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Truck Bed Caps
Truck Bed Caps are called a number of different things – truck tops, camper shells, caps, cab extenders, lids, and more. Whatever one calls them, they are the covering that attaches to the back of a pickup truck to create a number of options – cargo space, weather protection, fuel efficiency, and theft protection. They are becoming increasingly popular as they create a more aerodynamic action to your truck, making it much more fuel efficient.
What are Truck Bed Caps Made Of?
Typically a truck bed cap is made from two different materials. These are fiberglass or aluminum. The type you pick generally depends on how much you can afford to spend, as there is typically hundreds of dollars difference between the two materials. There are other differences in these two types of materials, as follows.
Fiberglass pickup truck bed caps are designed specifically for the make, model, and year of the pickup truck that you own. They are custom made molds that not only contour right around your cab, but create a sleeker look for your pickup truck. As they are custom made, they are painted to match the exact color code of your pickup. A fiberglass truck bed cap will usually start around $1,000 and up.
Aluminum truck bed caps are caps that are made for a standard model pickup – they are not custom made. They are built to fit only the bed of a pickup truck, meaning that the front of the cap could be either smaller or larger than the actual size of the cab of the truck. They will not contour around the truck’s cab at all, and you may only choose standard colors to put on your pickup. They are also much less expensive, starting typically around $400.
Truck bed caps come in a variety of different kinds. There are soft roll up, hard top, retractable, hinged, and tool box style. The kind you choose depends on what you need it for, personal style, and what is available for your type of pickup truck.
What are the Features?
When choosing a pickup truck bed cap there are many features that you can choose from. Depending on the amount of money you have to spend, you can really deck out a pickup truck bed cap. You can choose from a third set of brake lights installed on the back of the truck bed cap, tempered safety glass, which shatters on impact instead of creating deadly jagged glass shards, and interior dome lights for added lighting. The inside of the truck bed caps may also come with a carpeted interior, different types and styles of trim, utility racks, and side access doors.
There are still added features that you can choose from to customize your pickup truck bed cap. These include power locks and an individual set of windshield wipers and washers, a defrost system, spoilers for style, and air deflectors. You may also have roof mounted racks installed so that not only can you carry cargo inside the truck, you can also carry it outside, as well.
Bed Cap Brands
Finding a bed cap is a simple process. Talk to the dealers around your area about where you can buy them, or an auto parts store. If you bought your pickup truck from a dealer then they can certainly help you out with where to buy a bed for the truck. You may also be able to find them at yard sales, flea markets, and auctions. Many people sell them individually from their home, so you may find a great deal on a used one buying it second-hand. Look through your local paper to find places near you that may be selling truck bed caps.
The Internet may be your best bet when you are considering the purchase of a bed cap. Some of the biggest names in truck beds are Torza, New Vision, Access, Advantage, Design Automobile, and Roll-n-Lock. At www.truckchamp.net you will find a great selection of truck bed covers, as well as every other accessory you could possibly need for your truck! You may also want to try www.autoanything.com for a huge deal on a brand new truck cap. At www.aztrucks.com you will also find everything you need for your truck bed needs. Finding a reputable and reliable truck bed cap company on the Internet is extremely easy. Look to the website that your truck came from to get custom designed truck beds. For example, Dodge, Ford, and Chevrolet all make truck beds, and you can easily find a beautiful one that will look great on your truck.
Whatever truck bed cap you decide to buy, it is a worthwhile investment, one that will increase the value of your pickup truck immensely. This will help a lot with price if you ever decide to sell your truck or even trade it in. You can also sell just the bed cap if you come across a better one in the future.
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