Well, I’m buying a new truck this week and will need to purchase either a tonneau cover or a topper. What do you guys suggest. I’m definitely leaning towards a topper for the added room, but is there a preference to brands, dealers, etc.
I’ve never purchased a topper before, so about how much $ do they run? Is it worth searching for a used one, or is new the way to go? Thanks,
Lars
My “Leer” brand, In Fisherman model came with rod holders on the inside roof and a canoe/boat/kayak rack on top. Interior is carpeted, with lights and sliding cab window that is hinged to drop down to clean the truck’s cab window when the topper is on. I love it and paid around $800 with matching paint. 
Plus a free fishing pole! 
If you are spending the money on a new truck I would spend the little extra and get a topper to match. 
Do dealerships typically have a partnership with a topper supplier. I’d like to get the topper $ added into my loan.
Yes, they usually always work with a topper dealer and it can be added in to the loan.
We are on our first topper, love it! We have a Jason, all brands are really very close in construction and price, I have looked at them all. We have the “sportsmans special”, has the side windoors/shelf going across the front of box and the rear sliding windows with screen.
The windoors/shelf are great for easy access to smaller items, anything I use often is on that shelf. And the screen windows are great for the dogs, they love it back there!
P.S. Makes a real good summer time “hotel room” as well, spent many fishing trips and pheasant trips in the back of the truck. Sleeping bag/air mat. and the buddy heater for the real cold days.
BIRDDOG
They might, or if you found one, they could fiquire out how to add the money in for you if they are doing the financing.
Leer makes a good topper, definatly a leader, I had a glasstite, and was very happy with it as well. they can get pretty spendy, depending on what options you what on it.
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P.S. Makes a real good summer time “hotel room” as well
That’s the biggest reason for a topper over a tonneau. I spent plenty of nights in the back of the Tahoe as opposed to a wet tent. I really don’t want to lose that option.
I might be in the minority here, but I prefer my tonneau cover. It’s not watertight under there but better than I expected, and if I have to put something a little larger in the bed it rolls up out of the way. Good luck on your decision
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I might be in the minority here, but I prefer my tonneau cover. if I have to put something a little larger in the bed it rolls up out of the way.
I have a vinyl one, it does the job. Its great to keep a few things out of the weather. Its a bear to put back on in the winter and I hate it. You cannot lock anything up in there is another drawback. I do like the ease of pulling it off and hauling most anything.
I’d prefer to have a topper, but have never owned one before. Being I haul a few oversized things, I’d have to take it off.
I would not get a rigid tonneau cover. They cost nearly as much as a topper. They almost always need to be propped up to haul stuff, and thats not good for them.
Being I’m considering a topper too. Who has a topper and what do they hate about them.
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Who has a topper and what do they hate about them.
There is nothing I hate about them. Dry, secure, and the best part I get a lot less call about helping people move after installing one.
I own a Raven made by Glasstite.
Ron
Topper all the way, I just have a cheap one on mine, ran across a good deal, A color match fiberglass one is really nice, nice to have a fairly secure place to keep you stuff too, the only downside you lose some visability looking backwards, like backing the boat in wise, but I’ve learned to deal with it.
Check out this place in East Bethel, http://www.topatruck.com. I found a nice matching fiberglass topper for my truck, at 1/2 the price of new.
Hey Shoot,
I have a vinyl roll up and for about 8 months a year I love it…the other 4 months I REALLY wish I had a topper. I have been kicking around getting a topper to replace the soft cover. I would go with the topper……my next truck will have one for sure.
JB
I am really getting sick of looking for trucks online. I drove to Eden Prairie yesterday for a test drive, but the truck sold 3 hours before I got there. 
3 more trucks I found today have sold already.
And now, since I’ve been looking for a week, I’m really starting to confine my search to a specific truck. That is just making it more difficult.
I think I’ve looked at every dealership that has a website in the state of MN, and called 1/2 of them.
Just call a good dealer and tell them what you want, they can find you one. Not sure where you work, but the company you work for may give you the ability to talk to a fleet division dealer, they can find you what you want, I know the guys were buying them for a $100 over invoice. I know the guys at my work have used a fleet service before. You are looking for a chevy right? I know there is a person or two who works for ford on IDA.
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You are looking for a chevy right? I know there is a person or two who works for ford on IDA.
Why do we NOT have a chevy salesman here.
I am going to get a new one soon.
I would highly suggest looking for a used topper to fit your truck. You can pick up a used one a heck of a lot cheaper than new. I paid 250 for a used glass topper in perfect condition – that is way better than the 1200 retail tag! A body shop (or friend you may have in the business) can paint it to match your truck color. Used topper price plus a couple hundred(or less) for a paint job is a lot cheaper. A friend of mine had his painted for 50 bucks to match his new truck.
I dislike tonneau covers – because it seems like I always have something that sticks up to high(bucket of ice rods….etc). I would not be without a topper.
Tim
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You are looking for a chevy right? I know there is a person or two who works for ford on IDA.
Why do we NOT have a chevy salesman here.
I am going to get a new one soon.
Call me, I have one in my back pocket! I am serious
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Do dealerships typically have a partnership with a topper supplier. I’d like to get the topper $ added into my loan.
Can make that happen too 
If you guys are looking to buy a truck, I would suggest Josh Ritenour at Midway Chev in St Paul. My uncle is a good friend of the owner and Tom and Josh took great care of us. We got a very good deal on trade in and a very low price on the new truck. I had been looking for 4 months and been to many dealerships. I thought I had picked out exactly what I wanted. They let me drive the new truck, without them with, up to my house in Brooklyn Park, hook up the boat, and take it for a real test drive. I was not happy, due to the wrong rear end ratio. I took it back, they helped figure out better what I needed and the next had the new one in the garage. 2 weeks later we asked him find a used Impala for the wife as well. We gave him again what we were looking for and a week later had 3 to choose from. I have never had that kind of service before.
As for toppers I went with a Raven from Glasstite as well.
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They let me drive the new truck, hook up the boat, and take it for a real test drive. I was not happy, due to the wrong rear end ratio. I took it back, they helped figure out better what I needed
Was it a half ton with a 5.3? Did you go from a 3.73 to a 4.10?
Yes it was a half ton with a 5.3. The standard rear end ratio on my 06 was 3.42. It was extra for the 3.73, which is what I went with. I couldn’t believe the difference. The 3.42’s help with better fuel economy and would be fine if I wasn’t pulling a 20′ walleye boat.
Ahh… The 3.42. Yes they may be good for mileage and thats about it. I didn’t know you could still get the 3.42 in the trucks, I thought it was only 3.73 and 4.10.
Hey shoot, just make sure you get tires with extra grip 
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