Living here in Commiefornia the truck tags are going to be going up 50% and I was thinking of getting a camper shell for my truck so I can get passenger plates and save $$$ on my tags each year. Is there name brands to stay away from like Snug Top and so forth? Thanks for your help.

I have an ARE on my truck and I love it. My Dad has also used ARE for years.

I bought a Raider Vagabond last fall. Best bang for the buck out there after my research IMHO.

How the hell do you get your truck classified as a passenger vehicle by adding a bed topper? That makes no sense, wait it is California, never mind.

How the hell do you get your truck classified as a passenger vehicle by adding a bed topper? That makes no sense, wait it is California, never mind.


:exactly:

You won't find better than SnugTop but they're more expensive. I looked at 5 or 6 different brands and wound up paying the extra for SnugTop. Check a display where shells are sitting on a rack supported at just the ends.......the bottom rail of most shells will sag in the middle. Snugtops don't. Having a latch on each side of the back window seems fine until it's time to open it, then they're inconvenient. And every other single lock mechanism I saw used flimsy sliding rods. Snugtop has a center latch with claw locking closures at each end of the window. Very solid. The center latch also opens from inside. There are other things that set them apart including windows that don't leak.

Thanks for all the help at least it is a start.

I put a LEER on mine. I like it well enough...I live in Californicata and $hit, I never thought of switching my plates to passenger plates. What if you tow a trailer though or put stuff in the back, like gear, junk, etc...? If it saves money, great idea. Pontoon, do you have any links on that info? LMK.

Thanks,
Ronnie

Living here in Commiefornia the truck tags are going to be going up 50% and I was thinking of getting a camper shell for my truck so I can get passenger plates and save $$$ on my tags each year. Is there name brands to stay away from like Snug Top and so forth? Thanks for your help.

My Uncle did the same thing to his. You can get it registered as a passenger car with a shell. You have to sign a waiver that the shell will not be removed and you will not do any "hauling" in the bed of the truck.

Yes you will not be able to haul anything in the back, I do not know about towing but here is a good thread talking about it. http://www.thumpertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=748511

Yes you will not be able to haul anything in the back, I do not know about towing but here is a good thread talking about it. http://www.thumpertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=748511

BTW a car lic plate has three letters in it and a pickup will have only one so that is how you can tell. I say how can they tell if you get personalized plates .

Yes you will not be able to haul anything in the back, I do not know about towing but here is a good thread talking about it. http://www.thumpertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=748511

If I can't haul anything in the back, even with the shell on, IDK...I can't risk it. I haul paintball gear around every weekend. Plus whenever I haul my Rhino around, I have $hit it the back. Unless we can say...hey that's my trunk on my passenger licensed truck. A trunk that can carry over 1000 pounds of junk, a washer and dryer, and whatever else I can think of. Cali is just plain scandalous!
Thanks for the link...
I'm out!
-Ronnie