Hondo Garage's New Thing

The basic structure. Still needs finish welding and Dzus tabs for the panels. Looks heavy but it only weighs 60 lbs.

 

ooh you guys will be using dzus fasteners for the aluminum sides?

Ive only heard of using them on my fairings for motorcycles when racing. Guess they could have this application too.

 

They are used on race cars, airplanes, helicopters......

 

Invented for airplanes, then used on race cars and much later applied to motorcycles...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dzus_fastener

 

who wouldve thought lol

 

That's just purdy!

I'm building the GFC fund!

 

As others have pointed out, they're used on lots of cool stuff. They're a nice slick way of attaching panels that need to be removable. The biggest advantage is that they're 1/4-turn and won't vibrate loose. Plus the spring catch allows some give making the panel less likely to develop cracks where it's affixed to a more rigid structure.

 

I cant wait to see the photos of the aluminum plates on that frame.

 

Quite interested as well. In for progress pictures.

 

Can't wait to see pics of the hard side version. I might have to sell my topper for one of these

 

So I remember reading that the tent does not require any tucking when folding down. how will that work?

 

Would be nice if the front raised also like a James Baroud? More room.. interested to see some interior shots. Between SB and LB is the sleeping platform going to be the same just hang over the cab more on a SB?

 

We'll have some video to show in a week or so but the no-tuck is achieved by placing two grab handles along the fold line in the back seams. You pull each one inward and that pulls the tent closed and pulls the fold line in toward the center in the same action. The problem area up front near the hinge has a small carbon fiber rod that pulls inward, keeping the fabric ahead of the front window tucked along the fold line. It's nothing complex... just thoughtful placement of the pulls and stiffeners.

 

We looked into doing a double pivot but those are less stable in the wind when you have it open with bikes or surfboards on top. And the extra structure required to make that stiff is heavier. That's why we went with the single-pivot hinge. And there's a ton of room inside. I'm 6' 4" tall and sleep with my head toward the front (either way works but everyone seems to prefer head in the small end).

And yes, the sleeping area is the same on all trucks. On the shortbed, the overhang is more. On both DC and AC trucks the front of the tent overhangs to the back edge of the front door.

 

Lets hope us guys with Prinsu racks/Frontrunner can keep em on the DC's or AC's.

 

It's supposed to have an inch of clearance over the roof antenna so I'm betting to roofrack has to come off.

 

Thanks for clearing all that up! Now keep up the progress pics!

 

Any plan to run some sort of rain hood/canopy over rear window?

 

The outer rear door will have stays and act as a rain dodger.

 

If theres an inch of clearance OVER the fin on the cab, then the Prinsu should actually fit. Its only .5 inch over the fin give or take a couple millimeters. Just from eyeballing it