How Much Do Truck Caps Cost?
A truck cap is often purchased for a variety of reasons, but for the most part, truck owners will purchase one to create a weatherproof and secure storage space.
A basic truck cap, designed for your specific truck’s make and model, will align with your truck’s roof line and will have a rear window and simple cam lock to secure the cargo inside.
With many options available, truck owners will see a wide price range.
How much do truck caps cost?
The cost of a truck cap will greatly depend on the material it’s made of, the brand, the truck you’re driving and where you purchase it. On the market, there are three popular material options: aluminum, fiberglass and plastic. Aluminum, by far, will be the cheapest option, costs about $750 to $1,200 installed.
Fiberglass, on the other hand, will look great, and will be able to match your truck’s factory paint job; however, these caps will cost much more, often about $1,500 to $2,300 installed at a local professional shop.
Finally, composite, a relatively new option, will have a very little color option, but they offer a lot of features aluminum and fiberglass can’t offer you. A composite truck cap can cost anywhere from $1,100 to $2,100 professionally installed.
In the end, depending on the materials, a brand new truck cap can cost anywhere from $750 to $2,100 installed.
TopperWorld.net, a truck accessory superstore serving Gulfport, Mississippi, lists its pricing on its official website. Here, the ARE Z Series, a truck cap engineered to provided to create the best finish and fit possible, starts at $2,445 installed. Another option, the ARE Aluminum, is a lightweight, easily removable cargo cap, which starts at $995 installed.
With a range of well-known truck cap brands, some brands with no frills can cost as little as $700, whereas other brands can cost three times this amount.
Leer, for example, has been known to be in the high $1,000 to low $2,000 installed with a paint color match.
On this Ram1500Diesel.com forum thread, for example, one member said he was quoted $2,050 for a Leer 100XL cover and $2,500 for the A.R.E. Z series.
What are the extra costs?
While carpet lining is often included with most purchases, some won’t. Adding carpet inside of the cover isn’t really necessary, but it will just create a better look.
If the truck cap doesn’t come with a roof rack pre-installed, it may be added as an accessory, depending on the manufacturer. This option, when professionally installed, can add another $250 to $450 to the prices above.
Tips to know:
If you plan on toting around taller items, such as a couch, then you will want to consider a “high rise” topper with a lot of headroom.
If you plan on accessing the entire bed, then you will want a topper with side opening windows. Most commercial options will have this feature.
Most truck caps won’t have roof rails, so if you do plan on mounting something on top of your truck cap, then it’s wise to purchase one with a ladder and roof rails already installed.
Always make sure you measure your bed or know your truck’s exact make and model before purchasing a cap to ensure it fits.
Well-known brands on the market include ARE, ATC, Century, Jason, Leer, Raider, Snugtop and Unicover.
How can I save money?
A lot of truck toppers can be re-used and re-sold, even when you get rid of your truck. Since a lot of truck beds won’t change its dimensions that often, you can find quite a few used listings on eBay. As long as you know your truck’s exact make and model, you may be able to find a slightly used topper for half of the prices mentioned above. Tom Zizzo at Hubpages.com said you could find a used topper for as little as $500; however, if you were to buy used, he recommends researching, trying it on and always ask about the warranties included.
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