Tonneau cover vs. Camper Shell for truck (unlimited, fuel, gas)

[heeha]

For those of you who own trucks and have had experience with both tonneau covers and camper shells, which one do you recommend?

[ShelbyGirl1]

The tonneau! But then again, it would depend on how you choose your truck. We have had both....the camper shell really ruins the look of the truck...but at the time, we were moving cross country and needed the security and room it had to offer: ie...carrying higher than the bed rails, but still secure and dry!
And the thing is heavy as hell. DH promptly removed it and sold it when we got here.
We are on our 2nd truck since and have installed a hard rolling tonneau cover...It locks and is secure and things stay dry. We prefer the rolling, as the real hard tops...again your limited to what you can carry height wise.
We installed the 2 we have bought ourselves...and it was a breeze. We have the Pace Edwards: The Pace-Edwards Roll-Top-Cover –The Original Retractable Tonneau Cover (http://www.pace-edwards.com/rolltop.html - broken link)
Jack Rabbit maybe? Sorry, can't remember which model we decided on.

[DailyJournalist]

A recommend a Leer or A.R.E. camper shell. This gives your truck so much more usable space.

[Grandpa Pipes]

Originally Posted by DailyJournalist

A recommend a Leer or A.R.E. camper shell. This gives your truck so much more usable space.

I have to agree. The camper shell gives a truck secure enclosed space for anything that will fit. Only on rare occasions do I need unlimited upwards space to haul a tall item. The camper shell also add some much needed aerodynamics to a truck to help get better gas mpg.

However, it really depends on how you plan to use the truck. If for work or hauling then neither a tonneau cover or a camper shell would be right for that truck.

[Deez Nuttz]

Get a camper/cap if you plan to haul a lot of cargo. otherwise a tonneau cover works.

Keep in mind a tonneau gives you less security than a cap/camper.

[trlhiker]

Had both, kept the camper shell. Now I am topless and like it so much better.

[Bummer]

Originally Posted by heeha

For those of you who own trucks and have had experience with both tonneau covers and camper shells, which one do you recommend?

No question, heeha . . . TONNEAU unless you plan to use the pick-up for camping.

Tonneaus improve the looks plus add lots of secure cargo space and actually improves the airflow for better MPGs.

[motormaker]

Tough question. Guess it really depends on the long term use of the truck. There are advantages and disadvantages to both.

Currently I have a shell and it is a de-facto storage shed for items that need to be moved, but the items are to tall for a tonneau cover.

Sometimes I wished I had 2 pickups with 1 of each. Oh, wait a minute, I did.

[ferretkona]

I have the hard tonneau cover that came on the truck from Ford. I am looking for the shell I want. Cab height with no side glass. Leer has one I can order.

[bjh]

Originally Posted by DailyJournalist

A recommend a Leer or A.R.E. camper shell. This gives your truck so much more usable space.

True, tonneau limits cargo space vs a camper shell.

I have a solid tonneau that locks, and I really like it. The tonneau is removeable if something tall needs to be transported. Same thing would need to be done to a camper shell to transport most major appliances or large pieces of furniture.

Most camper shells have a window some of which one can see inside, a consideration if you transport valueable cargo.

I don't like the look of a camper shell. Tonneau is cleaner.

My tonneau weighs less than a camper shell which saves on fuel economy.