Truck topper question , who has a Tall topper

[stonewall]

Last year I went full out trying to keep the dust out . Adhesive foam rubber around the tail gate and expanding foam in the sides of the bed .
It seemed to help but it was fourth rifle and the roads were covered in snow .
I put a diesel heater in it , cheap $100 , and with the windows open it was still too warm on the lowest setting.

Can you link the products you used?
You talking Home Depot spray can foam?
Thx

 

[il_cop]

Re: fuel economy. I never drove my truck without the topper so can't compare before and after and I don't drive in a town/city but I get 19 -20 mpg in my '22 ram 3500 with an ARE MX unloaded.

I plan to drive this truck to its end, but if I don't I'll always have a tall topper, for all the reasons mentioned before.

 

[insanelupus]

I prefer the taller toppers. Far more options/uses and allow me to get more use of them, including for camping. Sure, they may not look as svelte, but then I've not been that svelte myself for decades!

 

[CRJR45]

Can you link the products you used?
You talking Home Depot spray can foam?
Thx

Yes , for the interior side of the bed where all the cutouts were I took cheap foam sponges to stuff in and around each hole to frame it , then used the large gap great stuff to seal it up .
Still there after a year .
This is the heater I used , it was chintzy looking but worked great .
I did substitute a marine gas tank instead of what they supplied but theirs would’ve worked fine.
I had a hole were a fifth wheel hitch was in the center of my bed so I mounted it there and covered it with the sleeping platform .
Ran the exhaust out the bottom one way and the intake the other .

The control is the square thing and the round thing is where the heat comes out .
The heater is under the bed .

https://a.co/d/05H5GCSc

 

[CRJR45]

I made the frame so I could take it apart when I wasn’t camping , it’s stands up next to my freezer .
The green ratchet strap goes around the frame and “clamps” it to the side wall .
The plywood just lifts out for storage or to be stored.
The air mattress is cheap from Wallyworld but works great . Comes with a 12 v pump
JUST MAKE SURE TO DEFLATE IT WHEN YOU ATTAIN ALTITUDE , ask me how I know ,

 

[Weldor]

Excellent thread, I just sold my topper and put a quad hard tonneau on my truck. Went back to a 9x12 tent and cot, 6'4" so getting in and out of my 3/4 ton was a pain. Ram bed height is crazy, you need a small ladder to get in without tearing up your shin's. The topper is great for hauling a ton of gear, but at 65 I'm down sizing all the gear I used to carry. If I need a bigger camp to go out of state I still have my 16" enclosed trailer.

 

[7mm-08]

Here are a few videos from YouTube that I suggest OP watch before he wades into the truck bed sealing effort - trust me, its a rabbit hole. I also highly suggest a mechanism to provide positive pressure to the canopy when driving on dusty roads. Even opening the front window of the canopy between the canopy and bed is a great idea.

 

[CRJR45]

I used the butyl also .
But it seems like a carpet kit would seal all that up .
I did watch those videos and more .
I got most of my ideas from this site

Take The Truck | Truck Camping & Overland Travel

How we fixed up an old pickup, and set out on a life of truck camping and overlanding adventures. And how you can too!

www.takethetruck.com

 

[CRJR45]

Excellent thread, I just sold my topper and put a quad hard tonneau on my truck. Went back to a 9x12 tent and cot, 6'4" so getting in and out of my 3/4 ton was a pain. Ram bed height is crazy, you need a small ladder to get in without tearing up your shin's. The topper is great for hauling a ton of gear, but at 65 I'm down sizing all the gear I used to carry. If I need a bigger camp to go out of state I still have my 16" enclosed trailer.

I thought about a trailer but it would have to stored 10.5 months out of the year .
And my 3/4 is awkward to get in and out also .

 

[BRTreedogs]

My buddy has a bed rug. It seems legit and takes a lot of abuse.
They call it carpet, but I think it mite actually be a little more plastic then a fiber.

We toss bloody ducks and whatever in the back and it always seems fine

 

[CRJR45]

My buddy has a bed rug. It seems legit and takes a lot of abuse.
They call it carpet, but I think it mite actually be a little more plastic then a fiber.

We toss bloody ducks and whatever in the back and it always seems fine

I’m talking a whole bed carpet system like this one . Seals the sides and the tailgate ?
Anybody ?

https://a.co/d/03IIrC8r

 

[BRTreedogs]

I’m talking a whole bed carpet system like this one . Seals the sides and the tailgate ?
Anybody ?

https://a.co/d/03IIrC8r

Yep that’s what he has.
I think they work pretty well.
I have a decked drawer system, but if I didn’t I would have a bed rug.

 

[LookinforDirt]

I have a mid height Leer 180 XR. I got the extra height for headroom when camping in it. I made a 16” tall bed platform. I can sit on that platform and my head just touches the roof. Makes it easier to get dressed and put on boots in the mornings. I made the platform as tall as I could without having to bend over when sitting on it. The taller platform allows me to fit larger bins under it. I lost at most 1 mpg after adding the cap. I think more like .5 mpg.

The carpet you linked looks like it would do a great job keeping dust out. I’ll still occasionally empty the back of mine and use it for “truck stuff”. Once in awhile I will spray the bed out with a hose to clean it. I didn’t want to permanently block areas allowing water to drain out of the bed. I use a Bedrug Impact mat for the floor. Tough surface over closed cell foam. Gives me a smooth surface and takes away all the pain of crawling around on your hands and knees. I stuff long strips of foam around the edges of it to keep dust from coming in where the bed floor meets the bed walls. I used a tailgate sealing kit and also strategically placing seals in gaps to seal the tailgate. Pics are before I sealed it.

 

[BCsteve]

I did the tall topper for sleeping in the back of the truck for a few years. The extra height was definitely an advantage…..until your wife takes the truck to go shopping and tries to park in the underground lot! Lol

 

[HiMtnHntr]

I have a leer 180 mid height also. I also have decked storage. I haven’t slept in it yet but plan to with a shorter cot. So far still fits everything I’ve needed to store in it. Need to look into this diesel heater thing…

 

[CRJR45]

I have a leer 180 mid height also. I also have decked storage. I haven’t slept in it yet but plan to with a shorter cot. So far still fits everything I’ve needed to store in it. Need to look into this diesel heater thing…

If I did the diesel heater again I’d make it a stand alone unit and bring it in through an outlet like this .

Amazon.com: Quick Connect Diesel Heater Wall Port Kit, 3" Locking Hose Adapter, Adjustable 360° Airflow, Easy Install for Trucks, Vans, Campers, Trailers, Workshops : Automotive

Buy Quick Connect Diesel Heater Wall Port Kit, 3" Locking Hose Adapter, Adjustable 360° Airflow, Easy Install for Trucks, Vans, Campers, Trailers, Workshops: Fittings - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

a.co

 

[Mosby]

I wanted to get a mid rise for my new Jeep Gladiator but they aren't offered by ARE or LEER. I think it would be more functional. I ended up ordering a cab high Leer a couple days ago.

 

[CRJR45]

I wanted to get a mid rise for my new Jeep Gladiator but they aren't offered by ARE or LEER. I think it would be more functional. I ended up ordering a cab high Leer a couple days ago.

Leer doesn’t make a 122 for my Silverado anymore.
But Century makes a T Class that’s the same shape .
Century is a sister company to Leer so I’ve read .
Might check that first ?

 

[rharbaugh]

Lots of cool ideas in here. Especially the covers for the side windows and carpet flooring.

I went with a can high topper then put a decked system in. There have been plenty of times that I wished I had more space between the deck and ceiling.

The deck system is cool and easy for folks like me who don’t have the skills and tools to build a DIY platform. The deck top is slicker than hell and would greatly benefit from a carpet or mat. It is super handy with two kids and a dog.

I egotistically put roof racks on my topper for a more sportier, less old man look. Honestly have never used them. Next truck/topper combo will be an above cab topper with fold up side windows and another decked.

 

[signing off]

A sealing suggestion that I have not personally tried on a truck.
Shoot a bead of RTV on a non moving surface and lay Saran wrap across it . Close the hatch, door, whatever and wait for the stuff to cure. BAM, custom seal and peel away the Saran wrap. Can't get more exact of a fit .