Two new camper shells seen at SEMA

Hello everyone! We just got home from the Las Vegas show and as promised I shot 436 photos total, 128 of which are Ridgeline related. I will try to post them in the order of importance to the majority of our members. So, here are two of the pre-production prototype camper shells being developed for this years SEMA show. The first one we came across was the model from LEER. Very nice! With integral lock utilizing the signal from the key. Mounting uses existing holes located in the bed with roof rack options for all the action sports. Leer’s effort was very good in fit & finish. The second example was from A.R.E. and featured a side opening window. It too, utilized stock mounting holes. No drilling required on either model. The A.R.E. shell retains the use of the tie-down hooks as well as the cargo lights. Again, very good fit and finish. I’ll let the photos speak for themselves. Enjoy!

Sorry Gang! Photos are towards the end of the post. I was trying to "give back some band width"

Good job with great attention to detail. I know there are many people waiting for news on these toppers.

I like the ARE one, they did a great job color matching :p

I'm wonderin' if the fit to the cab, on both models, will result in wind noise. I was hoping for something a bit more flush with the roof line.

I'm not trying to start a debate, but what are the advantages of a Ridgeline with one of these shells and a Pilot or Element? I don't know much about the latter two.

I like the look of the Leer better. The side windows follow the angled lines of the bed, which just seems to flow better. The ARE side windows look like they were running out of time and decided to stick in stock square windows. In addition, I don't like how the ARE overlaps the bed (for lack of a better word) wings. I am happy to see more accessories popping up on the market.

Great pics, 5SDude. Thank you for posting them.

Although I am not in the market for such a cap, they do look really nice on the Ridgelines.

Hmmm... six and one-half dozen of the other....

The Leer certainly has better fit and exterior looks, while the ARE has much better internal fit and finish... Since it appears that the ARE comes up higher, that might give a tad more room, but also could ad wind-noise as well...

gonna have to wait for some brave souls to get one or the other... :-)

Thanks for the pics, much appreciated.

I'm so torn between the two. The Leer cap is by far the better looking from the outside but the inside seems to much better engineered for the ARE. I also like how the ARE seats higher up on the roof line than the Leer, seems ARE is a bit more flush and possibly and inch more height room. Inside the Leer seems to have bulges near the rear window, the ARE looks all nice and flush inside around the cargo lights and hooks. Basically I don't like ARE's side window design and their rear tailgate window. I'm guessing these are rushed prototypes for the show so I'm going to wait until I can see final production pics of both caps before I make a decision.

I am underwhelemed by both....com'on Swishman send me that tonneau!!!!

Great pics.....thanks for taking these....

Like several others, I'm really torn -- and I do need a topper. I've had an A.R.E, and it was a super product, but I like the way the Leer looks on the exterior.... better lines that flow with the Ridgeline design!

Thanks again:D

I'm not trying to start a debate, but what are the advantages of a Ridgeline with one of these shells and a Pilot or Element? I don't know much about the latter two.
I reckon the Ridgeline's bed is more heavy duty and forgiving when used to haul cargo.

I like the looks of the Leer better, but I don't think I would even want a cap on my truck. I would rather have the tonneau cover, like the retrax. If I had dogs to ride in the back, I would probably go with a cap. Since I don't, I would probably be better off with an SUV instead of a truck with a cap. Just my opinion. :cool:

I like the Leer cap, and if I had the space to store it when it wasn't on my truck may actually consider it. I think it would be useful for moving camping geer without it getting wet, and for other things that are a little higher than a cover would allow for. The advantage to a cap over just getting an SUV is that it is still a truck bed so when you need to deal with the truck bed it is there. Even though the Element has a washable interior it is still not quite as versatile as a truck bed can be. Of course if you need to move about more people then an SUV is going to be a better choice.

So far though I really haven't had a need for something like this so I guess it will make more sense to consider it when I get to the point that it really is a utility for what I use my truck for.

Did anyone else notice that with both models there is no Factory Roof Rack on the Ridgelines? The A.R.E. model looks as if the Roof Rack might be in the way. See the Second to last picture.

Nick

thank you for posting comparisons.

I agree with all of you that leer looks better outside and more functional with FOB tailgate. Since I am not going inside and really want a FOB tailgate, there is really not a choice but go with Leer with the roof rack.

then again cost will always be the final factor.

My vote goes to the ARE. It looks like it belongs on the truck, not just an afterthought. For my taste, the exterior lines are much better. The interior also is finished very nicely. Both caps seem to take away the unique eye appeal of the Ridgeline, or lack thereof for those that do not like it.

i've always wondered what our Ridge's would look like with a camper in the back...and I was right, they look horrible :(

Well, for what it's worth,

I didn't buy my Ridgeline because it LOOKED like the coolest truck being made - in my opinion. The looks had to grow on me. In fact, I'm still not blown away by any means.

I bought it because it DOES the coolest stuff of any truck being made "when it comes to my demands on it".

I'll have a Leer Canopy on my truck the first day it's here.
I want one of my trucks to have a dry cargo bed in the inclimate weather we have here in Oregon.
I want to take my two Great Danes with on rainy days.
I want to lock up cargo overnight without having to off-load everything I took the time to load.

Plenty of reasons for me to...'er....."shell" out the bucks.

One thing about feeling one way or another is that's it's really not up for debate. It's a feeling.

I think that all the different directions this group are going with their rides, as they personalise them, is a great thing to watch. Everyone has their reasons for the mods and options they choose.

We are all pretty fortunate to have choices like these to ponder over. Things could be a lot different. Ask any of our troops overseas.

Oh.....did I say that "outloud"? LOL

Amen! Mike. Thats why we all live in the land of the free so we can choose what fits and what does not.:D

Maybe it is just me, or my computer, but I don't see ANY pictures, just the descriptions.

Maybe it is just me, or my computer, but I don't see ANY pictures, just the descriptions.

Don't feel like the Lone Ranger...I can't see the pictures either.

Don't feel like the Lone Ranger...I can't see the pictures either.

Thanks. I thought I had gone image blind or something. Maybe they were copyrighted and had to be removed as per forum policy.

Nope no pics here either.
Mike T I agree 100% so anyone got pics of these installed now?

Here come da photos!

These pics were here last year when Ron made the posts. We'll have to see why he pulled them off a few weeks ago. I'm gathering that's what he did when he made the edits on all those posts.

What's the scoop on the old missing photos, Ron?

A few more!

Last five!

One last photo! These are all from SEMA 2005 and SEMA 2006 is just two short weeks away!........

These pics were here last year when Ron made the posts. We'll have to see why he pulled them off a few weeks ago. I'm gathering that's what he did when he made the edits on all those posts.

What's the scoop on the old missing photos, Ron?

Sorry Pam, I thought it would give back some bandwidth! Our members are still interested so I put um all back........

Man I feel like a doofus. Where's the pictures?
Jimbolaya

Hi everyone,

Got a couple of questions.

1. Anyone here with a tonneau and wished they had bought the cap instead?What are your reasons.

2.Anyone with a cap on a buyers remorse mode wishing they had gotten a tonneau instead. Could you please share it here.

Thanks a whole lot.

Marylandridge

Man I feel like a doofus. Where's the pictures?
Jimbolaya

There back on page three of this thread........

Y U K Y !

I feel sick.
http://www.sbcompserv.com/images/throwup.gif

http://home.woh.rr.com/mikemercury/forumicons/throw-up.gif

Hi everyone,

Got a couple of questions.

1. Anyone here with a tonneau and wished they had bought the cap instead?What are your reasons.

2.Anyone with a cap on a buyers remorse mode wishing they had gotten a tonneau instead. Could you please share it here.

Thanks a whole lot.

Marylandridge

Here's my 2 cents. I like the tonneau because I can fold it in half and put it in my back seat when I need to haul something bigger than will fit under a cap which is my roto tiller, my riding mower, etc. I can't tell you the number of times I tried to haul something up in my Ford Ranger with hi top cap and had to go back home to dump the 250 lb cap because it would not fit under said cap. If you put your dogs in the back or something, the cap would be perfect. My dog can't breathe very well under my tonneau but has learned to hold his breath because I'm too cheap to buy the cap. (Just kidding about the dog thing before I get flamed.)

Have the Leer shell - mainly for the Poodles when they're wet or dirty!:p

I ave the Retrax and have been very happy with it. It is a good piece of equipment. Have had two of them, both on Hondas. That said, when we had our evacuation for hurricane Rita my cats were stuffed into their carriers and they stayed there for 36 hours. Not exactly fair to the 3 cats. We were in the car for 36 hours too but could get out every so often. Am now getting a cap (A.R.E.) so they can ride in the back in a 4x4 place. I can open the rear window and get them some cool air and they can ride with the side windows open for ventilation. To my way of thinking, the cap is the way to go if you have pets. On evacuations I will also be pulling a 8' trailer with 18 gallons of extra gas, water and different things, like food, paper plates. Hopefully this time I will not have to idle for 100 miles and get 5 miles to the gallon. I do NOT wish an evacuation on anyone. Also if we get to a motel and they don't allow pets, the cats will have a place to live.

I have an 06 RTL and have been thinking of shell cap for advertising purposes, I do not want to wrap the whole truck, and could use the space of a cap for some marketing of my pool biz....are these things a pain to remove? and who makes the best unit.

i like them both and have 2 dogs that do not ride in the truck because they shed a lot and the hairs can get in my eyes which is not fun ...

i'm leaning towards the A.R.E. just because of the opening side glass. though the leer looks better. question to the OP...can you open them from inside the bed? say if you were to use it to camp out of the back of it? would you be screwed if someone shut ya in there? and do either lock to allow you to lock the back tailgate?

would love to know the cost and where they can be purchased.

i'm leaning towards the A.R.E. just because of the opening side glass. though the leer looks better.
Don't the Leer side windows open too, but pop out at the bottom? I thought they did, altho' you can't see it well in the pics.

Yes they both open.

I have the ARE and you turn a knob to open the back window from in the bed. My dogs love the shell, but rear visibility does get worse.

...but rear visibility does get worse.

Yeah, like that could happen.:D

How do the caps and the cover effect gas milage? Or is the vehicle most efficient without any modification?

Sorry to say, but it looks kinda out of place and "bolt on," :eek:

So, once you have the Leer on your truck, how do you get it off conveniently? I just had mine installed today.

Answer: I discovered www.topcaplift.com. This guy is a one garage operation. Once I get a quote back from him on price, I will post it here. Meanwhile, he has pictures of how this works with one person and a crank, pulling the topper up to the rafters of your garage.

He wants $249 for the lift, but says he has never had a request for one on the Ridgeline. He understands that the Leer has a sloped rail and is not sure how that will work with his system. As I understand his design, I don't think it should be a problem.

I like the ARE cap much better. To me, the Leer cap looks as if it may fall off if you press on the gas too hard. I think it looks cool on the pimped out Ridgeline at the SEMA convention (in the pics on the forum), but the accent paint in the pictures makes it look much better than it does on a regular Ridgeline. To me, it looks as if the designer from Leer let his kid design it during "bring our children to work day".

The ARE cap follows the Ridgeline's cab lines realy well and copies the cabs window frames pretty accurately. I like the added "head" room. To me, it looks like it is part of the truck and not an after thought.

I would prefer the beauty of my Ridgeline w/o a Cap. I'm a DJ (as the screen name implies :D ) and the whole purpose of buying the truck was for hauling gear. A toneau cover wouldn't be enough, I need the height too....plus I'm planning on getting a dog soon too.

This thread goes back pretty far...I'm posting on 4/6/08. I ordered my ARE cap a week ago. As I was researching both canopys, I got multiple reports of long term issues with the Leer canopy regarding fit and water leakage. Several dealers I spoke with (when I was price shopping the ARE) said they were no longer carrying the Leer...for whatever that's worth. I purchased my ARE Canopy from CAP City in Danbury, CT. Cap City Danbury - Truck Caps, Lids, Accessories (http://capcitydanbury.com/) for $1795.00 installed. Not the cheapest in the tri-state but with gas at $3.65/gallon on 93, @ 16-21 mpg, it's cheaper not to drive from CT to Long Island or Jersey to save $50.00 :rolleyes:

Thanx for all the great info above and for thoise spectacular pix from the SEMA show. -Z- :cool:

I've read a lot about about the tailgate gasket for the Retrax. It apparently keeps dirt out of the truck bed (apparently, when you have a cover, it creates a vaccum and basically sucks up dirt into the bed). If you install a truck cap, do you need to install a tailgate gasket for the same purposes?

ARE gets my vote...

The A.r.e. Are Great Looking But Around Here(middle Ga) They Go For $2100.00 To $2500.00.thats Just To Much For A Fibershell.

The A.r.e. Are Great Looking But Around Here(middle Ga) They Go For $2100.00 To $2500.00.thats Just To Much For A Fibershell.

Yeah, I can't believe how expensive shells are nowadays. I remember back in the mid-90's shells were like $800 brand new. I don't think they are even worth what they are priced at today. I guess I'm getting old. :rolleyes: