Which Topper Should I Get?

[ouroboros87]

Problem:
Looking for some help making the decision as to which topper I should get for my '21 SuperCrew. I'll lay out the options and my requirements, and I'd love to hear what you all recommend.

This topper will be used mainly to: keep my gear safe from the elements, hold an awning, carry extra gear on top, and only sleep inside if absolutely necessary due to weather or whatever.

Requirements:

• Cab high
• Side doors/windoors without glass (for security and ease of access)
• Option for t-slot roof rails to mount load bars or roof rack
  • This is mainly for an awning, storage, and mounting scene/chase lights - I have no intention of adding an RTT
• Rear hatch w/ glass for reverse visibility
• Sliding or popout front window
• Compatible with BuiltRight bedside MOLLE panels
• Interior lighting options
• Interior storage options
• Completely sealed from the elements (obviously the tailgate gaps are an issue, but that's separate)

Options:

1. RSI Smartcap Evo A
   1. Pros - steel seems legit, looks cool, meets all of my requirements
   2. Cons - very expensive, pretty heavy, excessive shipping costs, out of stock everywhere, some reports of poor fitment/leaking, etc.
2. RLD
   1. Same as RSI above but uglier so probably a no?
3. ARE CX HD (or similar fiberglass topper)
   1. Pros - internal struts are cool for mounting gear, meets all of my requirements
   2. Cons - looks ugly, also kinda heavy, surprisingly expensive, very long lead times
4. ARE DCU (or similar aluminum contractor/utility topper)
   1. Pros - very affordable, meets most of my requirements, very light
   2. Cons - looks ugly, ladder rack ugly and non-modular (can these even accept t-slot rails on top??), concerns about durability of thin aluminum skin
5. GFC Camper
   1. Just no - I have no interest in dealing with this company.
6. Alu-Cab Explorer Canopy
   1. I don't think these are even available for the USA Ranger?
7. Alibaba Special
   1. I mean they look like Alu-Cabs which is cool but don't wanna risk the Chinesium alloys
8. ???

So what's the verdict? Do I spend big on an RSI or CX HD and hope for the best on wait times and quality? Do I spend like half as much on an aluminum contractor cap and try to add t-slot rails myself?

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[Wes Siler]

Why not get the new GFC Topper? It's the only topper out there actually designed to support load/stand up to off-road use, is totally weather sealed with rubber gaskets, has t-track the entire way around, plus on the cross bars, and is compatible with any aftermarket accessories you could dream up.

 

[D Fresh]

Why not get the new GFC Topper? It's the only topper out there actually designed to support load/stand up to off-road use, is totally weather sealed with rubber gaskets, has t-track the entire way around, plus on the cross bars, and is compatible with any aftermarket accessories you could dream up.

Probably because he's not getting it for free?

That GFC topper is this thing at 3x the price.

 

[DukeCanBuildit]

Hey Jonathan,

@Heavy Duty painted his ARE DCU with three coats of bedliner and it turned out looking a bit like a hybrid RSI SmartCap.

He can likely give you details on mounting tracks to the roof.

Or do the same to the ARE above that @D Fresh posted but without the ladder rack.

Good Luck!

 

[Friday yet?]

He specifically said that he did not want to deal with GFC. So most likely he is not interested in that topper.

 

[Wes Siler]

He specifically said that he did not want to deal with GFC. So most likely he is not interested in that topper.

Why not? GFC employs 100+ people here in small town Montana, while paying them the highest starting wages of any manufacturer in the northern Rockies. That wage structure is transparent and pegs manager pay to increases in that base pay. 100 percent made about 10 minutes from my house, only foreign components are the raw tent fabric, and the admittedly shitty latches. And again, it's exponentially better made than anything that's existed in the space before.

I ask seriously, why the negative perception of that, when everything else on the list is either made from chopper gun fiberglass, or made in China by slaves?

 

[ouroboros87]

Why not get the new GFC Topper? It's the only topper out there actually designed to support load/stand up to off-road use, is totally weather sealed with rubber gaskets, has t-track the entire way around, plus on the cross bars, and is compatible with any aftermarket accessories you could dream up.

The design certainly is pretty nice, although the load bars getting in the way of the side door access seems kinda funny. But mainly after hearing what happened between GFC's owners and the OverlandWithUs people, I don't really have any desire to support their brand.

 

[Wes Siler]

The design certainly is pretty nice, although the load bars getting in the way of the side door access seems kinda funny. But mainly after hearing what happened between GFC's owners and the OverlandWithUs people, I don't really have any desire to support their brand.

Oh man, ignore that noise. Graeme is one of of my best friends (he's co-founder, and part-owner), and one of the most ethical people I've ever had the pleasure of knowing. I'm also good buddies with the other guy named in that suit, who was a partner in an old business they dissolved 5+ years ago, who is also a very good dude. GFC has nothing to do with the suit at all. Lawsuits are a (sad) part of doing business in the US, and there's no such thing to a one-sided example. The only reason he hasn't gone public with his is that he's not trying to tarnish anyone's reputation. The other party there are just total dipshits, trying to throw weight around to tarnish reputations just because they're rich and mad they lost (there were two suits, they're only publicizing the results of one of them.

The triangulated load structure is there to provide that strength. Literally every other topper out there relies entirely on the incidental strength of its non-engineered skin, with no other structure whatsoever. And you get that strength for a couple hundred bucks more than those chopper gun fiberglass things.

They just opened three locations in California. Go by and see one.

The t-track integration is also really great. I have the camper, not the topper, but they're very similar. I just my t-track to run a 50-inch lightbar, two cross bars (for my canoe and solar power), and a 270 awning.

 

[D Fresh]

The design certainly is pretty nice, although the load bars getting in the way of the side door access seems kinda funny. But mainly after hearing what happened between GFC's owners and the OverlandWithUs people, I don't really have any desire to support their brand.

I'll bet they would've got a camper, maybe even a discount if they had beers with the owners.

 

[Frenchy]

If money is not an object I would go with RSI. They make a good canopy proven to hold up OffRoad. Yes it is heavy but it also has a built in positive pressure system to help keep the dirt and dust out.

 

[Wes Siler]

If money is not an object I would go with RSI. They make a good canopy proven to hold up OffRoad. Yes it is heavy but it also has a built in positive pressure system to help keep the dirt and dust out.

Those fall apart over washboard. Have seen ones where the bulb seal, gaskets, and whatnot are all flapping in the wind. Again, just no actual engineered strength, metal skin providing any/all structure.

 

[Wesmertz]

I am waiting for delivery of my Leer 100XR. My truck is cactus gray with everything else blacked out, so I got the shell in a textured matte black. Leer came out with the special coating to match up with the Black Jeep hard top for the Gladiator. I’ll post pics when it arrives.

 

[OFC Ranger]

Probably because he's not getting it for free?

That GFC topper is this thing at 3x the price.

 

[RangerPNW]

My two cents, if you plan to get a RTT at some point, then you've gotta go RSI based on your list. Yeah its spendy, but I think its the best looking option on the market now as I can't stand the boxy nature of many of the standard overland options (sorry GFC, just not my cup of tea). And as you stated already, the RSI already meets all your requirements so I don't think that this point you're gonna find another option that you'll like better.

 

[AutobotXJ]

I’ve seen many people spending 3-4k on their camper shells here… so I don’t get why so many people say RSI is too expensive. I’ve had my RSI for a couple years now and I still love it! Much tougher than the fiberglass options.my whole bed is accessible with the large windows. Nothing has fallen apart. Honestly, I think people that complain about leaks and fitment built and installed it wrong. The one leak I had was due to a gasket in the slide window- they fixed it for me very quickly. I think my dog accidentally ripped the old one.

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