heavy-duty? For one, the sturdy exposed aluminum frame runs throughout the inside of the fiberglass shell. This adds up to three times more dynamic load-bearing capacity than the fiberglass shell itself.
The aluminum frame features T-rails that allow for additional gear mounting such as toolboxes. With the optional side win-doors, you have direct access to your tools and work equipment. Whether you’re using it for work or play, the A.R.E HD models are some of the toughest fiberglass toppers you’ll find.
Pros
- Ability to paint match to your truck.
- The A.R.E HD is available in CX (cab height) and MX (midrise) models.
- Optional roof rack cross bars that integrate through the fiberglass directly into the aluminum skeleton to create an extra sturdy platform that supports up to 550 lbs.
- The interior aluminum skeleton reinforces the OEM-appearing fiberglass topper.
- You can mount toolboxes and gear from anywhere along the aluminum T-rails.
- Sliding screened windows come standard but aluminum paneled win-doors are available.
- Diamond plate toolboxes are available as an add-on, support up to 200 lbs. each, and can be hung from the T-Rails.
- Optional aluminum paneled rear window or a full-height fiberglass walk-in door.
- The optional headliner can be sprayed with a power washer for easy cleaning.
Cons
- Clamp installation isn’t the most secure for the trails.
- Some reports of water leaks toward the front corners of the bed.
- A sliding front window option can be added, but the aluminum skeleton gets in the way of a tilt-down front window option.
2. Dirtbox Overland
Dirtbox Overland’s truck bed topper is fully constructed of T6 extruded aluminum. It weighs in at about 115-120 lbs. for a midsized truck model. They offer an arsenal of modular accessories from toolboxes to fold-out tables, to awnings and hanging showers that attach directly to the extruded aluminum rail system.
The topper features locking aluminum side panels that open on gas struts, a front window with a slider, and an option for either a rear window to preserve visibility or an aluminum rear panel to secure valuable gear and equipment.
Pros
Cons
- It doesn’t sit completely flush with the back of the cab, which some people dislike the aesthetics of.
- Although the front window slides, it doesn’t seem to offer a tilt-down option for cleaning in between the cab and topper.
- Some dirt might make it inside as there’s no positive pressure vent.
- While designed in Colorado, it is manufactured in Asia.
Car Camping
When it comes to car camping, you’ll want to prioritize insulation, storage space, and headroom.
Midrise toppers make a great foundation for transforming your Tacoma into a comfortable and functional camping platform. They give you the flexibility to add a drawer system or build out a bedframe and still have room to sit up without feeling like you’re sleeping in a coffin.
A few other features to consider when choosing the best truck bed topper for car camping are ventilation, security, and lighting options.
1. A.R.E MX
The MX series encompasses A.R.E’s line of mid-height truck bed shells. It’s a fiberglass shell that weighs about 180-200 lbs. for the Tacoma depending on whether you have a long or short bed. The MX series gives you plenty of customization, from win-doors to vented win-doors to a full fiberglass walk-in door.
You can choose between paint match or OTR spray coating. I prefer the latter for camping setups as it helps resist scuffs and pinstriping from low-hanging branches and tight trails.
The mid-height camper shell is ideal for sleeping in. Most people will be able to sit up completely and change clothes comfortably.
Pros:
- Enough room to add a drawer system or build a raised bedframe and still sit up.
- Color-matched paint or durable OTR spray coating (added cost).
- Optional vented win-doors.
- Various back hatch options are available.
- A fabric headliner can be added to improve insulation.
- Optional fold-down interior clothes hangers on the roof.
- Available tilt-down front window for easy cleaning.
- Various roof track and rack systems are available.
Cons:
- The vista glass that comes standard on the front end of the roof is not a skylight and adds a possible point for water intrusion.
- Some complaints that the fiberglass is splintery and rough if you don’t add the headliner.
- More reports of water intrusion with this model than with other A.R.E toppers.
- No lighting options are included in the standard package.
2. Leer 180 Midrise
The Leer 180 Midrise touts 15% more interior space compared to the cab-high model. Weighing in at about 250 lbs. for the Tacoma (variable by bed length), this is no lightweight option. However, it’ll certainly give you the space you need to camp out.
This topper comes with Leer’s tried and tested features including a custom-fit design, fiberglass base rails, skirted sides, and Axalta auto paint to match your vehicle (or not).
Pros:
- Enough height for tall people to sit up inside and move around comfortably.
- Leaves plenty of headroom for you to add a drawer system or raised bedframe.
- Full line of BedSlide cargo drawer systems available.
- Insulated roof standard.
- Comes standard with a 12-volt fuse box and one LED dome light.
- Optional side windows and side windows with sliders to create a cross-breeze.
- Fold-down clothes hangers are available.
- A tilt-down front window option is available for easy cleaning.
- Newer ones have a safety feature that keeps you from getting locked in.
- Full line of Thule tracks and roof rack options available.
Cons:
- Some reports of water leaks in the corners where the camper shell meets the bed.
- Some quality control issues. For example, snagged screens and paint imperfections coming from the factory. Make sure to double-check your topper after installation and report any imperfections to your dealer.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the best truck bed topper for your Tacoma requires careful consideration of various factors. You’ll need to think about the intended use, payload capacity, aerodynamics, security, weather resistance, and compatibility.
Whether you’re looking for a durable and versatile versions for work, a lightweight aluminum option for off-road adventures, or a fiberglass option for aesthetics, there’s something for everyone. Take your time, compare the options, and prioritize the features that are most important to you.
The right topper should enhance the functionality and versatility of how you use your truck, whether that’s for commuting, work, or adventure.
