Hondo Garage's New Thing

This is what I'm hoping for. Sounds like it will be close. Is there any difference in cab height in relation to the bed between 2nd and 3rd gens? I'm assuming they're the same...

I have a 2nd gen, the back rail on my prinsu rack (as far back as it can go) is just about 2 3/4" above the roof when measured at the front edge, 3 1/4" at the back edge because the roof slopes off. 23 1/2" from the top edge of the bed to the top of the rack rail.

 

It might fit but I'd be worried about it hitting the overhang when the truck is bouncing offroad and the bed and cab flex differently. Not worth risking damage to the camper overhang just to keep the small portion of usable rack in my opinion.

 

So what's the price if it's picked up? Would allow me to break it in on the way home too.


Love the looks of this thing. Would be the perfect setup for my application.

 

We got our aluminum panels lasered the other day. This will get bead rolled to stiffen it up and more holes made for the dzus fasteners. And we started working on the hinge to make these sides operable. It’s a tricky challenge to make the hinges work with our seal and tube placement but I think we’ve got it figured out with a slick 6-bar linkage hinge. Machining prototypes of that this weekend. If it works like I think it will it’s going to be pretty rad.

 

Nice!

 

This is gonna be awesome. Super excited for the finished product and to get mine!

 

Will there be effectively two fabric rear doors on the tent, plus a screen ... so one can have any combination of closed off (for privacy/insulation), open with screen for ventilation, plus the rain/shade canopy on the stays? That's what my Tepui had; it added some weight and complexity but seemed very flexible. I've read of some RTT's that only have a screen plus a rain shade canopy, and while the latter can be left down for privacy/insulation, it tends to flap in the wind unless popped up on the stays. Thanks.

 

@dman100 just two zippered doors, the inner mesh door and the outer door that covers the entire panel and can also act as a rain dodger. The bottom of the outer door has a carbon fiber batten that keeps it from flapping when partially unzipped and rolled up. We might offer an optional door awning that isn’t a permanent part of the tent. With the side windows open and the big door open just a tiny bit this thing gets good airflow. Way more than with the big door fully open and the side windows closed. The trick is having opening at each end rather than all the mesh at one end.

 

What is the the material on the top of the tent, roof made out of? Also is there any ventilation for the roof. The one thing I really like about my RTT is the rainfly keeps air flowing between it and the tent, so you can be in direct sun, but not bake. Will the roof be strong enough to walk on? Will you have to unbolt the ends from the extrusion to get bolts in the slots? Will things like the gaskets be off the shelf items? Say this goes the way of the flip pack in ten years, will I be able to source gaskets through say McMaster Carr, or the like?
Thanks
Morgan

 

Looks AWESOME! I'm most interested in knowing how DRY it will be - Did I mention it's always f'ing raining here?

I like the unfinished aluminum look. Aluminum will get a light 'patina' and then stay that way. No need to finish it unless you want to.

 

The top panel is a composite honeycomb panel. It's white and translucent so you get interior light but it is inherently insulated and does not turn the space into a greenhouse. It's also decent in the cold. You can't walk on it, though we will have rack options that would provide a walkable deck.

There will be an optional roof fan but this thing ventilates really well due to the window placement and with the insulated roof panel it is really nice in hot environments. We're in Montana but I'm from Southern California and spend almost all my camping time in the desert or Baja so this the camper is especially well suited for hot deserts. It stays much cooler than a double wall tent.

The t-Nuts will slide right on the ends, no unbolting required. We'll also have versions that you can stick in the track anywhere and rotate 90 degrees to engage.

As for gaskets and whatnot, repairability is one of our major design targets. So the gaskets for the panels on the lower frame are all off-the-shelf items available from McMaster Carr or directly from Trim-Lok. The popup tent part doesn't have any gaskets at all.

 

Sorry if I missed it but what material will you be using for the tent portion?

 

Most likely Outdura.

 

What will you guys be using for the 3rd brakelight?

 

A system whereby two small tiki torches flare brighter due to puffs of air generated by a brake-pedal-actuated bellows.

If we can't get that system working properly then we'll just use a small LED brake light that bolts to the rear utility track.

 

I love the light weight aspect of the GFC. But cold weather/snow camping is a big factor in the solution I’m interested in. Your focus appears to be on warm weather usage.

I am thinking that a bunch of reflectix could be used for insulation, or is there something better being planned for us powchasers?

 

So I read through the entire thread this weekend, and this may just be right up my alley. However aesthetics will play a big part for me, and the soft sided version is not an option for me. I have a Decked drawer set up and my current soft toper is a pain in the ass. I hate having to unzip each side to load something in the bed. I have been leaving the rear window out, and that defeats the purpose of a topper, or at least a lot of it.
I may have missed it, but wondering what is going on for a window between the cab and bed. I would also like some info on plans for side windows. IMO another draw back of my soft topper, I hate having that additional blind spot.
Thanks
Morgan

 

Obviously a popup is not going to be as insulated as something with hard sides. That said, we will have an insulated liner option for the upper and lower made up of a snap-in thinsulate liner and lower panels made from Armaflex. I'm also planning on installing an Espar diesel/kerosene heater in mine and if that works well then we will design a kit to make the install easy.

 

On the aluminum paneled version front and rear windows will be optionally available. We won't have a side window option though. Even though the glass and aluminum densities are similar, the glass has to be three times as thick so the weight really starts to add up.

 

Definitely interested. Sub’d