A.R.E. Camper Shell – Secure, Weatherproof Truck Bed Protection
Our A.R.E. camper shell delivers full-height truck bed coverage with a choice of smooth or textured fiberglass finish that stands up to rain, snow, and UV exposure year after year. We designed this shell for drivers who need lockable, weatherproof storage without sacrificing access—side sliding windows and rear barn doors or a lift gate let you reach gear from every angle. Every shell ships with a three-year warranty on the fiberglass and a one-year warranty on paint, backed by our in-house quality control team in Massillon, Ohio.
Whether you’re hauling tools to job sites, camping gear to trailheads, or recreational equipment on weekend trips, this camper shell keeps your cargo dry and out of sight. We color-match each unit to your truck’s factory paint code using DuPont Chroma Premier automotive finishes, so the shell integrates seamlessly with your vehicle’s appearance.
- 100% hand-laid fiberglass construction for superior strength and durability
- Color-matched to factory truck paint using OEM paint codes
- Side sliding windows with tinted safety glass and screens
- Rear barn doors or lift gate options for flexible access
- Weather-resistant bulb-type seals around all openings
Fiberglass construction & finish quality
We hand-lay every A.R.E. camper shell using continuous-strand fiberglass mat and resin, a process that eliminates the weak points found in molded or blow-formed shells. This method produces a shell that flexes slightly with your truck bed during heavy loads or off-road travel, then returns to its original shape without cracking. The inner surface receives a smooth gel-coat finish that resists moisture and simplifies cleaning, while the outer surface is available in either our smooth aerodynamic profile or a textured finish that hides minor scratches from branches or garage walls.
After the fiberglass cures, we apply DuPont Chroma Premier automotive paint matched to your truck’s factory code. Our paint shop uses a multi-stage process with primer, base coat, and clear coat layers baked under infrared heat to bond each layer permanently. This finish resists chalking and fading even in high-altitude or desert climates where UV exposure is most intense.
Window & door configurations
Side access
The camper shell’s side sliding windows feature tinted safety glass that blocks 35 percent of visible light and includes a removable screen for ventilation. Each window rides on stainless-steel tracks with nylon rollers, and you can lock them from inside using a rotating cam latch. We position the windows to align with your truck’s cab height, creating a continuous roofline when viewed from the side.
Rear access
You choose between barn doors that swing open 180 degrees or a single lift gate supported by composite struts. Barn doors offer the widest opening for loading bulky cargo like coolers or tool chests, while the lift gate creates overhead cover during loading in rain. Both options include a three-point rotary latch system that compresses the weather seal evenly around the perimeter and locks with the same key as your side windows.
Mounting & bed compatibility
We manufacture the A.R.E. camper shell on a vehicle-specific mold matched to your truck’s exact year, make, and model, so the shell sits flush against the bed rails without gaps. The mounting system uses a combination of C-clamps that attach to the inner bed rail and adhesive-backed weather stripping that fills the contact zone between shell and truck. Installation takes approximately 45 minutes with two people and requires no drilling into the truck bed itself.
The shell accommodates factory bed liners, spray-in liners, and drop-in liners without modification. If you use a tonneau cover, you’ll need to remove it before installation since the shell replaces the cover’s function. The same fiberglass molding process used in the rest of our camper shell lineup ensures that every mounting surface is dimensionally consistent, so replacement seals or clamps remain available for the life of your shell.
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Common questions about the A.R.E. camper shell
Yes, the camper shell is designed to accommodate factory bed liners, spray-in liners, and drop-in liners without any modifications. We manufacture each shell on a vehicle-specific mold matched to your truck’s year, make, and model, and the mounting system uses C-clamps that attach to the inner bed rail. The weather stripping compresses to fill the contact zone between the shell and your truck regardless of liner type.
If you have an over-rail bed liner that extends above the bed rail height, you may need to trim the liner’s top edge slightly to ensure the shell sits flush. Most professional installers can make this adjustment during the mounting process.
When you order an A.R.E. camper shell, we ask for your truck’s factory paint code, which is usually found on a sticker inside the driver’s door jamb or glove box. We use DuPont Chroma Premier automotive paint matched to that exact code, applying primer, base coat, and clear coat layers in our paint shop.
If your truck has custom paint or aftermarket color, you can provide a paint sample or the custom paint code and we will match it as closely as possible. Keep in mind that paint on older trucks may have faded over time, so a factory-code match on a five-year-old vehicle might look slightly brighter than the truck’s current finish.
The standard A.R.E. camper shell is not designed to support roof racks or ladder racks because the fiberglass roof is optimized for weather resistance and aerodynamics rather than heavy load-bearing. If you need to carry ladders, kayaks, or other rooftop cargo, we recommend our DCU or LS2 models, which include reinforced roof rails rated for up to 300 pounds of evenly distributed weight.
Adding aftermarket roof racks to a standard camper shell requires drilling through the fiberglass, which voids the warranty and can create leak points. Always consult an A.R.E. dealer before attempting any roof modifications.
Every A.R.E. camper shell includes a three-year warranty on the fiberglass structure and a one-year warranty on the paint finish. The fiberglass warranty covers defects in materials or workmanship such as cracking, delamination, or separation of the gel coat. The paint warranty covers peeling, flaking, or loss of adhesion under normal use and environmental exposure.
The warranty does not cover damage from accidents, misuse, or modifications made after purchase. It also excludes normal wear items like weather stripping, window seals, and latch mechanisms. To maintain warranty coverage, you must follow the care and maintenance guidelines provided with your shell, including regular washing and seal inspections.
Installation typically takes 45 minutes to one hour with two people. The process involves positioning the shell on the truck bed, aligning it with the bed rails, tightening the C-clamps to secure it, and connecting the third brake light wiring harness. No drilling into the truck bed is required.
Most A.R.E. dealers offer professional installation for a fee, which includes checking the seal compression, verifying that all latches and windows operate correctly, and testing the brake light function. If you choose to install the shell yourself, we include detailed instructions and all necessary hardware with your purchase.
Yes, you can remove the A.R.E. camper shell whenever you need full bed access for oversized loads. The removal process is the reverse of installation: disconnect the brake light harness, loosen the C-clamps, and lift the shell off with two people. The shell weighs between 150 and 200 pounds depending on configuration, so you will need a helper and a clean space to store it.
We recommend leaving the weather stripping in place on the truck bed when you remove the shell, as it protects the paint and makes reinstallation easier. If you plan to remove and reinstall the shell frequently, consider storing it on wall-mounted brackets or a dedicated cap cart to prevent damage to the fiberglass or windows.
Yes, the camper shell is compatible with most factory and aftermarket tailgate assist systems, including hydraulic dampers and electronic soft-close mechanisms. The shell’s rear opening is designed to clear the tailgate when it’s in the lowered position, and the barn door or lift gate configuration does not interfere with the tailgate’s range of motion.
If you have a tailgate with an integrated step or multi-function panel, verify the step’s extended height before ordering. In rare cases, extended tailgate steps may contact the camper shell’s lower edge when deployed, requiring minor adjustment to the step’s mounting brackets.