Manfred's #thicc boi aka 'White Rhino'

More of a setup like this?

 

You want an set back in there?

 

Well my goals is to use those slots as fog lights since I lost the option when I switched from my stock bumper. I want my dogs back haha

 

Heck yeah, having fog lights is essential!

 

Another day of small mods before the long drive east:

License plate flip up kit from Amazon

Street Scene 950-61100 Flip-Up License Plate Kit

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002RQ5DC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Seemed flimsy so drilled another self tapping metal screw into the middle of it. Hopefully stays up when towing someone out of a bad situation.






Incandescent reverse bulbs switched to LED. See if it improves visibility on the rear view cam

Painted a few other parts, prepped my skid plate to be placed back on.

 

Big day to be my truck:

Started off plasti-dipped / painted some bed tie downs, and rock guards that ive been waiting to install since October of last year



removed tailgate for aluminum cap thats being picked up tomorrow



then said fuck it and did the dif breather mod.

old breather










Polished it off with a few hits of fluid film, tomorrow the rock guard should be making its way back onto the truck along with the OEM Skid plate

 

@taczilla here she is


the cap in all its glory. Its going to take a some work...




First thing i did was remove those awful hangers on the roof. Seller left me with a couple channels of aluminum that i can use to fill the 1" gap at the front (with some spray foam)


Tapped up hole big enough for solar panel wires








Below the tapped off area is where I would have to make a cut in order to fit my tailgate back on. Thinking of flipping it to the right, then cutting so I dont get left with a pocket from the latch. I'll have to take a couple of measurements tomorrow see if the hinge on the left can be relocated to the top/ reuse the locking mechanism....

Got distracted trying to put on my rock guard and OEM Skid plate.... think i stripped one of the bolts...

 

F*cking "A", Dude!

I'd leave it just like that, install a window (or two), and put in a slide out or a swing gate with a drop down table. I wouldn't butcher that cap at all... and maybe use some foam pipe wrap as an insulator for the gap.

She's a 'beaut!

BTW... Why are you so hung up on butchering a structurally sound cap and keeping an entirely useless tailgate? Just think, Leer engineered it that way for a reason or two:

1a) With door = open door, step up, or reach in, grab what you need, step out, close door. Done!

or...

1b) With tailgate: Open hatch, drop tailgate, climb on tailgate, climb in, get what you need, back out and jump down, close tailgate, drop hatch = scrubbed up dirty jeans/very annoying process.

BTW, the door frame on the cap is there for a reason. If you remove the lower portion and cut the door, add a shelf and weight to the sides, the sides of the cap and bedsides will want to splay like a drunken whore.

Just ask @tacoma16

 

I just really want to keep my tailgate for 1- the backup cam, 2, an extra place to sit down during meal time or quick stops. For me getting up and down the tailgate isn't a big issue, I still have my knees and back haha

you bring up a good point with the structure being compromised

so I'm interested on his opinion as well haha
my idea for the rear would be as follows:
Jerry Can racks, on the back of one would be a fold down cooking table
Tire Carrier



Going to be a lot sourcing steel and a welder when I get back haha

 

If your doing a swingout you will need to relocate the backup camera anyways. I may have a bracket that will fit your camera. 50/50 shot as Toyota used two types of cameras so the company sends both. They are cheap though regardless ($30).

As for the strength, really consider keeping that door OR beefing shit up from the get go. I think I reinforced mine too late so it was already done and bandaided the problem temporarily.

As for having the tailgate, you are 100% correct about having it as a step, table and all of the above. I am having to figure out a way to copy that and it seems I’ll be taking a later with me or making a step.

The swingout is a great idea. Only reason I didn’t go with it was that:
-have to walk around when opened
- require a larger space to set up camp because the gate has to open (long bed I was having issues alread trying to find a space wide enough and long enough at some campsites)
-extra weight passed the axle (trying to keep my newer setup lighter)

However the negatives of not having it:
-spare tire is in bed which is a waste of room
-fuel is in bed of truck which can contaminate or be dangerous
-leaves less room or may require to stack other shot which makes it a pain to get to stuff (my old setup you had to take two things out to get to one in some cases. Sucked!)

Those pros and cons are the way I considered them and may be viewed differently. Regardless when you do your swingout make sure it’s dual shear and strong as shit. Rattling and what not with all that weight will destroy stuff. You figure between the fuel and tire your close to 200lbs on a hinge....

I always liked this hinge https://www.comp4x4.com/collections...e-kit-with-dual-shear-bracket-universal-mount

Easy to mount and the components may be easier and cheaper to source since they are bronze bushings and not bearings.

 

How would you beef that up? im curious?
how hard was your driving style that you broke your bed?
Ill be driving to CFB Trenton on Tuesday so i might swing by your area if you're free

For the runs ill be doing without the carrier, the spare can be located on top of the prinsu, but i dont have an alternate for fuel storage spot .. so that will need to get resolved

I paid for that tailgate so i definitely want to utilize it haha

Ya the swing-out ill probably make myself, but youre absolutely right, with all that water weight and another tire its got to be beefy/sturdy.

I like this idea session, lets keep it going

 

Also... I fucked up and over torqued a bolt holding my skid plate on. That will be a summer fix

 

You need to get gussets on the bed sides like these http://www.chaosfab.com/2005-2015-Tacoma-Rear-Channel-Bed-Stiffiners-48675

Yeah man I’ll be around. May be taking the day to work on the truck depending if my shackle hangers are done.

 

Ya i looked at them once earlier and wasnt sure if that would helped displace the weight/reinforce the bed but definitely on my wish list now.
Should be by around noon sometime/maybe 1300 ish depending. I'll text ya

Removed the camera from the tailgate with its whole bundle, so see what ideas what i can come up with in regards to extending up to the top of the cap

 

Sounds good. If we are lucky a bracket I have will fit it. Then you can mount it anywhere.

 

Fingers crossed. And if not I have a pretty good idea what I'll make to fit it.

 

More or less the pathway I plan to do for the swingout. Going to take a lot of ideas from this but won't be similar.

Want to keep the weight towards the hinge. What weighs more, two jerrrys of fuel or a single tire? Jerrys may not always be fuel so I'm leaning towards the centre having the tire and left and right of it will have storage for jerry cans.







The carrier will be a bolt on so as to not ruin the finish of the powder coated rear bumper. Should be able to take the weights but not sure about the shearing force of rough terrain

 

Bought a rubber vinyl wheel to clear off some of these decals for 15 bucks .Took 19 minutes to clear this much off

before


After.

Got some weather stripping and sourcing parts for the tire carrier now... Oh God

 

Came out well.

Where are you sourcing parts from for the carrier?

 

So I'm on course with a guy who has friends that own a shop. He's talking about using bearings and press fitting them in for the pivot point. Instead of buying because it will be cheaper but...I like buying a kit so it's already good to go.

As for the steel I've planned for 1/4" square tubing (because I don't have the tools to bend and what not). There's a place out here called Greets Mountain Salvage that I'll be getting all the steel from. I did think about aluminum but we don't have the welding maching or skill to pull that off so adding some more weight to the rig.... I need a lift

As for the hardware, I'm still looking at comp4x4 for the latch and hinge.