What Is The Best Camper Shell For Toyota Tacoma?

3 comments Apr 20, 2022

What Is The Best Toyota Tacoma Camper Shell?

In order to determine what is the best camper shell for a Toyota Tacoma, you need to know what the materials are, and the difference between one model and another.

The purpose of a Tacoma truck bed cap is to increase the cargo carrying capacity and capabilities of the Tacoma. The bed cap will fully cover the truck's bed, most of the time keeping any item inside of it dry, safe, secure and away from the eyes of other drivers or people.

Depending on the type of camper shell, you will be able to lock it, and even add a roof rack over it to carry items, further increasing your cargo carrying capacity.

The following guide attempts to answer some of the most typical questions one gets asked when it comes to understanding what is the best Tacoma camper shell. From the materials, to the design, we'll look at the classic questions. Then if you're ready to buy a camper shell, you can see what Tacoma camper shells we have for sale.

What Is A Tacoma Camper Shell?

Camper shells sit over the bed of your truck, they essentially leave enough clearance space inside the bed to store larger and taller items, they tend to have windows or doors on all three sides that allow you to easily reach whatever is inside the shell itself, and some people even use them to have a safe and dry space to sleep inside. Plus, camper shells tend to be strong enough to have roof racks over them for additional storage if needed.

Essentially, a Tacoma camper shell is the synonym of an upgrade in cargo carrying capacity, at the same time it adds safety (you can lock them), a dry and covered space that won’t take precious comfort inside the cab, and gives you more flexibility on the real purpose of your truck: carrying items, being more comfortable, or being a true overlanding vehicle.

A bed canopy is a game changer and in the following review we will make sure to go over the bet Tacoma bed caps in the market, as well as helping you understand what the features are to look for to determine which one you need!

If you are reading this, you're looking to add a truck bed cap to your Tacoma. However, you might be overwhelmed by so many options and don't know where to begin. We've got you covered. We'll cover the best camper shells for the Toyota Tacoma.

But before we do that, we'll answer two simple questions. Let's begin.

 

Can You Put A Camper Shell On A Tacoma?

You can 100% put a camper shell on a Tacoma, but you need to make sure of a few things. First and foremost, the camper shell must be specific for the Tacoma. Shells or caps are vehicle specific and must have the right dimensions to fit the bed of your truck.

Second, there shouldn't be anything else over the bed of your Toyota Tacoma. A camper shell is normally installed quite easily, you just make it sit over the bed of your Tacoma, and then they will have an inner clamping system that secures to the existing t-slot rails inside the bed of the truck. Much like the picture right below.

As you can see in the image, the shell has a clamping system with two bolts on the top, that are tightened and secure the entire structure by grabbing or clamping into the inner t-slot rail of the Tacoma, or in case there isn't, they can clamp onto the lips of the bed. Alternatively, depending on the model of cap, you can also drill onto the bed's edges, but that's not the best or smartest design.

Due to the installation requiring the clamping form inside the bed, you won't be able to install a camper shell if you already have a headache rack, a bed rack or a sports bar, and it's highly unlikely you'll be able to make it work with a tonneau cover either.

However, the short answer is yes, you can install a camper shell on any Tacoma.

 

How Much Is A Camper Shell For A Toyota Tacoma?

To know what the price is for a camper shell for a Toyota Tacoma, you will need to decide what type of shell you want. There are plenty of designs, options, brands, materials. The price of a camper shell can range and go from as low as $800 if you get a soft canopy, or up to over $5,000 if you get a stainless steel cap with all the bells and whistles.

Soft canopies or shells, tend to be quite affordable and most under $1200. Then you have aluminum shells, which are good quality, really lightweight, can be installed easily, and tend to range from $1500 to $2500. 

Then you have fiberglass shells, which are not as common as they used to be, but they're high quality, a bit heavier than aluminum, and on the $3,000 to $4,000 range.

Finally, we have stainless steel camper shells, which are top of the line, are premium quality, have pretty much unlimited durability, but can cost from $3,000 up to $6,000 depending on what features they have. For example, RSI Smartcap makes some outstanding Tacoma camper shells with side gullwing windows, break lights, ventilation systems and such. Clearly, this raises the price.

Therefore, to better answer the question of how much is a camper shell for a Toyota Tacoma, we need to first decide on what material you want it to be, then what features or design you'd like, and finally what brand you want, since a better brand with a better warranty will likely cost a bit more.

 

 

What To Look For When Choosing A Tacoma Truck Camper Shell

 

Tacoma Camper Shell Build

When we talk about build we mean design. Do you want a soft top canopy made of canvas? Do you prefer a solid hard camper shell? Do you want a model that can be easily installed and removed? Do you want something that secures almost permanently over your bed? Are you looking for easy access to the bed from all sides? Or perhaps you don’t need it and it’s fine just opening it at the back?

As you can see, all these questions need an answer only you have. Depending on the design, some of these questions will have different answers. If you are looking to lock your bed, keep items in there dry and safe, you want a hard camper shell. If all you need is to increase the cargo carrying space and want to avoid wind, dust and other elements from getting into the bed, a soft shell might be enough.

 

Tacoma Camper Shell Material

We can say that all the factors to look for are related, and certainly material and design go hand in hand. There are quite a few different materials: aluminum, stainless steel, fiberglass and canvas to name a few. Aluminum is durable, lightweight but not as sturdy as stainless steel, which in turn might be a bit too heavy. Fiberglass is strong enough to endure the elements, but not as strong to have a high load rating, and canvas is budget friendly just not as durable or great against the elements. As you can see, depending on the material you choose, you will probably end up being able to use the Tacoma Camper Shell in a way or another.

 

Tacoma Camper Shell Weight

The weight of the sell is an important factor to consider, as it will mean quite a few things: fuel consumption, cargo carrying capacity, and even affect your speed. Stainless steel bed canopies tend to be the heaviest ones. Amongst their perks are the studiness, weight capacity (what you can put on top of them), as well as durability. Nonetheless, they are heavier, tend to be bulkier and therefore are perhaps harder to mount or just install between one or two people, as well as impacting the fuel consumption and speed of your Tacoma.

A soft top canopy, such as the Fast-Top will have a minimal impact on fuel consumption as well as speed. Nonetheless, it will last less and it’s not as waterproof or strong as a metal cap. As you can see, weight is quite related to material, and tends to have more impact on fuel economy than anything else. Consider that.

 

Tacoma Camper Shell Cost

Cost, directly related to budget. It might sound obvious, but some people forget about this: cost. Do you have a high budget that allows you to afford a top quality Toyota Tacoma camper shell such as RSI or ARE? Or are you looking for something more budget friendly

A Tacoma camper shell cost is a deciding factor, but it doesn’t mean you’re getting a bad cap. You can get budget friendly options, which are clearly found in this article, and still get a great quality model. You can also decide to fully upgrade your Taco and go with the best of the best and spend more. At the end of the day it tends to always come down to value for money, and only you know what the answer to that question is.

 

Advantages Of A Tacoma Bed Canopy

Truck bed toppers can contribute greatly to your experience in overlanding. Getting one of those heavy-duty and durable Tacoma camper shells provides more than being an enclosed piece of material mounted on your bed. Here are some of the most notable reasons you should get one of these truck bed accessories:

 

Simple And Straightforward

Truckbed caps are not complicated off-road accessories. They are usually plug-and-play, provided they are specific to your truck model. This means they do not require additional mounting points or strenuous effort to install. You just need to look for the right camper shell for your Tacoma truck, and you can enjoy your bed cover there and then. 

 

Safe And Secure

Everything placed inside a camper shell enjoys the protection that it intends to bring. A bed canopy for your Tacoma prevents other elements from entering your truck bed. Rainwater, dust, and other particles cannot penetrate and stay on your truck bed because of the protection it provides. Likewise, these bed canopies are built for extreme weather conditions, so your comfort and safety are ensured when sleeping inside your camper bed truck. 

 

Superior Storage Space

One of the advantages of having this accessory to your Tacoma is extending your storage space up to your truck cab and beyond. If tall cargo equipment needs transport and protection from torrential rainfall, bed canopies can be your quick solution. Likewise, having a camper topper around extends your roof-carrying capability, as they can also serve as an extension for anything that needs to be mounted up top. 

 

Bonus Advantage: Fuel Efficient

Would you believe installing a Tacoma camper shell can increase fuel efficiency? Since innovative companies and manufacturers carefully consider the design and style of these truck accessories, camper shells provide better aerodynamics when mounted on your truck. They lessen the wind drag and provide smoother cruising while on the freeway.