Lightest bed shell options

What are the lightest bed shells on the market (not ones with pop up tents, just the shell)? Thinking of getting one but don’t want to effect mpgs as much as possible. Also, I like the idea of pop up side panels or sliding windows for access from the side. What is your experience with windows, pop up panels? Lastly, I’d like to get it to match my army green paint.

 

Theree are fabric ones, or also Flated Air-Topper

 

Lightest is probably a softtopper but they're hard to get the snaps re-snapped when it cold out. My ARE commercial topper is pretty light but it does hurt the milage on my Tundra anyway. It's slightly taller and wider than the cab but I suspect it's the ladder rack that is affecting the fuel economy. I just put it on this winter and it takes at least 1 mpg off what I usually get.

 

I don't have any experience with hard shells, but loved my SoftTopper when I had my old truck. Easy to manage by myself if I needed to collapse or remove it.

 

Considering you want a match to your paint, then it will likely be fiberglass. And I dont think there will be much difference in weight among them, at least not to matter. Weight will depend on how tall it is vs flush w cabin, windows or not, etc. No real way to save much weight with fiberglass....it need to be thick enough to be strong.

For lightweight, use a SoftTopper and there is also a company that makes something inflatable and it is really light. https://flated.com/collections/air-topper

 

If you live where you receive significant snowfall, then I would not recommend a soft topper although that would be the lightest option. They also suck for security and functionality, comparatively.

Definitely get at least one of the side windows that also works as a door.

Paint match will only happen with aluminum or fiberglass.

You bought a Tundra. MPG sucks. Get used to it. If you actually use it as a truck, then everything you put in or on it will decrease the MPG.

 

Pick any of the major fiberglass manufacturers.

The windows on my last ARE brand cap leaked. I have not had that issue with other Leer, Century or Jason brand caps I’ve owned.

Here’s a stainless steel option that you can paint match. Expensive though. https://www.rlddesignusa.com/p/toyota/tundra/tundra-truck-cap-canopy/