A.R.E. Commercial Truck Caps
A.R.E. commercial truck caps come in two builds: the all-aluminum DCU family with full-length side doors, and the fiberglass HD caps with an aluminum skeleton for heavy racks. A.R.E. has made the DCU since 1979.
- DCU
- Deluxe Commercial Unit
- Skin
- .035 to .063 in. aluminum
- Frame
- .050 in. TIG-welded aluminum
- HD roof rack
- 550 lb, evenly spread
- Warranty
- 3 years on DCU and HD skeleton
A.R.E. DCU, DCU Max and Diamond Edition Compared
The three DCU caps share a frame and a warranty. What changes is the aluminum skin: how thick it is, and whether it’s painted or diamond plate.
DCU
White, black or silver baked enamel, with paint match as an option. Several rear door layouts.
DCU Max
White baked enamel, paint match optional. Full rear doors on stainless strap hinges.
Diamond Edition
Polished diamond plate, left unpainted. Full rear doors on stainless strap hinges.
All three share a .050 in. TIG-welded frame, full-length side doors and a 3-year warranty.
From RealTruck’s A.R.E. product pages. A 2017 launch article listed a thicker .080 in. frame for the DCU Max; the current page says .050 in.
CX HD and MX HD Heavy-Duty Caps
The HD caps look like the fiberglass CX and MX but carry a patented aluminum skeleton inside. A.R.E. says it triples roof rack and toolbox capacity.
They suit trades that want a paint-matched cap but still carry ladders or a rooftop load. Choose cab-height (CX HD) or mid-height (MX HD). Options include commercial T-handles, E-lock keyless entry, paneled rear doors and side windoors.
Warranty: limited lifetime on the fiberglass body, 3 years on the aluminum skeleton.
- Aluminum skeleton
- Optional toolboxes, 200 lb each
Mind the Truck’s Payload
A.R.E.’s own warranty text warns that a loaded cap plus rack and toolboxes can exceed what the truck’s bed rails are designed to carry, and that weight up high raises the center of gravity. Check your truck’s payload and bed rail limits before loading the roof.
What can end up on the bed rails
About 200 lb is A.R.E.’s 2022/23 catalog weight for a standard CX or MX cap. No HD weight is published, and the internal skeleton adds to it. Rack and toolbox ratings from the HD product page. A.R.E. warranty terms for work caps
Work Cap Options From A.R.E.
- Ladder racksCommercial roof racks on DCU caps, plus an interior A-frame ladder rack.
- ToolboxesDiamond plate storage bins on HD caps and toolbox layouts on DCU caps.
- Keyless entryE-lock keyless entry on DCU and HD models.
- LightingFactory LED lighting and an LED third brake light.
A.R.E. Commercial Caps FAQ
What does DCU stand for?
Deluxe Commercial Unit, A.R.E.’s name for its aluminum work caps. The line dates back to 1979.
Can a DCU cap be painted to match my truck?
Yes, as an option on the DCU and DCU Max. The standard finish is baked enamel. The Diamond Edition stays polished diamond plate.
DCU or HD for a contractor?
DCU if you want full side doors and a bare aluminum box. HD if you want a paint-matched fiberglass cap that can still carry a 550 lb rack.
What happened to the ToolMaster cap?
It no longer appears in A.R.E.’s current lineup, though some dealers still list it. The HD caps use the same idea of a fiberglass shell over an internal frame.