Show me your shell!

never owned one but looked at em up close before....nice shell.

http://www.centurycaps.com/Fiberglass-Caps

 

Here's my leer I just picked up off a TW member.

Traded my access literider tonneau + $175 cash for it

 

Looks good! That's a pretty good deal too.

 

Leer 100R.. definitely the most useful item i put on my truck

 

Operation Camper Shell.

Good afternoon all. I figured that best way to resolve my conundrum is to post this question and hopefully my fellow Floridians could help me find an answer.

The research:

I spent weeks researching this topic and thanks to both my scuba forums as well as Tacoma forums I am able to piece bits of information together that will help me with a purchase of my camper shell. I have also looked at some feedback on topics like sleeping in camper shell, creating compartments for scuba gear, putting in a connection between truck’s rear window and camper shell front window for air conditioning, I have looked at waterproofing and putting in water proof (or resistant) carpets. I have also looked at some Florida laws on ability to transport people in back of trucks and there is no clear answer on that one either. It varies state to state and county to county.
Objective:

Purchase Silver Streak Mica camper shell with side and front windows, install a lock into tailgate, connect truck and camper shell through rear window for air conditioning and installing either rear facing seats or a bed wide air mattress. Goal is to transport myself and my family from Tampa area to Key West. Truck was perfect for 5 of us except that they are bringing an additional adult causing issues with seating availability in truck itself. So since I need to buy a camper shell anyways we are thinking of ways in which we don’t have to rent a van to drive 8 some hours each way since I already have a car.



Task:


Housing 2 kids age 9 and 11 or one adult in back of truck under camper shell on our April vacation in Florida for a long trip from Tampa area to Key West with multiple stops along the way (yeah we all know how it is traveling with girls and their bathroom breaks). It is possible that we may stop in Key Largo like we always do for a day or so.



Proposed modifications to camper shell/truck bed:

1ft elevated floor made of about 1 inch thick plywood. Various compartments within that floor to store scuba gear, towels etc. Each compartment will be hinged and can be independently opened of others. When closed it will make solid floor on entire truck bed. 2 removable rear facing seats or a 1980’s station wagon style bench seat mounted to the back of camper shell (where it meets with truck’s rear window) with lap seat belts (like in airplanes). Limo tinted windows (of course). 2 large cargo dividers so that 6 bags of stuff do not come sliding into front of bed when stopping.

Questions and concerns:

1. Is this legal? I have researched far and wide and so far overall idea is questionably legal/illegal with no clear answer.
2. When connected (camper and rear window on truck), will air conditioning be sufficient for passenger(s) in back of truck or will additional accommodations be required? I know here in Florida it does get pretty hot so ambient temperature outside in April should be around mid 80’s.
3. Have anyone ever attempted this for long journeys and if so what were your concerns or complications?
4. Based on provided design where do you see room for improvement?

Thank you for your feedback.

 

Am I reading this right?

putting in a connection between truck’s rear window and camper shell front window for air conditioning....


Are you planning on using the truck's AC for this? While parked?...If so, you may now wake up to see the sun...I would not put my kids in the back. Too noisy and too hot despite the attempt to run AC to the back. Get a Sienna instead. Just my opinion.

 

Probably my next mod as well. I like the snugtop, but would have to order it from DFW. No dealers near me. I may just have to go with a Leer.

 

Snugtop CabHigh... Love it. I paid just over $2000... but it's got all the goodies, color matched, spared no expense.

 

Nope the goal is to put 2 kids or 1 adult for 1-2 hour stints of 8 hour journey from Tampa down the coast, across the state, down through florida keys. People will NOT be sleeping in it and will not be in it while vehicle is parked.

Thank you for bringing up the noise concern, I have given it little consideration prior to now. Something I will need to investigate asap.

 

This is my plan:

Please note original photo was not taken by me. It is copyright to a guy who posted it in the thread. All I did was sketch up a few modifications I am considering.

 

badass!

 

Here's a bed platform that I did for camping. It's a snug fit for me and my base is only about 9-10" tall. I can't really sit up comfortably. If you're putting the seats on top of the platform, I don't think they'll be able to sit up. 3' is about the width of a house door. Have someone lie down in the doorway like they were seated to see how much headroom there would be. Subtract the riser portion of your chair and that's how much room you'll have.

It doesn't sound very safe though. You're going to need to mount the platform so it's strong enough to withstand the truck tipping on it's side or overturning. You don't want them to get crushed by the gear and the platform. The seats would also have to be permanently mounted to the truck itself with seat belts. You couldn't just tack them onto the platform. I doubt you could legally make them out of plywood either.

 

I am tallest member of my family and when fully upright (ie sitting on floor with straight back).. I measure about 28-30 inches. I have never had an opportunity to measure anyone's camper shell. What is the average height of truck floor to ceiling (of camper shell)? I thought it was 38 inches give or take a smidgeon. But this is all good research. Experience showed that it is better to anticipate any at all issues that may arise such as this. Research continues.

 

snugtop rebel

 

I am 5 foot 10 and with my cab high shell I can just barely sit up straight with my butt on the bed floor and my head touching the top of the shell.

 

I am 5ft 7 inches tall. My sisters are probably around 4ft so height is not really an issue. I am, however having a really tough time trying to locate a used camper shell through classifieds. My next step would be to swing by the truck topper place not that far from me. I know they sell used ones and new ones. I just dont want to dish out 1500 some bucks plus tax for something that I can pick up at half cost. I dont mind a few scratches. From what I understand that place carries leer products so my topper would be a leer if I buy from them. We have a few more topper places nearby but in shady areas if you know what I mean and I dont really want to drive there.

 

Here's my A.R.E.
Picked up off Craigslist. Great deal on it. Haven't been able to paint it yet, but it's going to happen some day.

 

I still haven't seen the legalities of this posted, but a fiberglass shell isn't going to protect them if you crash or get into an accident. The bed isn't designed as a passenger compartment so there's no roll cage, side reinforcement, etc. If anything, the bed is probably designed to buckle and absorb energy that would otherwise further damage the cab. Something to consider anyway. Never know what'll happen during 1-2 hrs on a highway. Especially in Florida with all the retirees and illegals.

Edit:
Not to mention the bed is essentially plastic that may shatter under impact rather that steel that would absorb it better.

 

I did find out that it is legal to have people in back of your truck in florida pending they are sitting down and not standing up. I like how you keep bringing up safety concerns because after all safety is of utmost importance when it comes to me and my family... but having said that you can be as safe as you can possibly be.. walk outside and have a plane fall on top of you... so while it never hurts to be too safe.. sometimes you have to take chances. In my case this is not a very anticipated event. I bought my truck specifically so it could fit 5 people and not 6. We are still trying to figure things out and I hope that come end of the month we can all (within my family) figure out the best way out of this.

 

I know the feeling of not having enough room for a 6th person. I got my truck to tow, haul cargo, and have more room than the Corolla we also had at the time. Unfortunately nothing short of a minivan (which we both don't want), or an SUV we couldn't afford there's no vehicle to seat 6. My wife and I have 3 kids, but her eldest (a 4th) doesn't live with us. So 5 is good most of the time, but it means we can't bring her with us. We will do short trips with the 4 of them in the back, but I have no idea if that's legal since 2 share a seat belt. And it's usually just a 10 minute ride between our house and my in-laws.