ARE CX Classic Truck Cap – Secure Storage & Rugged Protection
The CX Classic is ARE's foundational fiberglass truck cap, engineered for operators who need reliable cargo security without sacrificing bed access or headroom. We built this cap with a reinforced one-piece fiberglass shell that resists dents, rust, and UV fade season after season. Three-point rotary locks on side windows and a centralized rear-door lock give you tamper-resistant protection for tools, gear, and equipment.
Full walk-in height at the tailgate and a large rear lift-glass window make loading and retrieval quick, even with oversized cargo. The cap mounts directly to factory stake pockets with stainless-steel clamps—no drilling required—and integrates with most spray-in bed liners. Whether you're securing jobsite tools overnight or keeping camping gear dry on backcountry routes, the CX Classic delivers the weather-sealed storage ARE truck toppers are known for.
Construction & security highlights
Materials & Construction – Fiberglass Built to Last
Our fiberglass shell starts as a single molded piece, eliminating the seams and joints where water typically finds its way in. We reinforce high-stress zones—the rear hinge mount, door frames, and roof center—with additional composite layering, so the cap won’t flex or crack under highway wind load or snow accumulation.
Every CX Classic leaves our facility with automotive-grade gel-coat paint applied in a climate-controlled booth. That finish isn’t just cosmetic; it’s a UV-blocking shield that prevents the chalking and fading common in lower-grade toppers. We bond all weather seals using compression molding rather than adhesive tape, which means they stay put through freeze-thaw cycles and don’t peel away after a few summers.
Locking System & Security Features
We equipped the CX Classic with three-point rotary locks on both side windows and a central high-security lock on the rear door. Each lock uses a seven-pin tumbler that resists picking and bumping—the same cylinder grade found in commercial fleet applications. All locks key-alike to a single key, so you’re not juggling separate keys for windows and doors.
The rear door’s cam-latch mechanism engages at three points along the perimeter seal, pulling the door tight against the gasket to prevent pry attacks and water intrusion. Even in high-wind conditions or rough off-road terrain, the door stays sealed and secure. For operators who need keyed-alike integration with their truck’s ignition, we offer optional keying to most OEM blanks at time of order.
Sizing, Fit & Bed Compatibility
The CX Classic is available in bed lengths from five feet to eight feet, covering nearly every full-size and midsize truck sold in North America. We machine every cap to match the exact bed rail contour of your truck’s year, make, and model—no universal-fit gaps or filler strips. The mounting system uses stainless-steel C-clamps that slide into factory stake pockets and tighten from below, so there are no visible fasteners on top of the rail and no holes drilled through your bed.
If you’ve installed a spray-in bed liner, the cap mounts directly over it without modification. We include height-adjustable spacers to account for liner thickness, keeping the cap level even when bed-rail height varies by a quarter inch. For trucks with non-OEM accessories like bed extenders or tool-box mounts, we recommend a fitment check before ordering; our team can confirm compatibility and suggest brackets if needed.
Other ARE Caps Built for Work & Adventure
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Common Questions About the CX Classic Cap
Yes, the CX Classic mounts directly over most spray-in bed liners without modification. We include height-adjustable nylon spacers in the mounting kit to account for liner thickness, typically a quarter inch to three-eighths of an inch. The spacers keep the cap level and maintain proper seal contact along the bed rails.
If you have a drop-in plastic liner or an aftermarket rail cap, you may need to remove those components before installation. Our fitment team can confirm compatibility for non-standard bed accessories if you provide your truck's year, make, model, and bed length when ordering.
The CX Classic's one-piece fiberglass shell and compression-molded weather seals are engineered to withstand temperature extremes from minus twenty degrees Fahrenheit to one hundred twenty degrees. The fiberglass won't rust, corrode, or become brittle in freezing conditions, and the UV-blocking gel-coat finish prevents sun damage and fading in desert climates.
We've tested the door seals through repeated freeze-thaw cycles and they maintain full contact without cracking or shrinking. In heavy snow regions, the reinforced roof supports up to three hundred pounds of static load, well above typical snowpack weights. For coastal or high-humidity environments, all metal hardware is stainless steel to resist salt corrosion.
We offer optional keyed-alike service at time of order, which keys the CX Classic locks to match your truck's ignition or door key. This service is available for most OEM key blanks from Ford, Chevrolet, GMC, Ram, Toyota, and Nissan. You'll need to provide a working copy of your truck key or the key code when placing your order.
If you purchase a CX Classic with standard ARE keys and later want to match your truck key, most locksmiths can rekey the tumbler cylinders. The locks use standard seven-pin cores that accept aftermarket key blanks, so rekeying is straightforward and typically costs less than fifty dollars for all three locks.
The CX Classic's tapered roofline and smooth fiberglass surface are designed to minimize aerodynamic drag compared to boxy or vertical-walled caps. Most operators report no measurable change in fuel economy, and some see a slight improvement over driving with an open bed because the cap reduces turbulence behind the cab.
In highway testing, we measured a 0.3 MPG improvement at seventy miles per hour compared to an uncapped truck, likely because the cap smooths airflow over the tailgate. Your actual results will vary depending on driving speed, load weight, and whether you use a tonneau cover when the cap is off.
Every CX Classic ships with stainless-steel C-clamps, nylon height-adjustment spacers, torque-specific Allen bolts, and a tube of silicone sealant for the bed-rail interface. We also include a printed installation guide with torque specifications and a step-by-step photo sequence.
The mounting hardware is sized for your truck's specific stake-pocket dimensions, so you don't need to purchase additional clamps or brackets. If you're installing the cap yourself, you'll need a 5mm Allen wrench and a torque wrench capable of fifteen foot-pounds; most homeowners already have these tools or can borrow them from an auto-parts store.
Yes, the CX Classic's reinforced roof is pre-engineered to accept our optional aluminum roof rack, which bolts through molded inserts in the fiberglass. The rack distributes load across six mounting points and supports up to three hundred pounds of static weight, suitable for kayaks, lumber, ladders, or rooftop cargo boxes.
For ladder racks that extend over the cab, you'll need to verify compatibility with your truck's cab height and the cap's roofline. Most over-cab ladder systems mount to the bed rails rather than the cap itself, so they work alongside the CX Classic without interfering with the cap's doors or windows. Our dealer network can recommend rack systems that integrate cleanly with your specific truck model.
Wash the cap with automotive soap and water every few weeks to remove road grime, pollen, and salt residue. Avoid abrasive scrub pads or harsh degreasers, which can dull the gel-coat finish over time. After washing, apply a coat of carnauba wax or synthetic sealant twice a year to protect the UV-blocking layer and maintain the factory shine.
For minor scratches or scuffs in the gel coat, use a fiberglass rubbing compound and a foam applicator pad to blend the damage. Deeper scratches that penetrate the color layer may require touch-up paint; we offer color-matched paint pens for common OEM finishes. Store the cap out of direct sunlight when not mounted if possible, though the UV-resistant finish is designed for year-round outdoor exposure.