BEWARE "ARE' Camper shells

[frdtrukman]

This post is to warn others about the seriously flawed design of the cam and cable latch on the ARE Z camper shells (their top of the line). The cheap plastic cam broke after only 4 years with only moderate use. ARE has decided it`s better to have bad publicity than to do the right thing and replace the $65 latch mechanism because it is "out of warranty". I will be buying a Snug-Top when I get a new shell and I encourage others to avoid their company as well.

 

[wolfpack2]

Best of luck on your next purchase. I have had 5 different brands over the years and the ARE that I currently own is the best by far in terms of quality. The LEER that I had failed in 2 years and the windows were starting to fall out. They refused to warranty it because it was on a "Commercial Truck". It was on my personal use F350. Every brand that I have owned has had something fail. They are all relatively cheap for what you get and the parts are all made by just a couple of suppliers. Kind of like the RV industry.

 

[jerrybob]

I have an ARE on my 2003 truck....it's been very reliable. I did replace the hyd. lift arms a few years back.....but that was after opening the thing thousands of time. Had a Snug top cover top several years ago....it was also a good product. :2cents:

 

[Diamondpilot]

Really? So if you buy a TV and it breaks out of warranty you are going to complain because they will not fix it? Thats what the warranty period is for, to fix flaws in that time frame.

I can understand you getting on here and saying its not a good design and failed after average use. Things do that. If it happens 2 or 3 times then that would show a issue. Or if part A, B, C, D, ect broke that would show low quality. But just because it broke out of warranty you are dead in the water. If you took your case to say The People's Court that lady judge would tell you the same.

Sorry for your trouble but you are fighting a losing battle. They honored the warranty period and you are clearly out of it.

I have no dog in this fight. I have owned over 15 trucks in my life and only had one soft bed cover. Never did or will consider a camper shell. I use my beds way too much.

Chris

 

[Code54]

You maybe able to find a replacement on the net at a discount if you look around - or check E-bay.
Sometimes parts do fail and after a while a manufacture can't cover everything out of warranty. I believe the hardware on the toppers is only covered for 1 year so asking them to go 4 times longer is a lot for them to cover. Something like that I personally would just replace and enjoy the topper... Sometimes you just get a bad one, at least it was not the truck itself causing you issues!

 

[themichelob]

The best built camper shell--IMHO better than all the brands previously mentioned, and I have owned them all--were the Stockland brand. Maybe that's why they went out of business fifteen years ago. Regards, Mike

 

[trktrman]

Really? So if you buy a TV and it breaks out of warranty you are going to complain because they will not fix it? Thats what the warranty period is for, to fix flaws in that time frame.

I can understand you getting on here and saying its not a good design and failed after average use. Things do that. If it happens 2 or 3 times then that would show a issue. Or if part A, B, C, D, ect broke that would show low quality. But just because it broke out of warranty you are dead in the water. If you took your case to say The People's Court that lady judge would tell you the same.

Sorry for your trouble but you are fighting a losing battle. They honored the warranty period and you are clearly out of it.

I have no dog in this fight. I have owned over 15 trucks in my life and only had one soft bed cover. Never did or will consider a camper shell. I use my beds way too much.

Chris

Couldn't have said it better myself. After 4 years, Really?

 

[TimberXX]

Im sure you can find that part online cheaper that 65 dollars.

Windows falling out or cracking would make me livid...

We have had ARE caps for our survey crews, they hold up great. They must open and close the cap 30 times per day.

Best of luck, google search the part number

 

[tommu56]

This post is to warn others about the seriously flawed design of the cam and cable latch on the ARE Z camper shells (their top of the line). The cheap plastic cam broke after only 4 years with only moderate use. ARE has decided it`s better to have bad publicity than to do the right thing and replace the $65 latch mechanism because it is "out of warranty". I will be buying a Snug-Top when I get a new shell and I encourage others to avoid their company as well.

I have had one since 2006 on my truck the lock on the cap corroded up after the 2nd winter I went to dealer and he said the same thin $65.00 for new one. I disassembled the whole thing and took the lock out put it all back together and it has been that way ever since.

I have to admit it is the best cap Ive ever had but the latch dose suck,

The local dealer said he would order one for me with the next load of caps and he never called (and I never called him for that matter either) I just gave up on it other than not locking it is ok.

tom

 

[5picker]

Not much sympathy from me either.
I don't know what the warranty period is for this particular truck topper but for the sake of argument I'll say a year. You are STILL three years out of warranty.
Divide that $65 into those three 'un-covered' years and it has only cost you $21.66 per year to maintain the thing. Pretty darn good if you ask me!