You just purchased your new (or at least, new to you) truck. You've probably already shod it with a nice set of rims. The next step to take on the pathway to customizing your ride is selecting a truck cap or tonneau cover.
A simple matter, you think? Not so fast. While the number of tops for trucks can't approach the variety of wheel offerings, a casual approach to selecting a tonneau cover or truck cap can quickly harpoon all the street cred you've previously generated with your other customization choices.
To arm you with valuable knowledge on what to look for when cruising the truck accessory lots, two general managers of successful stores reveal some inside tips to help you maximize your dollars and still end up with a quality top that complements your truck and elicits a "thumbs up" from admirers.
Fit and Finish
Just as you did when selecting your truck, one of the first things to carefully scrutinize is how the product is put together. Pride of workmanship is easily observable. Unfortunately, so is sloppy workmanship, and it sticks out like a sore thumb.
"Remember the ball bearing test that one upscale auto manufacturer used to show on its commercials, where they demonstrate the exacting fit of the body panels? Well, you can apply the same testing principals to a truck cap or tonneau cover," says Mark Gibbs, general manager and partner at American Camper Shells, Inc. With three Southern California Locations, including Mother Truckers near the city of Westminster, American Camper Shells is one of the largest truck top distributors and installers in Southern California.
"The fit and finish of the end product is something that the customer can see on the lot," continues Gibbs. "How the windows are installed, as far as being crooked or having gaps. The cuts of the doorjambs. The edge of the shelves. All the lines should be clean and even."
"Just because a truck cap manufacturer makes a model to fit your truck doesn't mean that their moldmakers put the same amount of passion and attention to detail into that mold; and without good fit, it just doesn't look as nice," agrees Casey Meints, manager of Campway's Truck Accessories World. Headquartered in Santa Rosa, California, Campway's operates eight retail stores in the California Bay Area, and is one of the nation's largest retailers of truck caps, lids and accessories.
"The better quality products, such as Snugtop, will fit better because they take more time in the moldmaking process," notes Meints. With roots dating back to 1959, it is one of the country's leading manufacturers of fiberglass truck caps and snuglid tonneau covers.
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