Truck Toppers: ARE vs. Leer

[ZR2inCO]

I bought a 2017 Chevy Colorado ZR2 last year and after having the truck for about 9 months, I'm starting to look into getting a topper. Not only does it open up your bed for more storage (and DIY storage systems), but will keep things dry! I've always driven a Wrangler in the past so truck based overlanding is new to me...

Looking around, I like the ARE Overland topper but it seems everyone with a truck like mine went Leer...Just hoping to get some opinions/info before moving forward so if you have a topper on your Colorado, Canyon, Tacoma, etc. I'd be curious to hear your thoughts!

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[motorpig60]

I have a Leer 100XR. I went to buy the 100XL, but the saleman actually talked me into the lower model. I take my dog with me on trips and the XR has half slider side windows, vs the XL, which has the SUV style pop out rears. So far, I am extremely happy.

I looked at Leer, ARE and Century, with Century and Leer supposedly made in the same factory. When it came down to it, I personally couldn't tell much of a difference between the three. I looked at it like a Ford vs Chevy question. For me, it came down to the closest dealer. The three similar caps were all within $100 of eachother, but make sure to call around because my local dealers differed by $125 on the exact same cap.

Be sure to check the websites too. They always have coupons that will give you a free headliner, tilt window, etc.

 

[ArkansasDon]

I just order this morning a Gator SR1 Roll-Up Tonneau Cover f0r my 2000 GMC z71

 

[phxdsrtrat]

There's a thread over on the coloradofans forum titled "Caps" that has several pages of pictures of different caps on the 2nd gen Colorado/Canyon. The predominant 2 are ARE and Leer. I went with the Leer 100XL and haven't regretted it.

-Curtiss

 

[Johnboy]

I went with an undercover tonneau top. They are extremely light weight, 50 to 60 lbs,and can be removed easily when you need to use your full truck bed for large items. And they keep the bed completely dry. The other tops that do not cover the bed rails will let some water in. I went thru the car wash yesterday, the ultimate test, and not a drop of water got into my truck bed.

 

[ZR2inCO]

There's a thread over on the coloradofans forum titled "Caps" that has several pages of pictures of different caps on the 2nd gen Colorado/Canyon. The predominant 2 are ARE and Leer. I went with the Leer 100XL and haven't regretted it.

-Curtiss

Do you have a link to the discussion? My searches aren't bringing up any results... Thanks for the info!

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[Cort]

I’ve owned both a leer and an ARE. They were both excellent. The only difference was the ARE plastic faded faster. I’d be happy with either in the future.

 

[ZR2inCO]

Probably good to add that my eventual plan would be to mount a RTT (or trailnest) on the top so something that can support the weight would be ideal...

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[phxdsrtrat]

Do you have a link to the discussion? My searches aren't bringing up any results... Thanks for the info!

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Here ya go...

http://coloradofans.com/forums/169-2nd-gen-appearance-body/201706-caps.html

-Curtiss

 

[Plisken]

I'm having an ARE CXHD topper installed soon. The dealer says it is rated for 500lbs while in motion, "much more" when stationary. He knows I plan to put a RTT on it. My question for this group is on the roof rack choices from Yakima. Should I go with the Corebar or the JetStream? I haven't settled 100% on a specific RTT but am considering both CVT and 23Zero.

 

[ZR2inCO]

I went with an undercover tonneau top. They are extremely light weight, 50 to 60 lbs,and can be removed easily when you need to use your full truck bed for large items. And they keep the bed completely dry. The other tops that do not cover the bed rails will let some water in. I went thru the car wash yesterday, the ultimate test, and not a drop of water got into my truck bed.

I've toyed with the idea of something like this too. Been looking at the Undercover Ridgelander cover that will allow me to throw a RTT on top of it. Looks good!

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[Overlandllama]

Our ARE topper was installed with an exo-skeleton that takes the weight of a 150lb RTT. The topper itself does not support the cargo weight. I like the system a lot and even though I lose a little bit of space with it, the exo skeleton's extruded bars offer plenty of attachment points.

View attachment 50237View attachment 50237

 

[Cort]

If you want to add to that skeleton system check this out: https://www.8020.net/

 

[ZR2inCO]

View attachment 50240 View attachment 50239

Our ARE topper was installed with an exo-skeleton that takes the weight of a 150lb RTT. The topper itself does not support the cargo weight. I like the system a lot and even though I lose a little bit of space with it, the exo skeleton's extruded bars offer plenty of attachment points.

View attachment 50237View attachment 50237

I've never seen anything like that before, awesome! I love the Overland cap, my favorite from ARE

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[ZR2inCO]

Anyone have one of these on their mid-sized truck? Very curious about what people actually think about it practically...

https://www.undercoverinfo.com/i-30122051-2015-2018-chevy-colorado-5-bed-undercover-ridgelander-truck-bed-cover.html#!year=2017||make=CHEVY||model=COLORADO


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[Plisken]

Anyone have one of these on their mid-sized truck? Very curious about what people actually think about it practically...

https://www.undercoverinfo.com/i-30122051-2015-2018-chevy-colorado-5-bed-undercover-ridgelander-truck-bed-cover.html#!year=2017||make=CHEVY||model=COLORADO


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I don't have any experience with it but really like the practicality of it, especially on a daily driver. An RTT would ride lower and it looks great. My question is would this still leave enough gear space for a family of 3 with an RTT for a week or two of overlanding?

 

[Francis84]

I have been looking into these as well, the ARE CX HD seems to be a good one...but the price, I'm not sure it is worth it as apposed to the Leitner Cargo System. It seems that for cost the Leitner work out to be the same in the long run, but you could buy it piece by piece. Plus until someone calls me or sends an email it looks like ARE doesn't make the HD for the F150 5.5ft bed. What are your thoughts?

 

[ZR2inCO]

I have been looking into these as well, the ARE CX HD seems to be a good one...but the price, I'm not sure it is worth it as apposed to the Leitner Cargo System. It seems that for cost the Leitner work out to be the same in the long run, but you could buy it piece by piece. Plus until someone calls me or sends an email it looks like ARE doesn't make the HD for the F150 5.5ft bed. What are your thoughts?

I like the Leitner Rack a lot but it bothers me that it's so tall, extending well above the height of the cab. It would bother me if I was in a full sized truck... Plus, having a weatherproof and secure bed sounds good for those rainy days/nights; or those spent driving around town

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[Plisken]

I have been looking into these as well, the ARE CX HD seems to be a good one...but the price, I'm not sure it is worth it as apposed to the Leitner Cargo System. It seems that for cost the Leitner work out to be the same in the long run, but you could buy it piece by piece. Plus until someone calls me or sends an email it looks like ARE doesn't make the HD for the F150 5.5ft bed. What are your thoughts?

I agree, the cost of the CXHD is overly high IMHO as well; however, the reason I am going that route is that my family rafts and does astronomy on our trips which frequently take us through "civilized" places where temptation is apparently too high for some folks. I'll spend the extra up front to ensure my telescopes aren't ripped off. The topper route is the only way to get the space I need to protect them and I want an RTT on it...hence the CXHD. I'll have Decked drawer system in the bed too so the devices that seal the bed at rail height just don't give me enough space for the astronomy trips. For everything else it would be better than the topper route though I believe.

 

[Plisken]

View attachment 50240 View attachment 50239

Our ARE topper was installed with an exo-skeleton that takes the weight of a 150lb RTT. The topper itself does not support the cargo weight. I like the system a lot and even though I lose a little bit of space with it, the exo skeleton's extruded bars offer plenty of attachment points.

View attachment 50237View attachment 50237

Is the exoskeleton also from ARE? My dealer is telling me that the Overland model won't work with their "metal subframe system" used on the CXHD. I prefer the looks of the Overland topper to the CX.