Bed Cap for 1st gen with 8 ft bed

I just got a 2003 Tundra with a regular cab and an 8ft bed. Id like to get a bed cap with roof racks on top for a tent but im having trouble finding a brand that fits. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

Welcome!

Finding anything to fit the 1st gen long bed is a challenge, look at commercial offerings from LEER and A.R.E.

 

You are probably going to need roof rack reinforcments to be able to handle a tent and people up there as my rack is pretty tough but not really strong enought for that.
You should be able to get any manufacturer that will still make one for a 1st gen to make it for your tent but I also have to wonder how many are left that do still make them at all?

On the plus side I have been seeing 1st gen long bed shells more than usual lately too in the used market.
And I don't think it would be that tough to mske the rack strong enough either.

Where are you??

 

Im in Rhode Island.

 

Try junkyards. thats where i found my leer fiberglass 8ft cap

eventually i'm going to do a small cage on the inside to allow so weight up on the roof.. as it sits i believe leer limits it to 200 lbs dynamic weight

 

This thing is awesome. Never seen a single cab I’ve liked, but this has changed my mind.

 

This is what happens when an idiot decides to fix a rollover. Lol

 

fixed it for you.

 

I feel the exact same! This truck is sexy!

 

I called ARE and they told me I could run a RTT on top of my cap but I'm skeptical that it would do so without cracking.

 

I think the one that I have has Plywood inside the roof structure and that should give it some pretty decent capacity even without structure that you can see for yourself.

Why would the manufacturer give you bad information about that?

 

Well, my cap is 13 years old now so it's not that I think they gave me bad info, it's that I'm not sure I want to try it. I've seen 3-4 other guys mount roof top tents on their ARE shells and they developed cracks in the fiberglass. Their shells were a lot newer than mine.

 

I understand and the one that I have is about that same vintage and I was a little surprised to come across the wood in there but it made me feel better about the overall strength of the thing too.
I am not sure the Fiberglass degrades over time really unless dropped or otherwise abused though either?
So if they claim it is OK I would be inclined to give it a shot myself but on the t=other hand if you know people with actual experience to the contrary then that would probably be enough to talk me out of it.

I know in the factory reinforced ARE model made to do this they glass in Strut to the sides and roof to enhance the capability of the shell.

 

I can't find a manufacturer emblem or sticker or anything on this one. Came with when purchased.

HOLY MOLY! That is exactly what I'm looking to replace mine with!