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01:10:02 - 12/20/2024
General Dakota Board
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V1
Dodge Dakota
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5/15/2005
17:09:19
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 Subject: Camper Shell
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My Husband is being transfered from Ga to Tx, and we need to buy a shell for our 03 Dakota to haul the stuff we dont trust the movers with. Never had a shell on a pickuk before; please educate and advise us. We need a durable, secure, and waterproof shell to protect our irreplaceable possessions that we accumulated in the 15 years my husband has been stationed all over the world serving the USA.
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Dan M
Dodge Dakota
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5/15/2005
23:01:36
| RE: Camper Shell
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There are alot of companies that make the fiber glass covers that are locking and fit flat with the bed .. ie not as high as the cab.
Likewise alot of companies that make the taller (same height or above) as the cab. Some of those have no windows so you can't see inside, these are mainly for work trucks.
alot of accessory stores sell both, some only sell the flat ones. Also some outdoor stores sell ones that look like the soft tonneaus and can lock and you can even walk on them. Bass Pro shops comes to mind.
I had one of the tall ones with windows on my old ranger, never had a problem with people stealing my stuff though i never left anything in it for a long period of time.
You have plenty of options when it comes to what you require. Spend a few minutes looking at online yellow pages for accessory shops, many have websites listed right there.
- Dan M
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Stick Shift
Dodge Dakota
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5/16/2005
01:42:20
|  RE: Camper Shell
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Fist some clarification. I assume you mean a "camper shell", aka "truck canopy" or "cap" that fits on top of the bed sides as opposed to a "slide-in camper" which may have a stove, fridge, bed, etc.
Canopies are are held on with 4 aluminum "C" clamps inside the bed rail, which works just fine. They don't fall off. Undo the clamps and two people can lift it off the truck. They seal to the top of the bed rails in one of two ways. Either foam tape applied to the underside of the canopy - don't let some stupid installer put it on your bed rails - or a "bulb seal" that is one or more rubber tubes attached to the bottom of the canopy. My experience with extended and quad cabs is those that rise above the cab will cut your miliage because they cause a second resistance to airflow. On a regular cab, the airflow at the back of the cab is still lifting so the tall canopy fills the low pressure area, mileage may not be affected. Some dealers will tell you the tall canopys will get you better miliage as a general rule, not so.
Generaly you get what you pay for as long as you find the dealer with the best price. Aluminum shells are $200-300 - you could cut them open with a big knife. I've always had fiberglass shells. My latest is a "Vision", cost me $895. Another dealer wanted $1100 for the same shell. It wraps down around the back of the cab to meet the wrap-around on the bed. GlasTite, Leer and Snug Top are well know brands but a bit more money. Raven by GlasTite, is OK and a little less $. CarryBoys are really nice and expensive. You might find someone closing something out for a bargain. If you plan to put valuables in, get a lock for your truck's tailgate; most dealers have them and there should be some aftermarket ones. That is unless the dog will be guarding them - full time. The best advice is to shop every dealer in your area. Watch out for BS. Get the price including installation. Check the web for a dealer where you are moving to, for whatever you buy, so you could have him do warranty work if necessary. Good luck.
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