ARE MX HD is the full Fiberglass Walk-In Door worth $1400 more?

I have been looking at getting a topper for my 8' bed and I am trying to decide between the normal lift up window or the walk in door.

The MX HD with all the options I want is $5900. With the walk in door its $7300

Do you think the juice worth the squeeze?

 

Are you going to be climbing in the back that often?

To me, not worth it because i like having the tailgate. As long as you get some sort of windoor on teh sides so you can reach items in the bed, that is the most important option to get.

 

I have the are mx with windoors on my current truck as well as this same topper on previous 2 trucks. I never underatood the need for the walk in door. And yes I camp in my truck often. 51 years old and still able to climb over the tailgate or pick the tailgate up from the inside. In the end creature comforts are personal. But to me the creature comforts worth paying for are the side windoors. Don't have to crawl in every time when I can reach right in from the side.

 

Thanks for the input... I was really on the fence about it... hell, I'm still on the fence about getting a topper! My wife wants one for the convenience of being able to chuck our luggage in the back out of the elements. I would probably sleep in it at times. The only down side to that is I would be getting a black topper and that would be nice and comfy in the summer!

The options I would definitely be getting are the MX Heavy Duty Top with the OTR finish option. The pics I have seen of it looks like bullet liner. Sliding front window that also drops down, Side window with slider/screen that also open. Interior carpet headliner, LED Dome & Rope light with prop switch. Dual T-Handle Door. Power Strip and Heavy duty Roof Rack... But its a chunk of change.... and I'm having a hard time pulling the trigger...

 

^^^^ Go Ahead I triple dog dare ya!

 

Here's my specs: unless your putting an rtt on I don't think you need the heavy duty version.

folding slider window that lines up with cab. I like that it folds down inside the topper so I can clean my rear cab window.

double t handle rear door. Double t handles provide more security. However nothing is truly secure.

side win-doors. These act like the rear window/door. They have sliding screened windows within the door, but also fully open up like the rear hatch so you can reach inside the bed from the side of your truck.

Carpeted headliner

rear brake light

I paid like $2700 out the door in 2022 at Surburban toppers in Denver. They had the best prices in the state by almost $1000 from other dealers. Shop dealers in your area and drive to save. Surburban toppers has the best prices due to the amount of ARE inventory they move. They pass those savings on to their customers.

I've since added tracks and a roof rack but the only thing I put up there are whitewater kayaks. Four kayaks weigh approximately 180-230 lbs depending on if they are playboats or creekers. And sometimes mtn bikes. But I prefer to carry those on a rear hitch mounted rack. Spend the money on what serves you. Think about why you want/need the topper and it's bells and whistles. Then decide if the money is worth it. I personally love toppers even if my truck would look better without one. They serve me well for what I do with my truck. I also leave skis and snowboards in my topper most of the winter. I just cover them up with a blanket so the out of sight out of mind theory seems to be working for me. I've used this set up on 3 trucks over the last 22 years. 1 tacoma and 2 tundras.

you can add the roof rack, led interior lights and most other things after the fact for cheaper then what the dealer is offering.

 

Exactly. Even with the RTT, you really don't need the HD version. I ran a RTT for years on my previous ARE (on a Nissan Frontier), same with the ARE on the Tundra. No issues whatsoever.

Don't get the standard slider side windows with the screens. Get the vented windoors. They can open for venting, have screens, etc.

Everything else looks fine. Getting the non-HD version will save quite a bit of money.

 

Get a white one of you're worried about heat transfer in summer. Cars will just move out of your way. Haha.

This as well as dropping the otr finish. not a need I'm my opinion. Just get the color matched paint. It's as good as Toyotas factory and they give you a btl of touch up with the purchase.

 

I just sent Surburban toppers in Denver a quote request. We shall see how there price compares to the local shop. If its a ton less I would be willing to drive to Denver to pick it up. Never been there but I have always wanted to go.

 

I'll be interested to see what Mike has to offer you. He's a great guy to work with. I've ordered three Toppers through him. That is serious haul for a topper though

 

It was about 545 bucks less than the local guy... kinda hard to justify the trip even though I would like to go to Colorado.

 

That's just the gas money. Maybe the price increase is a combo of the long bed and the general ridiculousness of things?

 

I thought $3500 was steep for a shortbed model, but nearly $6k for a long bed with some options? Yikes, I just don't see the value.

 

Agreed. @ 6 grand I can't find the value either. I'd be looking used.

 

Maybe this will work for you? It's in PA, the cost savings would be high.

 

Well... after many quotes and not being able to make up my mind. I pulled the trigger on an ARE CX/HD color matched with tilt down front window, Outdoorsman Vented side windows, Double T-handle rear door, Dark Gray headliner and heavy duty roof rack... now we wait 4-5 weeks... plus I also ordered the 46 gallon transfer flow tank but that's a topic for another day...

 

In for a penny, in for a pound.

Both should be great additions for you

 

Nice! After the first year you'll forget how much you even paid for it. You'll easily get your return in use. Now we also have to wait 4-5 weeks to get a new pick of your longbed topper.

 

Just got off the phone with the local ARE Dealer. Apparently, the "Build your own" feature on the ARE site lets you combine stuff that won't work together.
The HD option adds an aluminum skeleton inside the top that the lay down front window will hit. I really want the lay down window so I can clean the glass ever decade or so.
I ended up getting a CX with tilt down front window, Outdoorsman side windows, Double T-handle rear window, Dark Gray carpet headliner with a Yakima roof rack.

The price keeps going down and that's a good thing... pics in 4 to 5 weeks hopefully.

 

New cap prices are crazy. I only buy them used. The depreciation is huge.....

 

HD is overrated anyway. Glad to see your price going down.

When I was selling my 1st Gen a few years back some guy kept hitting me up asking if I would sell just my topper to him. He was willing to pay 80% of current new cost due how much the new ones had gone up in price. Ended up not parting it out because a buyer paid full asking price for my truck. Still can't believe he offered me $2300 for a 10 yr old used topper.

 

Paid $400 for my color matched FGT topper last year.

 

Now that is awesome. Good looking rig to boot as well. Wouldn't guess it's that old from your pic.

 

Thanks, It's a 1999 build date truck that I bought from the original owner in 2005 with 99k miles on it. It's got 270k miles now. Still in great shape and I've really used it as a truck. Hauling, towing, off-roading. They truly don't make them like this anymore.

 

You did good. As mentioned, you won't miss the HD, but you'll enjoy the drop down front window.

 

Well... my BBT (Big Black Topper) is in.... should be getting a phone call tomorrow to get an appointment to have it installed.
Time to go clean out the bed.

 

looks good!

 

That was fast, my local ARE dealer quoted 6 -12 weeks.

 

They quoted me 6-8 weeks. But, I live in Ohio, my dealer and I are only 2 1/2 hours from them.

 

Looks good. Will look better once installed.