Bed cage over shell or reinforced camper shell options

So i've been looking for options to put more weight over the camper shell. Been trying to find either a bed cage that goes over an ARE camper shell or to use the bed rails that reinforce the mounting points within the shell as a skeleton to a roof rack.

So im looking for answers of actual products being offered or a fabricator in southern california who made one.

Ive searched all over the place with different key words for the past month on this forum and google.

So far it seems like a ladder rack for tacomas is an option but i dont like the height and looks pretty ugly.

Ive foud this https://www.google.com/search?q=cam...oECBEQAg&biw=412&bih=718#imgrc=FI5gJTaX576kgMbut its in austrailia and expensive to ship to the states.

Most things on here are fabracated but im hoping there is an actual product that is cheaper.

More options are usually for softoppers.

Thx guys been going mad over this.

 

Need to seek out those guys who fab the exoskeleton on 4x4's. If they can do this, they can fab to support anything. Pic included. I would do it but Cali is way to far..lol
Zim

 

Thx. Yeah but im scared of what something like that would cost. I guess ill start to research fabricators in the area.

Hopefully somebody in this forum knows a produc . Crossing finger .

 

Definitely would be interested in any info you find.

 

Yeah definately. Its going to be soon since im selling all of my current camping setup. Need something before next season.

 

Fly him out OP!!!

 

Dont worry. Me and klutch going to Tijuana while our bed racks are getting fabricated.

 

you’re in luck I know Spanish haha

 

Sooo... i might spend a day taking measurements on what i want the rack to look like and having a local fabricator build it for me.

You guys think 3/4 inch tubing with 1/16 walls will be too weak? Should i go with 1/8?

Not a fan of the large 1 1/2 tubing typically used in bed cages

 

Shoot this guy a DM and see if he will share his fabricator's info. I am sure he can make one for a hard shell as well.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/lets-see-some-softoppers.277644/page-280#post-24040416


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I was also looking into this but couldn't find any available options.
It might be difficult to fab one for a camper shell because of the overhanging lip on the sides too. Gotta get creative with how its mounted

 

Yeah. Im pretty much accepting that will have to cut sections of the camper for cage mounting points.

 

Dang.... if i had a pet kangaroo i wouldnt have a this issue. Aussies have all the gear.

Company aeroklas makes an awesome support bar

 

I was thinking cut the camper shell or maybe create a 1/4" spacer to raise the whole thing and provide gaps in that spacer for mounting points.
That way, the overhang on the sides would no longer get in the way.

 

Well that was a extreme example I posted. My idea was a slightly smaller frame on the back half of the truck, maybe tie into a headache rack of some sort with a cab over roof rack.
Zim

 

Yeah. I have some ideas brewing right now. I was debating for the supports to go outside of the shell or in.

I pretty much made the conclusion to build within because the ARE side windows are so big and would make the outer cage look really awkward (since i didnt want to block the swing open side doors)

Its going to be a 2 part frame. 1 inside of the shell and a top portion that is going to be the roof rack. None of the weight would be put on the shell at all. Holes will be drilled on the shell to let the both pieces to attach and rubber gussets will be used to seal the openings.

Im pretty much the one going to be designing/measuring it and use any welder that can make a good welds and bend pipe.

 

How much weight are you trying to put up there ? I have the Leer 100 RCC commercial cap and load it pretty heavily

 

Up to 400 lbs when driving and 800 to 900 lbs when parked.

 

Out here in LA i see a lot of contractors use this system, the rack covering the shell, what you do is find the rack and put the shell in with the forklift

 

That might be more than I put up there