For more than a decade, the writer relied on a fiberglass topper to turn a pickup bed into protected storage and occasional sleeping space during climbing trips. But weighing more than 150 pounds, the hard shell was effectively permanent, limiting the truck’s usefulness for everyday hauling.
The Flated Cap56 addresses that problem with an inflatable design. Using a plug-in pump, the topper can be inflated in a few minutes and installed without additional tools. At less than 60 pounds, it can be lifted onto the truck by one person and secured with several tie-downs. The complete installation takes about 30 minutes, though the writer expects to become faster with practice.
The Cap56 includes a built-in rain skirt and is described as fully waterproof. Its design has two tinted windows, screens on the side windows, a rear window, and a pass-through opening connecting the topper to the truck cab. Window shades are held in place with zippers and Velcro, while interior mesh pockets provide storage for smaller items.
Priced at $1,600, the Cap56 costs several thousand dollars less than a traditional hard-shell topper. The writer has used it for approximately one month in the high-elevation, sunny conditions of northern New Mexico without noticing signs of wear, although its long-term durability remains untested.
The topper was used to protect bike equipment from rain before being removed the following day to transport trees from a nursery. That ability to switch between covered storage and an open truck bed is the main advantage highlighted in the review.
Sources: Outside.