Tacoma Habitat AT

Shipping will vary for each person depending on how far away. It was stout, but a wash if I had went to go pick it up. We used a forklift with c channels c clamped to the forks to make them longer to avoid removing the window, and a stack of pallets covered in blankets to set it on initially, took about 3 hrs total at a full mechanical shop. 2 Guys. Had to modify the inside brackets to fit around the bed stiffeners. Just took them to an iron worker and clipped off the aluminum angles at a 45 degree angle to make them fit. It was a really easy install if you're mechanically inclined, but $500 is about right in my book. And you have to wire the top light to the tail lights.

 

That makes more sense then. If they're wiring the brake lights and cleaning and prepping that much then the value is obviously there. $500 isn't easy to swallow for driving at least a day to get there though.

 

FYI, for me it took about half a day for install. Not just a couple hours.

 

Can you confirm that by VAR you are referring to a Value Added Reseller? If so then, again, this installation is charged by AT Overland themselves, not someone reselling their product.

 

I drove to Goose Gear in Westminster from NorCal to do the install, it was actually a bigger pain for them because I had another cap previously installed, a standard SnugTop Rebel. But the installer at CampWay used a Urethane Caulk as a sealant, and as we all know, gotta use some elbow grease to scrape it off because Acetone would eat the paint. But it was a much more agreeable solution than driving to AT in Arizona.

Fortunately for me I was out in LA visiting friends and photographing models, so it wasn't like I just came down for the install.

YMMV.

 

it is cool and if your truck is strictly for this then I can't see why not

but can't see daily driving with that thing on and I feel it would be a royal PITA to take on and off plus you'd still need to store it.

 

I call them VARs, but I will assume that AT will call them Authorized resellers. I just don't want to type authorized reseller. But VAR is an accurate description because Goose Gear resells the Habitat but also sells their own equipment, does installs, sells other products as an overland outfitter and are also the PoC if I have issues with the unit. The standard install fee for AT still makes sense because Habitats don't install themselves. The Habitat wasn't cheap to make because there's a lot of time spent during prototyping to full production. The demand is super high on this unit so if you wait a few years, you might be able to get a used one for a lot cheaper.

I mean, someone locally was going through a divorce and actually sold their's for 8000 even, but that would've been the driveway install w/o any sort of help or support from AT if you mess up. so yea.

 

indeed, one of the things we miss about the rtt. overall I think its a better set up. jsut bought a cvt awning room and will be using it under the habitat as a sleeping rm for the kids

 

That's a bummer. I wonder what the logistics were behind not adding another few inches of buffer to the top for bedding and what not. I'm sure they had some reasoning.

 

probably the fact that the mpg impact was like 16 to 12 on regular.

 

I've had mine for over a year now. Its sort of a novelty, but does the job well. Only issue is the socket ends on the support poles are cracking. My girlfriend and I only weight 300 together. Also, the finish on the aluminum is staining and oxidizing in quite a few places

 

Yikes that doesn't sound good. I wonder how it'd hold up for me. Combined me and my girlfriend are 400 or so and would camp about 30+ days a year in it. How often are you using it?

 

About 80 days out of the year. It should be an easy quick fix, but just something to think about. I also can't find a good way to keep it from leaking at corners of the truck bed near the cab. Water always finds a way in. Probably an issue with most toppers though.

 

Oh damn. 80 days out of the year is a lot. I can't get out of work that long, ha! That's also a big bummer on the leaking at the corners. I'm sure there is a fix for it but would expect that to be sealed. My Leer doesn't leak at all (at the moment). I'd need this to be fully weathersealed as I store my camera/drone gear in drawers in the bed.

 

There are drain holes near the front of the cab and also the cubbies on either side have drainage holes on the top and bottom and are also unsealed where they meet the bed so they easily leak.

Jon Burtt uses a bedrug for his Flippac install which practically eliminates water intrusion from everywhere except the storage containers at the by the tailgate and the tailgate itself. CampWay uses urethane caulk as a solution for spot leaks.

 

104 weekend days, 11 or so standard holidays, and 2 weeks PTO. That's what, like 125 days?

 

Ha, you right! I'm a dummy and wasn't even factoring the weekends. It's been a long day

 

Don't doooo it!