Hondo Garage's New Thing

Sorry if I missed it earlier - did you do counter top laminate for the top of the tray and drawer faces?

 

My thoughts exactly now. But the coin it's a big investment. Now I am in a spot where I can afford it

 

Slick setup. What does that weigh? Most homebilt setups, I’ve encountered typically weigh 250-350lbs with nothing in them. One of the reasons i’ve steered clear.


If any of you dclb peeps want a usefdecked system drop me a pm, seitching my setup out again

 

Correct, its a black formica laminate.

My guess is 250, the slides alone weigh about 80 for both pairs.

 

What type of slides , Are they similar to the ones you see on fridges? Only reason I ask is becareful in cold temps, they tend to jamm, and the bearings break. speaking from experience.

Steve.

 

What kind of lights do you have mounted? easy to replace the batteries? I tried checking the products discussed below, but I dont see em.

 

Wow I love this build out. Great work! Are the panels waterproof? Based on the video of how to wash a GFC, that would be my biggest concern.

 

They are Fulterer FR 5400L, 1 52in and 1 36in. Probably similar to the ones you see on fridges, these have a load cap of 550lbs.

I got these for now, each light takes 3 AAA. Super easy to change. They are pretty bright. Working on a LED strip solution to replace them though.

Touch Led Night Light Battery Powered(3 Pack),5000k CT/36 LM,Battery Operated Push Lights Tap Light Working with 3 AAA Batteries(Not Included) Per Lamp for Closet,Cabinet,Bedroom,Kitchen,Stairs,Wall

https://www.amazon.com/SOAIY-Batter...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=7ET631N8VK143R73Z0PS

The drawer frames are coated with a bedliner so they are very waterproof. The top deck and drawers are sealed, then the top deck is cover with a marine grade carpet. Im sure I could wash it like they do, but would rather not. I've been hosing it down with the tent up and all the panels closed. Then just wiping down the interior afterwards.

 

I've worked my way backwards by about 30 pages but haven't found it... not sure I ever will, so I'll just re-ask.

Insulation & sliding windows. I want to drive this thing with my dogs in the back, pulling a trailer sometimes. I have a small passthrough window, so don't need a lot but... I do need a way to go from truck cab into bed. I had messaged the folks at GFC and they said "owners were modifying their camper for a slider" but I haven't found where that is happening yet, or how... the window seems too small because of the angled sides. Anyone do this mod? Is there a different site that might be for EVERYONE, not just Tacoma owners? So far this seems like the most definitive GFC thread on the Internet, so seems like a good place to look.

Additionally, if I ever do chilly or hot travel, I worry that the thin sheet of aluminum on the sides will do little to stave off the more extreme outside temperatures. Has anyone insulated these things? I would bet a spray on adhesive holding the rigid insulation could work to fill in faces, but would love to see these.

Are you GFC owners out there using other forums to talk about this yet, or am I really in the best place?

 

Ah man, if I could make a slider rear window work I'm going to be bummed to have the triangle shaped rear instead.

Other than Instagram this is the best place I have found for modifications so far. Searching this thread can be helpful.

 

The slider in the truck is too small to climb through, so that's not the goal. I plan to have dogs in back, the kids then in the back seat of the truck... the window would allow ventilation or passthrough, talk to the dogs, let heat/cool pass from cab back to them. It could be a flip up/down window, it could be removable, I'm just curious what others have done.

Bed rug + velcro sounds like a win, I'll have to keep that in mind.

I'm not a chevy guy, but plotting a Jeep Gladiator when they launch.

 

I asked about the possibility of getting the larger rectangular window up at the cab end and was told no. No that this solves the slider problem, but it seems they are pretty set on that triangle window being up front.

For my purposes I'm going to get a Mr Buddy heater for now and insulate the four wall panels with this: http://www.insulationstop.com/double-bubble-white-foil-insulation.html The borders will be 'hemmed' with gorilla tape and they will velcro into place. The dual sided is nice so you can have the reflective out (for the windows/heat reflection/privacy) and the white on the inside so it's not like a disco ball in there at night.

 

The glass manufacture was seen in one of the first GFC window pics. I commented about it in a post about 4mo ago or so? They come from a company out of the PNW and do custom windows for RVs and such. Possibly ping them to see what is possible?

Edit: Here's the post:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/hondo-garages-new-thing.516490/page-175#post-18128727

Peninsula Glass:
https://www.peninsulaglass.com/

I'm shooting from the hip here. How much gap is there between the GFC and the cab window? Can a low profile slider be installed on the outside of the panel and still fit? I would guess that the stock glass could be swapped or a metal panel the same shape installed? I'm kind of guessing that a slider mod might be easiest on a non-window panel?

Back to your original question, @ace7196 , I think it was said that if nothing fits, window cleaning is easiest by moving the GFC back a few inches.

This is actually important to me since I have my slider open anytime that it isn't raining, even through the winter. It leaves in the perfect amount of air. I know there would be less airflow with the GFC and a front slider, but there would still be some.

 

A square window really doesn’t work with the triangulated frame design. Depending on the material used by GFC for the window you could cut a hole and make a hinged plexi panel with gasketed edges.

 

Not that it can't be square / rectangular (smaller), just that the size chosen was the largest possible. I get why changing to square is not feasible from a parts count / vendor standpoint.

 

it would be nice if the window could just flip down, like the one in the drifter does.

 

it would be nice to have the window that has the slider and you can unlatch from inside and folds down in the bed. That style is on my current shell and makes it convenient for cleaning and access.. ive squeezed up to the front a few times to start the truck.

 

Agreed!

I tried that as a friendly bet and failed. Maybe if the slider latch wasn't there and it would open to full fixed opening? If course, I'm kinda wide / round.

 

I don't think sliding and fold down is in the cards given the limited real estate. Fold down would be nice, but I am still hoping the boot that Wiley talked about way back when still happens.

 

https://www.aircraftspruce.com/pages/ap/latches/bchsunvisor.php

Something along these lines.