ARE Update

March 1st, 2004

So now that I have had the shell for a while, I thought I would let everyone know how it is holding up. One of my concerns was how the shell would handle the off-roading that I would put it through. This means a lot of vibrations, twising and bouncing around. In the past, I have seen and have also personally broken a shells. What has happened to me was that the side to side jarring breaks the inside supports and the shell kinda flops out of square in a side to side motion as you go down the road. Here is what I have found out about the ARE MX series shell after having it for a while....

Here is what the back of the truck looks like now. Just slightly different than it did before!

Inside the dome light and the clothing hanger are still fine.

There are two "straps" that are inside the walk in door. The first, shown with the arrow can be used to further lock the door handle. There is a key on the outside, but I guess if you were to sleep inside the shell you could lock it from the inside with this small strap. I have never used it, but its there!

The second strap, which is shown with the yellow line and visible in other pictures, is there for.... gee... I dont really know what its there for!

There are rubber bungi type straps on both sides down low on the walk in door. They are used to attach the lower door to the truck to make it a more tight fit. I do use them once in a while, but not normally.

Here you can see the post that the door straps attach to.

Where the arrow in this picture is pointing, you can see a darker area. This is dirt and muck. The lower edge is actually slightly below the bed, so any dirt and muck will get stuck here and then either fall off when you open the door, or gather then for you to clean off later! Not a big deal.

The latch for one of the two turn locks for the main door are seen here. These can go out of adjustment from time to time. Mine have been adjusted twice since I purchased the shell. You can tell how they are when you turn them to lock or unlock the main door. They should be snug so they hold the door nicely.

When you turn them to lock, the tabs on the inside lock behind this small tab on the shell. I dont know how hard it would be to break into the shell, but because of the glass door, anyone could break the glass and gain entry anyway.

I had heard that some had problems with water leaks from the small skylight window in the roof, but I have had none to date (knock on wood!!).

The side windows have become a favorite place for stickers! The screens have held up well and I have not had any problems.

I have been very happy with the shell. Would I do it again? I dont think so. Why? I am growing more concerned that I may bash it into a rock overhand or tree limb when off-roading and damage it. If I was to get another truck that was not used as much off road, I would buy another in an heartbeat. I think that if the fiberglass was to become damaged, even after a repair it would not be as strong as it was and would be prone to future breakage.

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March 1st, 2004 So now that I have had the shell for a while, I thought I would let everyone know how it is holding up. One of my concerns was how the shell would handle the off-roading that I would put it through. This means a lot of vibrations, twising and bouncing around. In the past, I have seen and have also personally broken a shells. What has happened to me was that the side to side jarring breaks the inside supports and the shell kinda flops out of square in a side to side motion as you go down the road. Here is what I have found out about the ARE MX series shell after having it for a while....
	Here is what the back of the truck looks like now. Just slightly different than it did before!
	Inside the dome light and the clothing hanger are still fine.
	There are two "straps" that are inside the walk in door. The first, shown with the arrow can be used to further lock the door handle. There is a key on the outside, but I guess if you were to sleep inside the shell you could lock it from the inside with this small strap. I have never used it, but its there! The second strap, which is shown with the yellow line and visible in other pictures, is there for.... gee... I dont really know what its there for!
	There are rubber bungi type straps on both sides down low on the walk in door. They are used to attach the lower door to the truck to make it a more tight fit. I do use them once in a while, but not normally.
	Here you can see the post that the door straps attach to.
	Where the arrow in this picture is pointing, you can see a darker area. This is dirt and muck. The lower edge is actually slightly below the bed, so any dirt and muck will get stuck here and then either fall off when you open the door, or gather then for you to clean off later! Not a big deal.
	The latch for one of the two turn locks for the main door are seen here. These can go out of adjustment from time to time. Mine have been adjusted twice since I purchased the shell. You can tell how they are when you turn them to lock or unlock the main door. They should be snug so they hold the door nicely.
	When you turn them to lock, the tabs on the inside lock behind this small tab on the shell. I dont know how hard it would be to break into the shell, but because of the glass door, anyone could break the glass and gain entry anyway.
	I had heard that some had problems with water leaks from the small skylight window in the roof, but I have had none to date (knock on wood!!).
	The side windows have become a favorite place for stickers! The screens have held up well and I have not had any problems.
I have been very happy with the shell. Would I do it again? I dont think so. Why? I am growing more concerned that I may bash it into a rock overhand or tree limb when off-roading and damage it. If I was to get another truck that was not used as much off road, I would buy another in an heartbeat. I think that if the fiberglass was to become damaged, even after a repair it would not be as strong as it was and would be prone to future breakage.
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