Westin EXP Truck Cap Review: 2019-2024 RAM 1500 5.7ft Bed

If you drive a 2019-2024 RAM 1500 and you are tired of tarps, soaked gear, and a bed that anyone can reach into, the Westin EXP truck cap deserves a serious look. It is an aluminum cab-height topper — basically a lockable, weatherproof room bolted to your bed — and it has quietly become one of the most popular bed upgrades our Tampa customers ask about. We pulled the 5.7ft RAM 1500 application onto the bench, went through every spec, and dug into how it stacks up against fiberglass shells. Here is the honest review.

What Is the Westin EXP Truck Cap?

The Westin EXP truck cap is a cab-height aluminum bed topper designed to turn your open RAM 1500 pickup bed into a secure, sealed, weatherproof cargo area. Think of it as a camper shell built from extruded aluminum instead of fiberglass: a 5-piece modular construction that bolts on with no drilling, opens on all three sides, and locks up tight. Westin also markets it as the "EXP Topper," and it is the same product whether the listing calls it a cap, a topper, or a canopy.

What makes the EXP stand out in a crowded category is that it was built with the overlanding crowd in mind without abandoning the work-truck owner. You get genuine gear-hauling load ratings, integrated roof rails, and an interior T-slot extrusion for mounting accessories — features that usually live on caps costing two or three times as much. For a daily-driven RAM 1500 in a humid climate like ours here in Tampa, the rust-proof aluminum build is a real long-term advantage over fiberglass.

Does It Fit Your 2019-2024 RAM 1500?

This is where most buyers trip up, so read carefully. This Westin EXP application fits the 2019-2024 RAM 1500 with the 5.7ft (6'4") bed. There are two big exclusions you have to check before you order:

• RAM 1500 Classic does not fit. When the redesigned RAM 1500 launched in 2019, RAM kept building the previous-generation truck and sold it alongside as the "Classic." The two trucks have different bed dimensions. This cap fits the new body only — not the Classic.
• RamBox-equipped trucks do not fit. If your RAM has the factory RamBox storage system built into the bed rails, the cap will not mount correctly. You need a standard bed.

If you are not sure which truck you have, check the bed length and look for RamBox lids in the bedsides. Still unsure? Send us your VIN before ordering and our Tampa team will confirm the fit — it saves you a freight return on a 200 lb product.

Box 1, Box 2, and What Actually Ships

Here is the single most important thing to understand about buying a Westin EXP truck cap: it ships as a two-box LTL freight product, and this listing is Box 1 only. A complete cap requires both Box 1 and Box 2. You cannot assemble a usable topper from one box.

Competitor listings for this exact part are wildly inconsistent — some sell "Box 1 only," some sell "Box 2 only," and some bundle both. That confusion is why caps get returned. When you order through NLP Performance, make sure your cart reflects a complete cap (both boxes) before you check out. If you only see one box in your order, contact us and we will get the matching box added so your install is not stalled on the driveway.

Because the EXP moves by LTL freight, plan for a longer transit time than a small parts order and expect a curbside delivery appointment. It is heavy, oversized cargo — that is simply the nature of shipping a full truck cap.

Build Quality: Aluminum, Gullwing Doors, and Real Security

The EXP is built from a 5-piece extruded aluminum construction with double-wall aluminum panels. That matters for two reasons: aluminum will not rust, crack, or chip the way fiberglass and steel can, and the double-wall design keeps the whole structure rigid without piling on weight. The cap comes finished in a powder-coated textured black that hides scuffs and shrugs off the Florida sun.

Access is the EXP's party trick. Both sides use double-wall aluminum gullwing slide doors, and the rear door opens too — so you can load from all three sides instead of crawling through a small window. Every door uses heavy-duty locking T-handles, the rear door has an auto lock/unlock function for quick access, and the driver-side door includes an emergency interior release lever in case anyone (or any dog) ever ends up inside.

Sealing is handled by an EPDM sponge double seal that runs the perimeter and the doors. In plain terms, your gear stays dry in a downpour and dust-free on a dirt road. There is also a clear third brake light lens built into the rear so you stay legal and visible. Combine the locking handles, the sealed doors, and the solid aluminum panels and you have a genuinely secure space — far better than a soft tonneau for keeping tools, coolers, and camping gear out of sight.

Overlanding and Roof Loads: Can It Hold a Rooftop Tent?

Yes — and this is where the EXP separates itself from a basic work cap. The roof carries a 700 lb static load limit (weight it can support while parked) and a 300 lb dynamic load limit (weight while driving). The static figure is the one rooftop tent owners care about: 700 lbs comfortably supports a hard-shell or soft-shell tent plus two adults sleeping in it.

The cap ships with integrated roof rails, and inside there is an interior T-slot extrusion for mounting gear, lighting, or MOLLE panels. For a full crossbar setup, the EXP is engineered to work with Yakima TrackTower and Skyline Tower systems, Thule Rapid Podium, and the Front Runner Canopy Load Bar Kit. That means you can run a rooftop tent, recovery boards, a kayak, or an awning without a custom fabrication project. Just keep moving loads under the 300 lb dynamic limit when you are driving.

Installation: The No-Drill Process

The EXP uses a no-drill, clamp-on installation. It mounts to your RAM 1500's existing bed rails using clamps, so you never put a hole in the truck — that protects both the bed and your factory warranty, and it means the cap can come off again cleanly. Here is what the process looks like in our shop:

• Unbox and stage both boxes. Lay out the panels and hardware; the EXP arrives as a modular kit with all hardware and instructions included.
• Set the cap on the bed. This is a two-person job. At roughly 200 lbs, you want a partner to lift it onto the bed rails — do not try to muscle it solo.
• Clamp and align. Position the cap, install the bed-rail clamps, and torque them down evenly so the seal seats correctly all the way around.
• Check the doors and seals. Make sure every gullwing door and the rear door latch cleanly and the EPDM seal makes full contact.

Plan on roughly 1 to 2 hours at an intermediate skill level. Once the clamps are set, the cap can be removed in about 15 minutes if you ever need an open bed for a big haul. If you would rather not handle the lift yourself, our Tampa shop can install it for you.

Aluminum vs Fiberglass: Which Truck Cap Should You Buy?

The classic truck cap decision is aluminum versus fiberglass. Fiberglass caps look more finished and can be painted to match your RAM's factory color, but they are heavier, pricier, and harder to remove. Aluminum caps like the Westin EXP are lighter, rust-proof, easier to take off, and better suited to roof loads. Here is the head-to-head:

The verdict: if you want a color-matched, glossy show finish and you never plan to remove the cap, fiberglass still has an appeal. But for an overlander, a work-truck owner, or anyone who wants roof-load capability and a cap that survives Florida humidity, the aluminum Westin EXP is the smarter buy — and it costs roughly half as much.

Is the Westin EXP Truck Cap Worth It?

For the right buyer, absolutely. A truck cap is worth it when you actually need its job done: dry, secure, lockable cargo space and weather protection. It also keeps your RAM 1500's bed in better condition, which helps resale value. What it will not do is save you money on gas — the real-world fuel economy effect of a cap is tiny, on the order of a fraction of an MPG, so do not buy or skip one over mileage. Here is the honest scorecard:

If you want to explore other bed protection options for your truck, browse our full bed accessories collection or see everything from Westin. And if you drive a different rig, the EXP is part of a family — we have also reviewed the Westin EXP for the Toyota Tacoma.