AlumEscape Expo Build

Thanks!

 

Next on the list of work was some type of bed storage. After browsing some threads here and on Expedition Portal I decided I wanted to go with a platform at the height of the shelf around the bed interior and use a long drawer as my primary access instead of a from the top lid kind of deal. From there I also knew I wanted to conceal the Viair compressor and air tank and the plumbing and wiring as that's a big pet peeve of mine. I also hoped to fit some on board water into the setup to augment the 10-15 gallons I carry on my trailer.

With those needs in mind I drew up some plans to fit everything around the ARB fridge and ordered some supplies for the build. For the water system I'm running a 16 gallon tank which is about the biggest off the shelf tank I could find to fit the space I had. The pump is a flowjet 2.9GPM unit with a built in pressure switch and a separate strainer is mounted ahead of the intake. The gray 3-way valves let me draw water from the tank with the pump and output to the faucet or fill the tank using the pump and a hose run to a filterable water source.

The air compressor is a Viair 450C unit plumbed to a 2.5 gallon tank with a pressure relay of 90-120psi. I wanted have plenty of duty cycle for tire filling along with the proper pressures for future lockers.

With parts in hand I started laying things out to finalize the design!




^ Here you can see that the tank pretty much takes the full height available.

Once I nailed down the final layout the sawdust started flying. I wanted to build the unit in two pieces so it could be more easily installed and removed when needed.


^ The base started as 3/4” plywood


^ Using my Kreg jig to hide fasteners and make strong joints!


^ The drawer box starting out, still using 3/4” ply for the outer box.


^ Installing the front of the drawer box and the interior of the drawer box using 1/2” ply. I wanted to double up the drawer box sides due to my play for slides that you'll see below!


^ Second doubled-up side going in.


^ Fitting the first layer of the drawer top. Again I'm going to double up the top here as I'll still be carrying junk on top of the whole bed box so I want to have the carry capacity there.


^ This nook in front of the drawer will hold the compressor and tank.


^ Starting to double up the top layer and mocking the location for the faucet. At this point I decided I wanted to have so lift out hatches in the top of the drawer box just in case I needed to retrieve items but could not otherwise open the tailgate to pull the drawer open.


^ Mocking up the OTRATTW switches for the OBA, OBW, and topper interior lighting. I also mounted up the quick connect for the OBA.


^ Here are where the two recesses in the top of the drawer box will be where have the the lift out hatches.


^ I also cut out the bottom of the drawer box to shed weight where I can. It also makes install/removal possible so I can stand in the box and lift and slide it in and out of the bed.




^ Mounting up the compressor and tank. All the plumbing and wiring for this stays with the bed box so it can all come out when I need the bed.


^ At this point I must have stopped taking progress pictures so here it is back in the truck with both sides in.



^ Same goes for the drawer – the box is 3/4” ply and the slides are 1”x2”x1/8” rectangular aluminum tube. They glide on skateboard bearings anchored through the doubled-up walls.


^ Full extension gives tons of storage!


^ I topped the whole setup with interlocking athletic mats that finish it out for now; they are comfortable enough to crawl on and can be easily pulled to access the drawer hatches or the pluming if needed. I also finished out the drawer front with some Starboard to clean it up some. The last work needed in here will wait until spring/summer when I hope to pull it all out and coat it with some Raptor Liner.

Let me know what you think!

 

Trucks looking good. Keep it up. Love my Countersteers as well.

 

Impressive bed setup! Like that a lot!

 

Thanks, I'm digging your super white DCLB too

When I was shopping around I was torn between that, the MGM, and the pyrite mica!

 

Thanks sir! I'm pleased with it so far though I know it's on the heavy side - I'm going to try to remember to toss it on the scale next time I take it out just to get an idea of what I'm lugging around haha

 

I'll just leave this here to tease y'all for now!

 

Rad build!! Sub'd for more!

Also, Your trailer is over the top!

 

Well enough with the teaser! After lots of research and reviewing other builds on here I decided to go with the ARB 3423140.

Before getting into the install I want to thank Chas and Mike from TotalAutoParts for working with me and getting me a great deal on this next stage of my build. I'd purchased from them before for my EBC Brake Kit, brake lines and Rigid LED's (build updates coming on all these) and they were a complete breeze to deal with. I did a lot of shopping around between local and the big-box-outfitters and all in TotalAutoParts offered up the best bang for the buck and I knew my dollars were going to a good place. Through the whole process these guys work with you to get you what you need and how you need it and even made the shipping process easy; the delivery guy R&L even helped me carry all my goodies into my garage before getting on his way! All that said, I'd highly recommend that if you're in the market for auto parts (even things not listed on their website) get in contact with these guys in the Vendor section and see for yourself what they can do for you!

Now for the install! I had no idea how these things were going to be packaged but they were well packed and survived the trip with no noticeable damage. The ARB came in a total of 3 units, 1 box for the frame brackets, skid plate, nuts/bolts, frame ties, rubber bumpers, etc, 1 box for the fog light inserts, foglights and marker lights, and then the fully wrapped bullbar.









I was so impatient on the day it arrived I immediately started unwrapping things to get it at least mocked up on the truck.



I started teardown right around lunchtime and made good time getting everything pulled apart. Fortunately I had a pretty good idea how everything needed to go from doing the MGM BHLM a while back.











The first real snags came when I started putting on the ARB parts. First, the ARB instructions are not the best and include tiny black and white photos. Second, ARB puts all the fasteners in a single bag with everything unlabeled and mixed. Third, everything is metric which isn't really their fault but it's a pain to check thread sizes and pitch as I don't keep much metric stock on-hand. That said about 15 minutes of counting and sorting had the hardware figured out. The biggest fight after that was getting everything lined up, particularly the holes on the bottom ends of the factory crashbar and the ARB mount.





The frame ties are a nice touch and went on easy and use a factory hole in the frame. Top tip, the plugs rotate out and don't need to be pried out!





I hadn't cut my stock bumper at this point and had decided to order an aftermarket crash repair part to hack up and fill the gap. I ordered TO1000384 (Toyota 52119-04060 equivalent) from eBay for $84.14 to my door so it was a no brainer. The added bonus with this P/N is it's for the base model so it did not have the holes punched for the fender flare extensions – these holes are otherwise visible after the install if you run a sizable gap between the bullbar and fenders. The downside was the bumper cover hadn't arrived yet to get cut and put on so I pushed on without it. With the bar set loosely in place you can see the issue running without a bumper cover!





I wired up the foglights to my factory wiring for the time being but will eventually re-wire to use my OTRATTW switch. I wrapped up the re-assembly process in the late evening and ran it that way for about a week until the factory replacement bumper cover arrived. I made short work of hacking it up!











I loosely followed ARB guidelines with the trimming and gave myself another 3/4” to 1” past their number to where I cut. I'm glad I did as I think the ARB numbers might have been a little short for my liking with the gap I set.





These areas here are where the fender flare extension holes would have been visible. I'm really glad I went with the textured black base model cover as it was cheap and looks perfect between the bar and my MGM.



Final details included wiring up the signals which went nice and easy. I didn't use the supplied crimp splices as I don't care for the connection quality - I instead pulled the factory wires from the turn signal connectors and spiced in mid-wire and sealed with adhesive lined heat shrink tubing. This was then all hidden in the factory loom and I used some more loom and zip ties to lock down the rest of the wires and the inner fender well liners. I don't have any pics of this stuff unfortunately as it's close quarter but pretty self explanatory.



I still need to get some better install pics but the weather has gone to crap again here with highs in the 30's again. Once it warms back up I'll get some batter completion photos and get them in here. Next on the list is to stuff the Warn 9.5xp-s in but I'm going to swap in my 886 coils before doing so!

 

Thanks, I get that quite a lot haha

 

Looks damn good. The post and shout-out is greatly appreciated - our goal is to take care of you guys the best we can even if its not one of our core brands.

Im liking that you didnt trim as tight as ARB recommends, looks much cleaner. Will look perfect with the winch on.

 

This build is nuts! Your fab skills are awesome. Surprised you didnt make your own bumper. I love making things over buying them, but my work space and fabrication tools are minimal so I'm limited.

I know how you can make monies! Can you weld aluminum? Im looking to have an aluminum safari basket made. 4'x5' bout 5"or 6" deep and about 8" 45* corners. I wanna put lighting in each corner. I think its a simple project but getting it made out of aluminum is the tough part. Something like this



This has been on my mind for a while, cant shake it. If you wanna take it on as side work let me know! Your stuff is very impressive.

 

awesome builds both the truck and the trailer build over in XP

 

Thanks Chas, I have no idea what the next purchase will be but you guys will be the first to know when I know!

 

Thanks Chux! Unfortunately I can't weld aluminum (yet) and don't have all the gases (yet) to do so. I really wish I could as I would have build the frame of my trailer using it so it wouldn't have ended up as heavy.

I hear you on the satisfaction of fabbing things and completly agree. I serious contemplated building the front from scratch but I knew it'd be longer than a weekend project and couldn't have the truck down for that long or commute without a bumper. When the time comes due (hopefully this summer) I'll be doing a rear bumper and swing out carrier for the rear. That'll be done from scratch taking some of the best parts from aftermarket suppliers!

I've heard a lot about the wrenching/mod meets - where do these get posted? The NJ BS thread?? I'd be game to help others spend their cash on their builds!

 

Thanks man - A tip of the cap to you too sir for your sig - that's some pucker-factor there!

 

It was a solid day to say the least lol

 

Rear bumper build would be awesome!
If you want you can check out mine I just got with swing out.

Yupp meets and mod days are posted in the nj bs thread, just have to filter through the bs
There should be several this spring as the weather gets nicer.There is also a camp/wheeling trip to Rausch Creek April 10th-12th
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/north-east/367110-post-easter-rausch-creek-meet.html

 

Epic. Great job, man. Wow.

 

Easily one of the best builds here. What did you use to cut the bumper cover with those lines like that?