i just bought this one for $50 thinking it would be awfully handy for storing parts, tools, etc...plus i can camp in it...

but does it look like shit?...its not my daily driver so i dont care too much about style points.

lets hear about/see what you guys have in the way of camper shell and your opinions

http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr193/honkdonkey/truck.jpg

http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr193/honkdonkey/PA120007.jpg

I think its alot More practical then those fiberglass ones with the windows in it. At least it has storage in the sides and on top so that you can keep your stuff organized and not just tossed in the rear. And for $50 I think you did good.

I have a regular fiberglass one that I sleep in when out wheeling/camping. Sure beats setting up tents that seem to leak, sleeping on rough ground, etc and nice to store supplies out of weather too.

Some folks don't like the way they look, but for $50 you did well w/ that one. I have a fiberglass topper and I like it. I lived out of a pickup for about four years, and the camper shell was key. I like them, keeps stuff dry, out of sight and camping is easy. Watch your blind spots with the solid sides on that thing. Good score.

You got a bargain for 50 bucks. Now you should paint a bunch of stars on it to match your rig

I have one very similar except the doors swing up instead of flipping down. I don't like the big blind spot, but it's a small price to pay for all the secure tools storage while keeping the bed de-cluttered.

My dad has an expensive name-brand queen size mattress permenently mounted in the back of his topper on a plywood platform that keeps the whole thing just above the wheel wells. This gives significant storage drawer space under the mattress to keep the bare essentials for camping. It's not as cushy as a 5th-wheel camper, but it makes camping 10 miles into the back country at the end of a jeep road not only possible but enjoyable. My parents take advantage of that on a regular basis.

I liked mine, and I paid SUBSTANTIALLY more than you did. I ended up destroying mine in a wreck, so its off now.

One thing I don't miss is the lack of visibility, and I had huge windows on each side of mine. It was bad when there would be moisture built up on the rear window, you couldn't see worth a shit sometimes. Especially at night with the tinted windows.

i'd a payed $50 for that

I think it looks good, I like the practicality of something like that, definitly worth the 50 bucks

A Reading contractors cap for $50???? Damn the last contractor cap I bought I paid $500 for it intalled on my long bed dodge service truck. The aluminum one on my DD cost $300. As others have said they are great for getting things out of the weather the one on my DD has a twin bed platform that is permently made up, the camping gear is stored underneath, all I have to do is load supplies and it is ready to head out I wish it had more head room (6'3") I have gotten around that with a tent that mounts off the back.

this cap i have will not be helping with air flow, and since i only drive it about once a week for about 10 miles (except for trips wheelin, camping, beach, etc.), i dont much care about gas mileage. its main use will be towing, when i only get like 10mpg anyway. i dont really notice it slowing me down; the 6.5 TDI does pretty well. the blind spots dont bother me because my DD has a similar style cap on it, only it has barn doors with no window on the back:

http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr193/honkdonkey/P8310086.jpg

i hadnt thought about building the back out other than wiring up my power inverter to run a small fan or heater, but its not a bad idea.

Building out a platform helps tremendously with storage and sleeping efficiency. It can become a bit cave like, but the separation of gear from sleeping compartment is unbeatable.
I would recommend making any sort of platform modular, so that you can still use parts of the bed space when needed for larger items. My most successful platform had four panels supported by removable cross pieces which sat inset into a perimeter frame. All wood, each panel could be removed individually. I will be building a new one prior to a Baja trip this winter for my newer truck, and will likely weld something for the frame. There are some good write ups on the web, particularly by cavers.

Me and all my friends just about own one. We leave them at my buddies farm (his dad straps then down on top of random crap to keep as much weather off it as he can). They are handy for trips, but I'd kill myself if I had to leave it on the truck 100% of the time. That lasted for about 2 weeks.

Chris

You should be able to get all the 44 stub shafts you'll need in that.:D