ARE topper finally came in.........

[River19]

After buying this rig a few weeks ago, I immediately ordered a color matched ARE topper as I have a topper on all my trucks. I had a Leer on my F250 and I currently have a Leer on my Tundra, but I wanted a high quality ARE for this rig.

I had it ordered with one string of LEDs down the middle of the cap and damn, those are nice and bright for night time fumbling.

Fit and finish is top notch and the rig finally looks and performs the way I need.

When we do multiple day horse shows (like this Thurs-Sunday) I need to take my 3 dogs and they need to be crated in the back...this will do nicely.

 

[Pickles]

Links and cost? Looks sweet

Sent from my LGMS395 using Tapatalk

 

[River19]

Links and cost? Looks sweet

Sent from my LGMS395 using Tapatalk

X Series Truck Caps : A.R.E. Truck Caps and Tonneau Covers

I got the X Series......the options I chose were Regular side sliding windows, front slider against cab, a single 48" string of LED lights down the middle and a set of 3 12V outlets (constant hot) right by the tailgate. I always have the 12V outlets installed, great for phone charging while parked, tire compressors, etc.

The rear glass actually has a frame that comes down perfectly over the top of the tailgate, awesome fit and very secure.

Cost.....Just under $2200 when all is said and done.....not cheap, but neither is the rest of the rig......

 

[Midnite-CTD]

That looks good! Fit and flow with the body lines is very nice!!

 

[Billd5string]

That looks great! I'm in the market for a cap for mine as well. I was looking at ARE and Leer. Do you prefer the ARE over Leer?

Also, does it work with the electric tailgate lock? As in, when you unlock the doors does it unlock the cap also or do you still need to use a key to unlock it?

 

[River19]

That looks great! I'm in the market for a cap for mine as well. I was looking at ARE and Leer. Do you prefer the ARE over Leer?

Also, does it work with the electric tailgate lock? As in, when you unlock the doors does it unlock the cap also or do you still need to use a key to unlock it?

I have had 3 Leers and still have one....they are nice, and for the price is probably the best bang for the buck.

The ARE and Snugtop brands are a step up in quality and fit and finish. That isn't to take anything away from Leer.

I believe there is an option for the remote locks on the ARE, not sure if it is synched with the truck one or a separate fob....

What I can say is that the frame of the window/hatch closes over the edge of my tailgate and is molded to the 4"(ish) "shelf" we have on the top of the tailgate. With the ARE and tailgate locked.....it is very secure compared to the "dual "T" handles used on most toppers I have had.

I opted for the simple keyed lock.....which is fine with me.

 

[Boulevardvette]

Man that looks great!!

 

[le_butters]

Looks awesome. I was quoted 1500 with the lights and pet mesh screen on the windows for an x series. Wonder why the big difference?

 

[River19]

Looks awesome. I was quoted 1500 with the lights and pet mesh screen on the windows for an x series. Wonder why the big difference?

Are the 1500 & 2500 the same from a size standpoint? If so, then I think the base price I was given was in like the 1500-1800 range, then I added a couple options and then 12V install stuff was like $125 or so.....plus tax in this area.

The place I used technically doesn't charge additional for "install" so it is baked into their pricing etc.

But if you can get it for <$2000 I would look hard at that option....

 

[TruckNut]

Very nice. I have been looking at these verses the bed covers. Love to get future reports as to how waterproof it is as I like the utility of a topper for my dogs. Looks great on the white!

 

[le_butters]

Are the 1500 & 2500 the same from a size standpoint? If so, then I think the base price I was given was in like the 1500-1800 range, then I added a couple options and then 12V install stuff was like $125 or so.....plus tax in this area.

The place I used technically doesn't charge additional for "install" so it is baked into their pricing etc.

But if you can get it for <$2000 I would look hard at that option....

Well I busted out the ARE book that the shop that did my bed liner gave me. He quoted me on the V series. So That would explain the price difference. it was 1175 for the top 117 for the light option and 29 bucks a window for the pet mesh. Why did you go with the X series over the others?

 

[River19]

Well I busted out the ARE book that the shop that did my bed liner gave me. He quoted me on the V series. So That would explain the price difference. it was 1175 for the top 117 for the light option and 29 bucks a window for the pet mesh. Why did you go with the X series over the others?

I mostly went for the X series over the V etc. for the locking mechanism and never really compared a ton more after that to be honest. Normally I compare the crap out of things, but this time I settled quickly on what I liked and ordered before I got analysis paralysis.

 

[drittal]

My father has had an ARE on his 2012 3500 since he bought it. Loves it. No leaks.

 

[River19]

My father has had an ARE on his 2012 3500 since he bought it. Loves it. No leaks.

God to hear.

In the past I have found caps leak in two ways, the most common is the seams along the front of the bed rail against the cab, on some trucks that bed rail is a little lower than the side rails and the sticky foam tape stuff can eventually break down and allow some leakage.

Also the Leer rear window frame will eventually not seal really well on the models I had so over time the very back of the cap will leak.

I also had a weird issue with my F250 and the Leer when towing I had to bungee it shut as the air currents coming off the front of my trailer would lift up my cap hatch at highway speeds....which is no good. hopefully that won't happen today when I tow 250 miles with the ARE on the RAM.

4 Days with horse chicks....

 

[CMil527]

looks good!