Metal or Fiberglass canopy?

[boysmomoflabs]

I'm "supposed" to get the truck back this week and would like to start shopping around for a canopy. Have seen both metal and fiberglass ones on craigslist but am clueless as to which is better.

If anyone has thoughts, installation help, what to look for, what to avoid, I would love to read your info.

Thanks
Evangeline

94 f150 XLT full sized bed with side rails (do these need to come off?)

 

[smokey]

The fiberglass ones look nicer but the metal ones are way lighter.
I like the looks of the fiberglass ones they are more rounded and take finish better.they are heavy and hard to take on and off by yourself.
My metal one is light I can take it on and off with ease by myself to haul stuff you.
The metal ones just don't look as nice but if you need to remove it often to hual things often they are great.

 

[john112deere]

Fiberglass if you're gonna leave it on all the time, aluminum if you're going to be taking it on/off much.

I have an aluminum (metal) one on my '97 Ranger. It's ugly, but lightweight and easy to put on/take off. Worked great for what I needed it for.

Yes, you'll probably need to remove the rails from your bed to put a cap on it.

 

[boysmomoflabs]

I would love to be able to take it off and on by myself.
Do the metal ones leak? Is there a condensation build up?

 

[smokey]

Nope no leaks at all on my metal cap and no condensation either.

 

[boysmomoflabs]

getting up at the butt-crack of dawn tomorrow to drive 1.45hrs south to pick up this!
I'm excited and since you guys are truck fiends...have to share it. Whoot!, now I can put the dog crates in the back end and load em up for trips to the lake. Maybe my poor Honda will not smell like wet dog in the winter.

 

[Fellro]

That is one of the nicer looking aluminum ones I have seen... usually have the crappy old fart looking thing going on.

 

[boysmomoflabs]

lol!
My thoughts too, picture me hunched over steering wheel with one of those wide brimmed beige hats and a vest......driving 50 in the fast lane.....

I like the lights, guy selling it says everything works, has the keys etc. We'll see...

 

[73F100Shortbed]

Looks nice. Will look good with lights hooked up.

 

[Fellro]

If they aren't already, I would suggest using a trailer plug to hook up the lights on it so that it is easy to unhook and remove. The aluminum units are such that I used to just stand up under them and carry them off (bent over of course). It helps if you have some kind of area to set it off to and then put it back on. The fiberglass units take a bit for two people to put in place.

 

[smokey]

I have a trailer plug hooked into my parking light and run it out the stake pocket.
That's the same way I pack mine now. I used to just grab it and lift my aluminum one over my head and go till I did it one windy day and it caught wind and blew out of my hands and I bent a ladder rack that I mounted to the top of it. The fiber glass one I can do by myself but it is a heavy/awkward thing to do it alone.

That is one nice looking metal topper. Mine is a ugly thing but it does the job.

 

[Lost]

Fiber glass all the way look security . I walk mine off by my self no issues ,

And no comparision in looks .

 

[clutch]

Fiber glass all the way look security . I walk mine off by my self no issues , And no comparision in looks .

never underestimate the power of punctuation, that being said:

they both have their pro's and cons, weight, price, availability, what you can find, what fits, color, etc. Not to mention if you leave your fiberglass topper in the yard and don't put it up on blocks, it will rot.

I like the aluminum ones myself, and I've had both. AL is cheaper, lighter, take's more abuse, don't have to worry about the paint fading, and I really like the one in this thread, because it has the center handle, way better than having one on each side of the hatch, IMHO.

 

[boysmomoflabs]

Thanks for everyone's enthusiasm!
I did end up getting it and am very happy. For those who might not realize, I'm 5'and a bit, 50+ yrs and there is no way I would be able to "walk" a fiberglass top off. I'm wondering if I can do this one with the height. Think Oompa Loompa.

The color is off, noticeable but not enough to be shocking, personally....I'm leaving it.
OOh....almost forgot....it's LINED!!!! and the huge back window is sooooo easy to see out of while driving.

 

[boysmomoflabs]

He showed me a wire with plug that ran to the brake light....described it and all I heard was ...wdzigy and wpeotiot tand heaweoruoie..
Sooooo...I need to find pictures on how to wire the lights in. Wire on the left goes to outside lights, there is a wire on the right that he said was a "hot wire" and it went to the inside lights (with a switch on them).

The alum frame has pitting on it, is there something I can use to protect it?

Thanks guys =D