Or topper, or canopy, or camper shell…or whatever you may call it.
I’m pleasantly surprised at the color match.
Only gave them the paint code to go on, and it came out perfect.
I guess the truck has been parked under cover for most of its life judging by the lack of paint fading in that case.









Looks like Sadie approves.


Now I just have to get the bedrug bed mat (matches the topper carpet pretty close) cut to fit and installed, and it’ll be ready for the dogs.

I did a lot of reading on this site before deciding on the ARE and am very happy with my choice.
Of course all I had to choose from in this town were Leer and ARE.

 

That looks sharp!

 

I agree with BlueJay, looks nice. Does that front part flow through into the cab? I have considered a camper since I got a dog, but am afraid she'd be too hot back there. From my brother's Facebook - newer dodge at Walmart one time with a window unit connected to a generator lol. Not to mention the crappy-fitting camper top

 

You'll love the bed rug, still one of my favorite mods

 

Thanks folks.
I swear, I want to get up from my desk and head over to the parking garage just to look at it again.
It does, as long as you open both the cab and topper windows.
I also opted for the fold down front window so I can clean the backside of it as well as the outside of the cab window.

I'm sure the dogs are looking forward to that, as they aren't too keen on walking on the bare liner.
I did have to opt for the bedrug bed mat though, instead of the full kit.
Nobody seemed to offer it for the long box, and I couldn't even find a part number on their website.
After I ordered it from a local shop, I finally found a part number for the full kit.
I had them call BedRug directly, and it turns out they can make one.
The reason they don't list it is because of the low demand for the long box version.

I kind of like what I ended up with though, as I can pull the rug out quickly if I want to haul gravel/dirt/whatever with just the liner.

Now it's time to start designing and building a hoist to store the topper in my shop when I need the full bed.
Fortunately I've got a 10' ceiling, so I shouldn't have much trouble figuring something out.

By the way 1clean42, I can not believe that picture.
The things some people come up with. I am not surprised at all that was seen at Walmart! LOL!

 

When i was just a young lad, a family friend had a single cab pickup with a topper on it, the kids would ride in the back, and they had a 4" flexible hose attached to one of the air vents so we could stay "cool" in the back

 

Looks great, and clean truck too. One reason I have the cap is for the dog, and when it is warmer I open the sliders and blast the cool air through. On warmer days (not super hot) I can open the vent windows and the cap slider to pull air though. I wouldn't leave the dog in the bed without the truck moving however. For carpet, I bought a piece of indoor/outdoor carpet that is probably close to the bedrug style and cut to fit. Think it was less than 20.00 and has held up through 3 trucks now. Gives the dog good traction, and like you say, can pull out if I need for dirt, mulch or whatever. Also great for a non slip surface for whatever your hauling around.

Edit~ Oh, I like the idea of that fold down cap slider, wish mine had one!

 

The cap looks great !

 

A friend had same issue as I and you .... what to do with a bed cap when not wanted on the tuck? Mine was a fiobreglass shell, they have some metal and wood and are likely 400 pounds.

In my case, I wanted to store the cap down beside my deck so I attached one 12 foot long treated 2x6 across deck legs about 12" higher than bedside, but level. Then I set a post 7 feet out from what wound be the end away from the house, and attached a bracket to my basement wall 7 feet from that rail at what would be the back, and mounted a second 2x6 treated piece across these two parallel to the one fasten to the deck.
Then, I just backed the truck between the two rails, leaving enough room to crawl in from rear .... undo clamps and then stand up with my back against roof and pick up one end at a tinme and slide a 8 foot 2x6 across the two rails, then turn ariound and do the other end. Move truck out and then I used the c clamps to attach topper to the two 2x6 cross pieces and I had long "J" shaped bolts that dropped down from holes and hooked under the side rails attached tio the deck legs and basement wall and that 6x6 set in concrete so no chance of knocing it over.

For my friend, in his high ceiling garage, we also used the same idea of two 2x6s slid across top of bed rails under bed topper .... but we had eye bolts in the ends. We also rigged 4 steel cables through pulleys from reinforced points in deiling, adjusted all 4 cables so when those 4 meet a single one, using clamps and a steel "loop" .... the last cable going through pulleys to wall mount boat trailer hoist .... once the 2x6s are under the cap .... lower hooks on 4 cables and hook each, and pull it about a foot above the truck rails, making sure someone is there to steady it so it doesn't sway into the cab back .... apply 4 c-clamps .... then hoist her up out of the way.

5/16 cable from hardware, some pulleys capable of 200 pounds each, and a winch that can pull in about 6 feet cable will do. With all 4 cables routed to a common steel loop, winding in 5 feet of cable on the hoist pulls all 4 cables 5 feet up at same time. Make sure the winch cable alone is able to pull the weight of the shell .... & maybe run it on a ****** block set up?

 

Thanks for the suggestion!
I had a similar setup (with 2X4's) to take the top off of my Bronco.
I ended up using my engine hoist for the "lift", and then just lowered the top onto some sawhorses, but that was a LOT shorter top.

I do like the idea of using a boat winch, with 4 lines going into one.
Question:
Would it be best to use pressure treated lumber, or standard?
Just wondering which would be the strongest in this application.
I used standard lumber for the Bronco top, but this one has got to weigh twice as much.

 

And, instead of starting a whole new thread...
I just got the BedRug-BedMat installed this weekend.

I made a template out of cardboard, and only needed scissors and a utility knife to cut it.
Pretty slick setup, though I do need another pic of it installed.
(The dogs were too anxious to get their first ride in the new truck,
so we headed out to the lake and postponed the final install picture at this point)

 

If it's exposed to weather, I'ld use treated.

But if it's not exposed, good SYP 2x4s or if just plain white wood, I'ld use 2x6s if the cap is as heavy as I think. It is something I'ld try to pick my lumber for.

 

It'll be in an enclosed shop, so I've got that part covered...pun intended.
I thought treated lumber might be a little bit stronger is all.

It is tough to find decent lumber anymore.
I refer to it as "archery grade".

 

[QUOTE=1clean42;4843029]I agree with BlueJay, looks nice. Does that front part flow through into the cab? I have considered a camper since I got a dog, but am afraid she'd be too hot back there. From my brother's Facebook - newer dodge at Walmart one time with a window unit connected to a generator lol. Not to mention the crappy-fitting camper top


I know this is a month old post but thought I would share:

I have the ARE Z series cap on my truck as well as the bedrug inside. I have hauled dogs in it this way for over 10 yrs. In the winter temp isn't a problem as it doesn't get real cold, at least here in NC. In the summer I would open the front cap window( also fold down ) and open both side windows on the cap and they got plenty of air flow through there. I also have a small fan with velcro on the bottom that sticks anywhere on the bedrug I put it. I run it to my power port I have in the cap via 12v/120v ac converter. I will use this if it gets real hot moving the dogs from our house in NC for a short drive to one in VA on the lake.I never leave them in the back and stop anywhere if its even semi warm. All red truck sucks up the sun and it gets pretty warm in there sitting still even with a fan..
Never took it off over the yrs although I thought of it a few times. Have a large 8x10 trailer to haul tall stuff if needed...

WD40.1 . Your truck looks great..

Here is mine...

 

Thanks!
And, I told you the pups were anxious to go!
That's Sadie (7 years) on the left, and Josephine (13 years) on the right.



I added my own "pet guards", so Sadie doesn't stick her nose through the screen.
Josephine is fine, but Sadie gets a little anxious, especially if she spots a deer alongside the road.
It's 1/4" galvanized mesh with stainless washers where I removed/reinstalled the window trim fasteners.



Just when parked I take it?
Did you just let it hang from the hinge, or how did you support it?
(Maybe you just meant the slider...I wasn't sure)

I'm actually liking this setup now.
I just have 9 fasteners to pop out (like door trim fasteners) and the rug comes right out leaving the bedliner to haul whatever I need to.