[Libertine]

Heya,

I ordered an A.R.E. DCU contractor's truck canopy for my full size long bedded chevy. It comes standard with full length side doors, which I wanted for access to the sides so i don't have to crawl in there so much, but im wondering if having the built in "tool shelf" on the drivers side would be better?

Im a one man show doing interior/exterior residential repaints.

Any thoughts?

 

[KCT]

I'm about 1-2 months from doing the same thing, full size Chevy long bed. For a Swiss contractor grade, plain-jane cap with side doors was $1099 installed, with many options available (at more cost).

I'm crawling in and out of my bed/standard cap right now too, I've had enough. I was going to get:

--the wedge design, where it's the same height as the truck cab, and then sweeps up (29") for a bigger space at the tailgate;

-- lights inside

-- I thought about getting a back door on top hinge, so it swings up (out of the way and also light protection from rain?) and eliminates the tailgate. That would allow me to access the back 4' easily. I thought about getting full shelves on one side to store roller poles, levels, copper, corner bead, etc. in.

-- Swiss has the option for full side door, two half side doors, or narrow front/bigger back side door. On the last choice, I wonder if I could fit 6' long things in the back part. Like you, the stuff in the front of my bed is a pain to get to and having a door to access that on both sides would be great.

Hope that helps. Let me know what you get!

 

[MAK-Deco]

Well first off you did the right by buying ARE and not swiss, I have an ARE with side doors no boxes and wouldn't have it any other way if you get the boxes on the side then you still would have to crawl in to get something that was up front and on the drivers side.

I put a shelf in mine towards the back of the bed that I can put smaller stuff on and can reach it from either side door when opened.

My reasoning about ARE over Swiss is a lot guys have noted that Swisses caps start rusting out around the handles and the aluminum is thinner. I have had my ARE for 8 years and have painted once since I bought a new truck that was different color then the original color that I bought the cap in. (ARE red is a match to dodges flame red and my newer dodge was the burgundy so I paid 500$ to paint it, thats was cheaper than buying new cap)

 

[Libertine]

Thanks for the responses, i didn't get a chance to read em before i choose, but i went with no box. I'm 5'7'' and was worried about not being able to reach in there very far with my height, but i stood next to the truck and it looks good. Plus im going to lower the truck just a tad as well. I really like the idea of the tool-box against the front side of the bed. Thanks for that one!

I know what you mean about the poles, i thought that would be a great place for them too. I think maybe rubber coated (for friction) hooks in the ceiling could work good too.

 

[MAK-Deco]

Thanks for the responses, i didn't get a chance to read em before i choose, but i went with no box. I'm 5'7'' and was worried about not being able to reach in there very far with my height, but i stood next to the truck and it looks good. Plus im going to lower the truck just a tad as well. I really like the idea of the tool-box against the front side of the bed. Thanks for that one!

I know what you mean about the poles, i thought that would be a great place for them too. I think maybe rubber coated (for friction) hooks in the ceiling could work good too.

Yes I hang my poles also used zip ties of all things was able to slide them in and under the braces up at the top of cap and just slide the pole thru. Good luck with the cap!

 

[The paint whisperer]

Well first off you did the right by buying ARE and not swiss, I have an ARE with side doors no boxes and wouldn't have it any other way if you get the boxes on the side then you still would have to crawl in to get something that was up front and on the drivers side.

I put a shelf in mine towards the back of the bed that I can put smaller stuff on and can reach it from either side door when opened.

My reasoning about ARE over Swiss is a lot guys have noted that Swisses caps start rusting out around the handles and the aluminum is thinner. I have had my ARE for 8 years and have painted once since I bought a new truck that was different color then the original color that I bought the cap in. (ARE red is a match to dodges flame red and my newer dodge was the burgundy so I paid 500$ to paint it, thats was cheaper than buying new cap)

MAK,
Can you post some pics?