Hondo Garage's New Thing

Will the overhang be closer to the roof for us 1st gen guys being we don't have the sharkfin?

 

Yeah, we only need about an inch of clearance to avoid cab interference, and the first gen frames have no shared measurements with 2nd and 3rd gen trucks. Will have to make a first gen one real quick to confirm standing room, but should be a good deal closer to the cab.

tl;dr : top of camper is ~7" above top of cab.

 

Awesome. I would gladly loose an inch or two of standing room to have it as low as possible.


You guys are on top of it with quick, knowledgeable answers. Very much appreciated.

 

You could still run open but put the canvas on if you needed to cover up. And you would have the security of the aluminum panels if you wanted (I would).

I know you're trying to save weight by not having a frame. But, the idea of loosening the top to remove the panels makes it a lot less likely that anyone will actually remove the panels (IMHO).

 

I don't know that I'd ever remove the side panels. I think if anything I'd remove the ones at the front and back of the bed so I had better visibility for certain things or so I could take the door off to have things hang out the bed. Odds are I'd have things like shovels or maxtrax mounted to the side panels so I wouldn't want to remove them. This is all assuming of course that the side panels can support that with no issue. Otherwise I'd just mount stuff to the rails along the tent or racks on top.

 

There’s also the option of a half size roof rack, depending on the length of the overhang. Similar to what Expedition Overland has on their Tacoma with the habitat. You could probably even take a cutoff wheel and some careful work and mod the Prinsu to be the right length and only mount to the front and middle mount points on the roof.

 

So I put a straight edge across the top of the rack in came up with 9/16 of an inch above the shark fin. that plane is the outer part of the rack, the crossbars are 1/4" lower then that plane.


Now if that is not going to be enough clearance for flex we could also machine new spacer spacer bushing.

 

Speaking of low profile roof racks, did anyone ever consider using just airline tie-down tracks mounted directly to the roof? For not too heavy weight, glued with sika flex would probably already be strong enough. One could then fabricate some squared aluminum crossbars and place them for individual use. Depending on what you‘re planning to haul on top.
Such like that

 

couple of new images for you guys...

 

Just put two and two together that you had a sweet trip report over on ExPo that I was following. Awesome trip! Next one going to be in a GFC?


I'm not cool enough for ExPO, so I don't spend too much time there, but I remember that being an awesome thread.

 

Thank you! And now that you mention it, I just realized that I never finished the trip report. Gotta have to finish the write up and upload the rest of the pictures within the next days.

I‘m not sure yet which way to go, GFC, commercial shell or something custom. I definitely like seeing such an awesome product coming together that can be bought off the shelf. I‘m very curious how it turns out.

 

It’s the little details that start to add up. Making some utility track t-nuts. These are designed so you can stick them straight into the track wherever you’re mounting something. They rotate 90 degrees clockwise to lock into the track. Might sell these separately to non camper buying folks if there’s interest. Accepts a 5/16-18 bolt.

 

Now your just teasing......... give us the goods!!

 

these are awesome. But, if you just make an opening in the t-slot like front runner does then you don't need anything fancy. sorry if i'm pissing in your cheerios.

i'm loving this build. and appreciate that you accept feedback.

 

But what if you mount lands at that"opening". Then that fancy thing makes sense.

 

These are for the stock Tacoma utility track in the bed. For mounting the camper.

 

Nice, I was under the impression that it was for your extrusion.

 

Yes. But, I find it hard to believe that you can't move whatever you're mounting 1" away from the 'opening' - especially if the opening is strategically placed. i.e., not directly in the center nor within 2" of the edge.

It it always good not to need to rely on a 'fancy thing' and be able to use a common nut (like myself) in a pinch.

 

me too. but it was fun to respond.

 

And, you should sell them separately if they're for the mounting rack - it's an awesome idea/product.