1st Gen Topper Rebuild and Internal Frame

Yea that's what I was thinking too.
I emailed them about the wrong labels and they said: "Thank you for reaching out, we are aware of this. For some reason its only on a select few not all of the 1st gen Tacoma."

 

Any updates on this? Saw a van build that had a possible idea for reinforcement the roof to the bedsides. Doesn’t look like it would angle in too much.

 

Made some progress by water jetting some scrap 1/8” aluminum brackets. They seem to line up perfectly. The final ones will be 3/16 or 1/4”. I’ll have to make a variation for the front ones though.

 

Cut out all the brackets on the Waterjet using 1/4” 5052 aluminum.

 

Here’s the upper corner brackets after bending and painting.

 

Got the 2 front uprights in place. It looks like lots of measuring and modeling paid off. The brackets fit perfectly.

I need to notch the rear ones to clear the bolts that go through the roof. I didn’t account for those when I did the model.

 

Got the last 2 uprights in place. I still need to design and make the brackets that connect it to the bottom aluminum rails on the topper.

 

Love this idea, might have to copy this

 

Doesn’t look like it takes up much space. Nice.

 

I've been doing some mock ups of using draw latches instead of camper clamps.
I have tentatively decided on the style on the right since they are the cheapest and the holes line up with 10 series aluminum extrusions.

 

Did a test fit of the lower brackets with a scrap piece of 1020 extrusion. Somehow this one lined up perfectly as well.

 

Spent most of the weekend pulling the topper and installing the bottom rails and front rail. I put a 1020 extrusion on each side by drilling and countersinking 10 holes in the bottom aluminum rail in the topper. The front rail has a 1”x1” square tube running across it, so I had to drill access holes through this. Then I used self tapping screws to go into a 1010 extrusion that has a smooth side.








I also used some draw latches I got on Amazon to connect down to the ltrack fittings on my bed rails. I’ll be doing a total of 8 of these all the way around. I had to make a little spacer since the 1020 rails sit inside of an 1/8” thick lip on the topper.

 

How did the paint job go? Any tips/tricks?

 

I paid someone to do it, so that was easy on my part!

I considered using spray cans and going over it with 2k clear, but I decided against it.

 

I ended up ditching the toggle latch idea for now since they seemed to keep coming loose. I designed and fabricated some brackets to work with my old topper clamp bottoms for now.



I also mounted some fold down steps to the outside corners of the topper.

$17 Buyers Products B2797BPC Folding Safety Step And Handle With Safety Storage, Black E-Coat Finish, Multi-Purpose Step And Grab Handle For Trucks, Trailers, Busses & RVs

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000AX4HS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8
This should make it much easier to climb up top now. I was actually able to line the lower bolt up with a tnut in the aluminum extrusion inside. I just used a massive fender washer on the top for now. It holds my body weight just fine, but I may tie it into the frame later.

 

Subd. May have to copy some of this

 

Do you have any more pictures of different angles of the topper? Like from the front of the truck?

I'm looking at getting an ARE MX. What's interesting is that on a second and 3rd gen, the topper rise looks to be significantly more than it is on the first gen.
I'm wondering if they changed the mold/design from the older one you have....

 

I agree that it looks worse on the newer trucks. It definitely looks like they made the rise higher, but it could just be the angle. @QMEDJoe has one too, maybe he has some good pictures. I’ll see if I have any from the front.

Edit: Here's some of my old topper that as for a reg cab

 

Awesome thanks. Didn't really know anyone other than you that has an ARE MX on a first gen. Looks great and can't wait to get mine.
Hopefully they haven't changed the mold much from the one you have. I do know that that front window is no longer an actual window and more of just a fill plate now sadly.

 

@QMEDJoe got one recently, last year I think and it looks the same, minus the “vista” window of course. I think they got rid of the pointed corner side windows with the newer ones, but I’m pretty sure the mold is exactly the same.