If you’ve done any amount of research on fiberglass camper shells (aka truck toppers/truck caps), then you’re probably aware of the cost and know that they aren’t exactly cheap.
The world of camper shells is a never-ending void of options, models, and brands. This can lead us in many ways while we shop, so it’s best to do some research on the features you want.
I decided to move away from a rooftop tent and build out a sleeping platform inside. With that being said, some of the features I wanted in a camper shell included small sliding windows for airflow. It needed to be lockable and closed from the inside. Also, we were looking for an option with an electric lock for easy one-button locking.
From there, I needed to find what brands met these requirements and call around to see what companies had shells in stock in the same color as my truck.
I was able to get an ARE CX Revo pre-painted with installation. I opted to do the wiring myself for many reasons. Some key perks I was looking forward to over a bed rack and rooftop tent were the ability to lock everything inside while parked, keeping everything out of the dust and rain, and sleeping in a secure box instead of a fabric tent.
Find It Online
- ARE CX Revo Camper Shell: Check Price
Table Of Contents
Options + Specifications
Price Range
The starting price listed on the company website is $3250. Talking to local dealers in the area, you can usually find a deal lower than that. However, the starting price does not include very many options.
The features available in a camper shell are where all the customization really comes from. ARE offers a ton of standard features that other companies may not offer. There are even some additional features that are items not available by other companies.
Regardless of the make or model, it is best to visit a local dealer to see if you can test them out in person before buying.
Standard Features
The CX Revo comes with a few standard features:
- Paint-to-match
- Frameless all glass side windows
- Frameless tailgate formed rear door with OneMotion™ handle
- Dark gray headliner
- 12V LED dome light with ActiveTilt™
Optional Features
The optional features are where things get a little more fun. We can really make the shell our own and make it fit our needs. Sadly, these features’ prices are not openly listed, and you must contact a dealer for pricing.
- OTR (exterior black coating)
- Frameless sliding side glass
- Frameless sliding side glass w/ screen
- Frameless sliding side glass w/ pet screen
- Frameless sliding side glass w/ pet screen & screen
- Frameless front window
- Aluminum framed front window w/ tilt-down/picture
- Aluminum framed front window w/ tilt-down/sliding
- Rear frameless tailgate formed with keyless entry
- 12v LED dome light
- 12v LED dome light w/ center rope light
- 12v LED dome light w/ active tilt & center
- 12v LED dome light w/ dual rope lights
- 12v LED dome light w/ active tilt & dual rope
Curious about my bed setup? I’m running a BamBeds sleeping platform (read the install/review post here).
My Build
Looking over the standard and optional features and comparing them to the shell I got, there are a few things I wish I were able to get.
I got all the base features with paint to match my truck. My side windows came with the frameless sliding option but not the screen, which I would have liked. I contacted a dealer to get the roll-out mesh screen (when you open the window, the mesh rolls out). This is a very cool feature but also close to $100 per window. To save money, I opted to build a mesh screen myself.
Furthermore, my camper shell came with the front aluminum framed tilt-down slider. The slider feature is what I wanted, but the tilt-down feature is not something I have seen before, nor do I see any real use for it. This feature would be awesome with a Tundra where the rear window completely goes down.
My shell also came with the 12V dome light with active tilt. This is a magnetic switch that turns on your dome light when the rear hatch is open. I will write an article in the future on my wiring solutions for the camper shell. The dome light does a good job, but the back is still a bit dark. I will be looking to do some upgrades in the future.
I also have the rear frameless tailgate-formed glass with keyless entry. This is an actuator that can be installed behind the glass handle, and when wired in, will allow you to lock the glass of the camper shell with the truck. This was a big key feature that I was looking for, and I will also be writing an article on how I plan to wire this all up without cutting into the factory harness.
Stand Out Features
There are a few things that I wanted to highlight. Things that are cool, different, or that I just wasn’t excepting.
First, the weight. Typically fiberglass and glass are pretty heavy. However, this setup, compared to the steel bed rack and rooftop tent ended up being around 150lbs lighter. Also, the improved aerodynamics of the truck meant that I started to use sixth gear a little more often on the freeway.
Next are the rear glass hinges. These hinges are nothing like I have ever seen before, with a large piece of aluminum sliding into a case as a hinge. This is something people comment often about. While talking about the back glass, there is an option to add an actuator to lock the back glass when you lock the truck. The trace for this actuator is built into the glass! This means you don’t have any wires running along your glass or ones you have to hide.
Finally, the overall look of the shell. The shell ends up adding a lot of real estate to the truck. I have seen Tacomas with shells before, but I did not think I would like it as much on my truck. Once it was finally put on, it completely changed my mind, and I immediately said, “now I need larger tires to tie it all together.”
Final Thoughts
The ARE CX Revo camper shell, for me, was a long-term move. The rooftop tent thing worked out well, but it was heavy, made the truck stick out, and had a lot of steps for setup and take down. I blend into the crowd a little bit more, am saving a couple of hundred pounds, and don’t need to set up anything.
I am able to roll into camp, open the back and crawl straight into bed. Surprisingly, this camper shell is also coming in way under what a rooftop tent and bed rack cost.
In the future, I do plan on adding roof tracks and a Prinsu Roof Rack to the shell. I also want to build a custom kitchen and mattress platform for the back and am sure even more items will also come to mind as the build progresses. I am always around to answer any questions you may have so feel free to reach out on Instagram!
Hey, looking at these and wondering how big are the sliding windows on the side? I have two Great Danes that like to hang their head out lol. They would disown me if I bought this and the windows were too small!!
Hey Tommy. I have moved away from this platform onto the next thing. But the windows are large enough to fit one Great Dane head through. While it may be a slightly tight squeeze they should be able to fit.
I just ordered the CX Revo for my Tacoma, the dealership I ordered it from carries Leer and Snugtop as well. I had gone in there to order another snug top GB sport like I had on my 2019 Tacoma, and the guy let me know that the Leer and Snugtop toppers have had horrible quality control issues in the last couple of years, so much so that he shys people away from them now. Apparently they moved to Mexico from California in recent years and the quality has been crap ever since. Snugtop and Leer are made by the… Read more »
I would half to agree with this. I actually work with two employees that came from Leer and they have said the same.
Just got my ARE CX REVO. Very disappointed. Poor workmanship as Bill mentioned. Rear door sticks out too far, but latches are at the end of the travel, no adjustments possible. Leaking at tailgate. Leaking at side windows. Color match not good. Carpet full of fiberglass debris, even after vacuuming several times – health issue! Scratches on the window assembly. … Did get a refund from ARE, but still would not get the same shell again.
Dear Nik, Thank you for taking the time to respond to my page. Your insight and perspective are much appreciated. It seems that there may be some validity to the concerns raised by others, and I am open to exploring alternative manufacturers to ensure I am making the best decision for my needs. I am particularly interested in your recommendation of other manufacturers, such as Leer. As they are local to me in California, it would be beneficial to research their products and compare them to the options I have been considering. Thank you again for your input, and I… Read more »
Justin, unfortunately, this is my first camper shell and I have no experience with other brands. However, when doing my research, I heard of good reviews of Leer (and poorer ones of ARE) – what put me off was the extreme long waiting time of up to 4-6months.
Dear Nik, I hope this message finds you well. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences on the topic at hand. I appreciate your perspective and your willingness to engage in this discussion. After carefully considering the various viewpoints presented, I have come to the conclusion that it would be beneficial for me to explore other manufacturers and their offerings to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the market. I value the insights and feedback that have been shared on this post and believe that by trying different shells and conducting a firsthand comparison, I will be able to… Read more »
The CX Revo is a nice looking shell until you order one ! There a pack of slobs with the butyl rubber around the side windows and the front slider is a 12″ wide glass opening 8″s disappointed. The gray felt liner was not in contact with the shell needing my attention to push it against the shell itself. There are some seams in the felt liner that look like elementary kids cut it and made the seam 3/4 open at one end with three of these sloppy workmanship. I have purchased several truck toppers at 60 years of age… Read more »
Hey Bill! Thanks for chiming in on my post! This is the first camper shell I have purchased personally, but comparing it to others on the market, it seems to stack up quite nicely. I do agree that some better attention to detail would have been nice, as my shell does have corks to it, also. Further, down the line, I would like to take a deep dive into other people’s trucks and make a comparison of some of them. Feel free to reach out to me on Instagram if you want to discuss this further. I would like to… Read more »