Truck Toppers

[10,000 Casts]

My new truck has a topper on it, it is a 6 1/2" bed and it is the first topper that I have ever had.

I am just wondering who out of the muskie fisherman here have toppers on there trucks and why do they like them.

Will my rods fit back there?

Am I saving gas mileage?

Should I keep it for long trips?

Will it rust my new truck?

Should I get a tonneau cover?

Should I go with nothing?

Thanks for the imput,

[Esox_Magnum]

If you ice fish it keeps your shack locked up in the winter, summer yoou gears in out of the weather. I drive SUV's and other than my shack not fitting in it I love it.

[Rebel9921]

I own a 1998 Dodge Ram 2500 V-10 and it doesnt have a topper...

I feel that the topper would really limit things for myself... I tend to overpack the box... and hate crouching inside if I had a topper... so I'd suggest that you get a tonneau cover with a lock... it should not rust your truck as long the rubber seal between the tonneau frame and the body is installed and clamped down properly... I've been meaning to get a tonneau but been putting it off...

Mythbuster did a segment about whether having a topper, tonneau, or nothing would be better for gas mileage... apparently the myth has been busted as the method that was best was NOTHING...

As for your rods... you could put the rods down on the floor of the box diagonally... Im not sure about the max length of rod that could fit... you'll have to try that for yourself... my Ram has 8'ft bed so I'm sure I can fit 8'6 rods diagonally...

[bonefish]

I've got a chev extended cab with (I think) 6' box. I'm able to fit a 7 1/2 muskie rod diagonally in there. Never worried about it until I bought a new rod last year and had the realization that it might not fit as I was walking out of the store to my truck! I went with a Tonneau style cover. It's not as secure as a topper, but I felt the topper might be a pain with some of the bigger/taller things I've hauled. If you seal them right, and cover the cargo holds in your rail it's pretty waterproof. However, one thing I realy miss is that if you do a lot of camping or family vacationing with your truck, the topper doubles your cargo capacity. Having the tonneau cover really limits the amount of gear I can bring when my wife seems to think that food, clothing, and toys for the kids are a priority over my stuff!!

[polarsusd81]

I think for the outdoorsman a topper is a pretty good way to go. As long as it locks and you have a locking tailgate handle, it can keep your gear pretty secure. When sealed up, the only spot water would really be able to get in is at the sides of the tailgate, cause that usually doesn't have a seal around it, but that would be pretty easy to take care of as well if you were inclined to do so.

By the way, with a 6 1/2' box, you should be able to fit an 8' rod diagonally. Geometry class rocks!

[10,000 Casts]

Thanks for the posts guys,

I could fit an 8' rod in my SUV no problem. I was figuring that all my rods would fit but I wasn't sure. If I keep it, it looks like it comes off really easily and I can just keep it in the garage untill I need it. If I sell it, I figure that I should be able to swing a soft tonneau cover and an auto start for about the same cost.

I have 4+ box's of baits and it sure would be a lot easier to know that my equipment is safe. To make sure, I am lowering my deducable. Sounds kind of sad but I have helped way too many people with insurance claims that were stolen out of the back of there truck while they were at the bar after a long day of fishing.

[EBass]

At first I didn't like the topper I had. It came with the truck I bought (T100) and I couldn't see when backing up and that ticked me off, so I just open the tail gate when backing up the boat. But the piece of mind that I can lock all my gear including 7' rods and store all of my ice fishing gear or even sleep in the thing is nice. So now I love my topper.

My .02

[MUSKY18]

Had a topper on my last truck and it was good and bad. For the most part, I kept the topper off during the summer months and through the fall as I was hauling stuff and having it on was a pain. Once deer hunting was over, I would put the topper back on for the winter. Nice for keeping all of your fishing gear out of the snow and stuff. However, when I get my next truck, I don't know that I will put another topper on it.

[bassNspear]

i use my topper in the winter only, and thats becuase i can leave all my ice fishing stuff in it, and not have to take it all out, just lock the topper up, and your ready to go. I do like it that i can take it off in the summer, so i have alot more open room in the bed.

[Scott M]

Boy, I figured this was a no-brainer for the Musky nut. All those Abu-Garcia, Musky Mayhem, St. Croix, Musky Hunter, Esox Angler, Power Pro, Warrior Boats, G. Loomis, Bucher, Pete Maina, and Muskies Inc. stickers need a place to go!

J/K. I will be purchasing a truck in the next 3 months and the topper is a given. More space winter and summer.

[10,000 Casts]

 Quote:

All those Abu-Garcia, Musky Mayhem, St. Croix, Musky Hunter, Esox Angler, Power Pro, Warrior Boats, G. Loomis, Bucher, Pete Maina, and Muskies Inc. stickers

LOL thats good!

There will be no stickers!!! Way to much of the other stuff though.

It's funny you mention Warrior, I have been drooling over there new bass series with the 25" transom and monster casting decks. It also has rod lockers big enough to fit 9' rods.

But like BNS said, Off in the summer for hauling stuff and on in the winter to keep my ice gear dry and safe.

If it is super easy to take off and put on like I think it will be then I will use it more in the summer.