Show me your high rise shells/mx!!

I just ordered mine!! can’t wait. ⏰

 

The MX is worth the wait. I'm a bit disappointed at the build quality with the walk-in, particularly at the top of where the tailgate used to close. It's nothing I can't fix with some extra weatherstripping, but after dropping $4200 on the thing, I'd expect to have to do absolutely nothing at all.



Options:
ARE MX ($1700)
Walk-in option, carpeted ($1200)
Outdoorsman windoors ($600)
Toolbox #2, Driver side ($250)
Tilt-down front slider ($100)
Roof rack tracks ($175)
Carpet ($120)

I had a non-matched (Inferno) ARE V Series for a year -- see this thread for what it looked like: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...ries-long-bed-inferno-1100-atlanta-ga.540790/. The MX and the walk-in are upgrades in every way, other than the added weight. The interior is absolutely huge compared to the V series. I was afraid I'd regret the cost, but it was entirely worth it.

I'm getting the same gas mileage with the MX as I did with the V series. Both are about 1mpg better than stock (no topper).

 

I agree I’m glad I went with that. I’m not sure how useful that 12v power source will be eh I’ll take it haha.

 

Do you plan on sleeping back there? If so the 12v block is super useful. If you don't plan on sleeping back there, it is probably run straight to your battery so it will be powered even when the truck is off, that could be useful for charging a phone while camping or something.

I have the power block and use it all the time.

Edit: I should add that I have heard some installers run the power for the block off of the brake light or some other place that means you have to have the keys in the car for it to work. When you go in for your install, I would make sure they run it straight from the battery.

 

I added a Bajarack to the top of my MX. Tons or room for storage up there and on the cab now. I have a foxwing awning on order that will mount to it. I'm considering adding solars to the rack on the MX and a low profile pelican case for recovery gear, but haven't gotten there yet. I'm leaving the one on the cab empty for now, I'll mount maxtrax and put firewood or miscellaneous up there when I camp. Long-term, my kids will sleep up there in an RTT. They're young enough to sleep in the cab right now though.



I used a MegaMule on the ARE MX, reusing the mounting brackets it came with and slightly modifying them to fit the tracks in the topper. It's stout and looks great.

 

Good looking truck!

 

Where you given an option to keep your back up camera? I just got a quote for the same set up but didn’t notice an option for it?

 

Here is my setup so far, still debation on a FrontRunner rack on the topper.

 

Camping setup in here??

 

Do you have a build thread for your truck? Or interior pics of the shell? Provably going with the MX myself.

 

No build thread, no one has ever asked. I probably should do a build thread though.

What on the inside do you want pics of? I can get some tomorrow if you want.

 

Camping setup if you have one. Probably going to run this plus an awning as an overland setup to make a trip to Alaska.

 

I have a 1-year old and a 4-year-old, so the truck has only been on day trips offroad, with family vacations or work travel and commuting otherwise. I don't have much of anything for camping done yet. I have a dometic fridge and the wood I need to build a platform, but no time to do it.

We bought this mattress in 2015 and it's a perfect fit, so I'm designing the platform to sit high so the fridge can be under it: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00SNOFSWK

Hope the pics help, let me know if you want closeups of anything:




I added the toolbox on the driver side, it was worth every penny. I have tools and some recovery gear sorted. Dog stuff and kid stuff is mixed in there too:




Rear hatch. The glass door opens, or the entire rear end lifts up like a giant SUV. I use the glass door more than the big hatch, but the hatch is great for loading up a rack worth of servers for work or a bunch of boxes for work.

My bumper's a SOS Offroad Concepts HC rear. I am doing some custom work on the swingout, so I haven't put it on yet. The license plate usually mounts on a flip-up bracket over the trailer hitch; I removed that bracket because I use the hitch a lot.




Here's a panorama of the interior. I'm squatting, there's TONS of headroom. Note the toolbox is open on the top to the camper... When I make the camp platform, I'm going to box that in with wood and build an interior cabinet up there.




On the front window of the topper, I ordered a tilt-down slider. It was extra for the option, but I wanted it to clean out the rear cab window. The window flips down just enough for me to stick my arm in there to clean the windows before it hits the toolbox. The dealer was hesitant, but I insisted.

I considered doing two toolboxes, but I am glad I didn't. If you look at the panorama, you can see the toolbox blocks the rear window almost completely. One is a great compromise because you can get a foxwing awning on that side and have coverage over the hatch and the camping gear for outside right there, without taking up too much interior room. I have a 2.5m square foxwing on order that should arrive by the end of July. I'm excited to eventually get it on there when I have time.

 

So you’ll put the awning on the driver side to access the cabinet or passenger side?

 

Driver side awning. It's a 2.5 meter, so it should cover the driver side rear door, driver side toolbox, and door in the back.

 

Hey I just picked up a used cap with the rack rails already installed. What do you guys recommend for the actual rack set up? At most it'll carry a basket, kayak and bicycles.

 

I have a 1-year old and a 4-year-old, so the truck has only been on day trips offroad, with family vacations or work travel and commuting otherwise. I don't have much of anything for camping done yet. I have a dometic fridge and the wood I need to build a platform, but no time to do it.

We bought this mattress in 2015 and it's a perfect fit, so I'm designing the platform to sit high so the fridge can be under it: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00SNOFSWK


I really like your shell. Looked a year ago for one but too much $. Thanks for the photos.

 

How did you have to modify the brackets? I'm looking a the same rack and have an MX.

 

No walk-in option. I like my tailgate. Factory Yakima rails, slider and drop front window, a carpet interior full installation. $2700.

 

How does that Tab pull behind your Tacoma?