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

If you drive a 2019–2024 Ram 1500 with the 5'7" bed and you are tired of tarping your gear every time a Tampa thunderstorm rolls in, the Westin EXP Truck Cap turns that open bed into a locked, weatherproof, load-rated cargo box. It is a five-piece extruded-aluminum cap with gullwing side doors, a 700 lb static roof rating, and a true no-drill, bed-rail clamp install. After fitting Westin EXP caps on customer trucks in our Tampa shop, we put together this full review of the Westin EXP Truck Cap for the 2019–2024 Ram 1500 — what it is, how the two-box system works, how it stacks up against a tonneau cover or a fiberglass shell, and exactly which part numbers you need to order.

Westin EXP Truck Cap at a Glance

A truck cap (also called a camper shell, canopy, or bed topper) is a hard, cab-height enclosure that mounts over your pickup bed to lock and weatherproof everything inside. The Westin EXP is Westin's aluminum, overland-style take on the format, and the version built for the 2019–2024 Ram 1500 fits the 5'7" (DT body) short bed specifically — it does not fit the older Ram 1500 Classic. Instead of a heavy molded fiberglass shell that has to be color-matched and craned into place, the EXP ships flat-packed in extruded-aluminum panels and assembles into a rigid, double-walled box that clamps to your bed rails without a single hole drilled in the truck.

How the Two-Box EXP System Works (Box 1 + Box 2)

The single most important thing to understand before you buy: the Westin EXP for the Ram 1500 ships as two separate boxes, and you need both to build a complete cap. Box 1 is the top — the roof and rear-door canopy piece. Box 2 is the sides-and-hardware kit, which includes the gullwing side panels and all the clamps, seals, and fasteners that tie the cap to your bed. Order one without the other and you will be staring at half a cap in your driveway. Because the boxes ship separately and price out individually, double-checking that both are in your cart is the most common mistake we help Ram owners avoid.

For the 2019–2024 Ram 1500 5'7" bed, the math is straightforward: the standard Box 1 top is $942.99 and the Box 2 sides-and-hardware kit is $2,736.99, so a complete cap lands at roughly $3,680. That is the all-in number to budget for — still hundreds less than comparable steel overland canopies, and you can spread the two boxes across separate orders if you want.

There is also an upgraded Box 1 top for the Ram 1500 that adds a sliding front glass panel for cab-through visibility and airflow. If you want that feature, pick this top instead of the standard $942.99 piece — you still only buy one Box 1 top, then add Box 2. It is the same no-drill cap, just with a different front-window configuration.

Gullwing Doors, Rear Hatch, and Real Bed Access

What sets the EXP apart from a traditional camper shell is how you get to your stuff. Both sides use full-length, double-walled aluminum gullwing "windoor" side doors that lift up on struts, so you can reach all the way across the Ram's bed from either side without climbing in. Each side door uses a locking T-handle, and there is an interior emergency-release lever so no one ever gets trapped inside. At the back, the rear lift door is fob-operated and can be synced to auto lock and unlock with the truck. For loading kayaks, tools, camping totes, or a dog crate, three-sided access beats reaching over a tailgate every time.

Weather sealing is handled by an EPDM sponge double seal around the doors and panels, and a clear third-brake-light lens is included so your Ram stays street-legal and visible. Owners consistently describe the cap as weathertight; the one caveat we have seen is minor water at the very back, which traces to the factory tailgate gap rather than the cap's own seals.

Will It Fit Your Ram 1500? Classic and RamBox Warnings

This cap is built for the 2019–2024 Ram 1500 on the current DT body with the 5'7" bed — that covers Tradesman, Big Horn, Laramie, Rebel, Limited, and TRX trims. Two fitment traps catch shoppers:

1) It does not fit the Ram 1500 Classic. The Classic rides on the older DS body with a 6'4" bed and needs a completely different Westin EXP part. If your truck is a 2019–2025 "Classic," shop the Classic-specific cap instead — do not cross-shop the two. 2) It is not compatible with the RamBox bed-storage option. The factory in-bed RamBox lids occupy the rail space the cap clamps to, so trucks equipped with RamBox cannot run the EXP. Confirm your bed length and whether you have RamBox before ordering, and when in doubt, send us your VIN and we will verify fitment for you.

Add the Windows: Front and Rear Glass Options

Westin offers matched front and rear EXP windows for the Ram 1500 if you want to add or replace glass — handy if you chose the standard top and later want a front cab-through window, or you need a replacement after years of service. Both panels share fitment with the 2019–2023 Ram 1500 5'7" bed (and the 2021–2023 F-150 SuperCrew 5.5' bed), and both are optional add-ons rather than required pieces of the base cap.

What to Order for Your 2019–2024 Ram 1500

Here is the entire Westin EXP lineup we stock for the 2019–2024 Ram 1500 5'7" bed, with the role each piece plays and whether you actually need it. The short version: pick one Box 1 top, add the Box 2 sides-and-hardware kit, and choose any window upgrades you want.

EXP vs Tonneau Cover vs Fiberglass Cap

The Westin EXP is an aluminum overland cap — a hard, cab-height canopy designed for Ram 1500 owners who want lockable, weatherproof, load-rated bed storage. Here is how it compares to the two alternatives most Ram owners cross-shop:

EXP vs a tonneau cover: A tonneau (soft or hard) lies flush with the bed rails, helps fuel economy, and costs far less — but it gives you zero standing cargo height, no roof load capacity, and no enclosed dry space. Choose the EXP when you need to carry tall gear, mount a rooftop tent or roof rack, or lock up tools out of the weather. Choose a tonneau if you only ever cover low cargo and want the lowest-profile, lowest-cost option.

EXP vs a traditional fiberglass cap (ARE, LEER, SnugTop): A molded fiberglass shell can be painted to perfectly match your Ram's factory color for a seamless OEM look, and it often costs less up front. The trade-offs are weight, the lack of a load-rated roof for a rooftop tent, no full-length gullwing access, and fiberglass's tendency to crack or chalk over years of Florida sun. The aluminum EXP will not rust or crack, carries a 700 lb static roof, opens on three sides, and clamps on or off with no drilling — at the cost of a textured-black finish rather than a paint-matched one.

The Honest Pros and Cons

Installation: No-Drill Clamp-On

Installation is one of the EXP's strongest selling points. The cap assembles from its panels and then clamps directly to the Ram's factory bed rails — no drilling, no permanent modifications. Westin rates it as an intermediate, no-special-tools job, and in practice most owners spend about 1–2 hours assembling and mounting it. Plan on it being a two-person task: there are a lot of bolts, and you will want a second set of hands to lift the assembled shell onto the bed and hold panels while you fasten them. Because everything clamps rather than bolts through sheet metal, the whole cap comes back off cleanly if you sell the truck or need the open bed for a weekend.