Tacomarin’s Chubby Unicorn Build

Ugh. I know. Desperately trying but no free weekends for a while. Thanks!

 

Saw your sleeping platform build in Toynado's thread. Looks great. Anymore info about it? Any plans to weigh your truck when it is loaded for a trip?

 

Looking good! Can't wait to see what else you do!

 

Thanks! Yeah I’ll post more on it later this week. It’s getting close but still not complete. Can’t believe how many hours I have into it. Pretty happy with how it is coming out but man it has been a bit of a struggle!

It’s definitely heavy. Not sure how to go about weighing it fully loaded. Any recommendations? If I ever redo it I would build it all out of aluminum instead of plywood. Unfortunately I don’t really have a good means of working with aluminum these days so plywood it is. Without gear I would estimate that it is about 250 lbs. Definitely sitting a bit lower in the rear but not quite to the point of sagging just yet. I’m sure it will eventually though.

 

Ok couple more questions about your platform/drawer system. Is it modular? I looks as if you could take out one side or the other. What mattress is that? Looks plush.

 

Yes it is modular. Each drawer box is stand alone and bolts down into the bed. Though they are damn heavy, so two people are needed (or get creative with saw horses).

Mattress is here:

Lucid 4" Folding Mattress & Sofa with Removable Indoor/Outdoor Fabric Cover, Full

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M4NBILW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

So far it's quite comfortable and being able to fold it up and push it up against the cab is pretty handy too.

 

Awesome platform build. Looks very functional.

 

Overdue update on some other additions:

TRD Pro Peoples Replika Grille installed a couple weeks ago. Found the factory garnish but couldn't find anyone willing to sell me the grille, but Yan-Linm on ebay had no problem supplying me a great quality look-alike. This was the silliest add-on but I think it makes the front look way better. I'm sure there is a better way to spend $170 (grille and garnish) but it's pretty good bang for the buck.



Also installed the BeatSonic anytime front/rear camera. This was more of a pain in the ass than expected because the instructions were garbage and their switch doesn't fit in the only switch spot I had available. Fortunately I was able to open up a CH4x4 front camera switch and drop in the internals from the BeatSonic switch. Probably any of the larger format switches would work but I just got the CH4x4 one because I plan on using their switches elsewhere. I'll do a more thorough write-up on the install later but the front camera is really helpful and the anytime rear camera can be pretty helpful too since visibility out of the camper shell isn't great.



Lastly getting the drawer setup close to completion and took the truck out for our first family camping adventure in Mendocino National Forest. Did quite a bit of off-pavement travel on some fairly rugged forest service roads. Some in better shape than others, some that just disappeared into nothingness, and a lot with some pretty sizeable ruts to navigate. Truck did great, tires were awesome especially given the recent rain and muddy conditions, and we had a blast for sure. Definitely need a suspension upgrade for the added weight to the rear, so that will likely be next on the list.

 

I'm liking where you're going...

 

Thanks man! More coming soon...

 

Seeing other DCLB w 4x4 and some actual off road use around these parts makes me happy.

You ride MTB too?

 

Yeah man for sure! Too many fancy rigs in these parts that never see dirt (looking at all you land rover and land cruiser owners in Mill Valley).

I do like to get out on the MTB as often as possible. You ride too? Where are you located?

 

Haha, yup.

I'm in novato, ride Tamorancho, china camp and some other places around the bay. Surf, play tennis, soccer, golf, etc. too many hobbies. #recproblems

 

I've been trying to guess where you're at based on that culdesac in pics. I'd say San Anselmo.

 

...Or terra Linda.

 

I'll send you a PM

 

Nice to see another cement build.

 

China Camp is cool. My brother was camp host there a couple seasons.

 

Camp host Seems like a chill way to vagabond life a little. Pick a different camp each season.

 

Some people do it full time. My brother lived up in the bay area then. Now he's camp host at his house in OR.