Chux's 2013 Beach Buggy Build

Really stoked on my molle rear seat panel from Blue Ridge Overland Gear. Great product! Grabbed a couple Condor molle pouches from Amazon to get things organized. Broke down a big first aid kit I had to just the essentials into a tare away first aid pouch to keep on the truck at all times.

http://www.blueridgeoverlandgear.com

 

Lol I see a wine cork screw made it onto the pouch

 

Jay in the GT:

 

Dude your rack game is on point. Im considering going with a cab rack and getting a softtopper or a bestop. I can't find a used camper and i am getting impatient

 

for the lady

My phone is eerily quiet

Thanx Dude! With my last truck I came across a hard shell bed cap in a junk yard super cheap, thats when I fell in love with them. When I bought this truck it was the first thing I wanted and paid 1500 for it. As of now I go back and forth between a soft topper and a hard shell... I wouldnt sell my cap now because of all the mods I have done to it and will be doing to it but if I could go back I think I would go soft topper for the money. And tan canvas looks mean on pyrite mica. If I had a soft topper tho I would for sure get an exo bed rack for it. Allows for a variety possible setups.

 

I like the soft tops too but would have to get a new exo rack to go over it. I think the hardshell would work well for me. i will just either have to be patient or bite the bullet. To be honest if i got one i would want the windoors all the way around which is not a common feature. May just have to go get one....

 

I agree, I bought my cap without thinking bout much else. I would love to open the side to access the bed, then latch and lock closed. Mine slide open halfway with a screen so at least it can be aired out in summer months.

I believe ARE is the cap your looking for.

 

Yep, definitely would get windoors if I could. Got my shell used and wanted to add the windoors later only to find that they don't make them for my shell model. Local place quoted me $1100 for a new leer with windoors though. Not worth it to me but not a bad price.

 

Is LEER or ARE typically more $$?

 

I think they are pretty equal. Snugtop is usually more $

 

I really cant tell the difference. I just want a top with windoors on both sides that i can bolt my rack to the top of..... is that to much to ask?

 

Theyre are slight differences but if you dont care just start calling up getting quotes, try different dealers too.

 

Just finished up a rack build, really stoked with it.

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/other-builds/362841-my-custom-prinsu-roof-rack.html

 

ive got a possible bestop for $300 on TW!! Hopefully it works out and he doesn't gouge me on shipping. The top looks to be in great shape.


http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2n...-bestop-supertop-off-13-access-cab-300-a.html

 

Sweet im going to go on it and

 

Dayum Dood! I just looked up new ones for comparison and had no idea they are 700.. So you going to sell your rack and buy an exo rack?

 

Umm im not sure yet. I want a shell bad. I think for what i do i could get away with not having a rack over the bed. I like having my rack but if I got some type of cab rack i could do without. I would prob just keep my bed rack and see if i like having a shell. I dk at this point but for the right price I may just get the soft top. This dude is also selling them brand new for $540 shipped to your door!! Pretty tempting as well. Best top or softopper if you had to have one?

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2n...18376-fs-bestop-supertop-tacoma-5-6-beds.html

 

I've got the bestop, and I absolutely love it! The worry people always had about the windows is misplaced. This isn't the old type of plastics used 10-15 years ago. they are very resilient. The top itself is very easily folded up for use of the bed anytime. Cold weather much more difficult, but I think you run into that problem with either this or the Softopper due to the stretchability in the cold weather. 300 hundred is a great deal, I got mine used for about that price too. I think shipping from Texas to Mass was 50-60 bucks when I got mine last year.
I'm not a fan of the way the rear window of the softtopper fits to the tailgate because they overlap. For the amount I'm in and out of the back having to undo the back window each time would drive me nuts. I've seen a few guys run the bestop/softtopper with elevated bedbars inside and that seems to work pretty well making it flexible for storage as well.
I have visions of being able to fabricate a slimline exo to fit around the bestop out of plate keeping it as low profile as possible but no money any less than no time prevents me from ever getting that off the ground. The idea is there though I guess that's half the battle.
Sorry for cluttering up your build thread Chux, I just wanted to throw my 2 cents out there for ragincajun.

 

Thanks ERMB..... Chux please proceed with your beautiful build thread

Whats next on your list?

 

No worries Scott

Well with the cabrac installed I realized I need to raise the rear thule racks 5" to clearence anything over the cab. Like surfboards, SUPs, fishing poles, etc.. So my original thought was to make a sort of polyurethane body lift for the Thule racks. I started searching and searching for something that would work. In the mean time I had a secret bed bar build I was doing for a local TW friend who's always helping everybody out, so I wanted to help him out. I got together with JLink and fabbed up a set of bars. Couple weeks ago I surprised him with it.




Turned out great! Then I started thinkn bout a basket on my cap to get the 5" rise I need to clear the height of the cabrac. Then the gears started turning I started looking up roof baskets but couldn't find anything I liked, mostly everything was nut and bolt assembly made very cheap. After just making the bed bars I realized I could make my own. Came across a couple safari baskets I'm going to base my basket off of.




I plan on putting surf pads on the front and rear of the basket so not only will it be a board rack again, but I can now throw extra beach or camp gear in it to not pile everything in the bed.