Truck bed topper year round?

Early in adulthood I avoided the topper, I feared it would identify me as a old married guy, but these days what identifies me as an old married guy is essentially my general gray haired and grizzled appearance and ring on my hand which no truck or truck accessories currently manufactured can override so I find the benefits of the topper to lead me to have it on more than its off. I'm in snow country and carry a ton of stuff around daily, half of which doesn't fit under a tonneau cover so that's what works. I do have a stand I built the same height as my truck bed that allows me to remove and install it by myself in 10-15min.
 
Most trucks now have such deep beds that you cannot access anything in them from the side without climbing up on a tire. My shell stays on my truck year round.
 
I have had a topper on my past two trucks and recently added a decked drawer system. I live an urban life and don’t haul too much big stuff. Occasionally I regret having it when I need to haul something big.

Otherwise I love the fact I have a weather tight space that I can lock. Two dog crates, kids stroller, etc are in the back frequently.

If you do add one do yourself a favor and add some led strip lights both inside and near the tailgate on a toggle switch or two.


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Year around for me now. Not hauling goose necks or 5th wheels anymore. I made a retriever from an old golf ball thingy, put a hook on it. works great for grabbing stuff in the front of the bed or shoving stuff up there.
 
Yes, I have Yakima tracks and 4 small SST eye bolts right over the track mounting bolts. Then S-hooks on the ropes.
How long have you had this set up? I am planning to rig up a hoist - I like your idea, but concerned the tracks may not hold up long term with that much weight hanging from them. It does seem a lot easier than doing 2x4s or something under the topper that the hoist connects to.
 
How long have you had this set up? I am planning to rig up a hoist - I like your idea, but concerned the tracks may not hold up long term with that much weight hanging from them. It does seem a lot easier than doing 2x4s or something under the topper that the hoist connects to.

A while. What kind of weight are you talking about? Mine weighs maybe 200 total. That’s about 50/lug. The lugs are directly over the track mounting screws.


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I take mine off when not hunting out west. I take my dog box in and out with a skid loader. Also can’t use the gooseneck hitch with a topper on. And last but not least I would end up breaking every window with firewood if I left it on. I definitely like having it on for keeping things dry and the easy of not needing to secure everything all the time but it just dosent work for me.
 
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