Large commercial rack - ideas for camping and travel setup

I was just looking for a small cap with a rack for my Thule box and bikes but wound up with a good deal on a commercial ARE aluminum contractor cap and ladder rack. It’s kind of a blank canvas.

I want to be able to use it for ladders and lumber etc. for home projects but also set it up for travel and camping. We have a vintage 2wd Sportsmobile van so this build probably doesn’t need a tent. We will probably use the truck for backwoods camping trips and accessing trailheads. Road and mountain bike based tours. Kayaking. Etc.
Ideas? Are there threads on this that I am missing?

 

Let's see some pictures! There are a couple of build threads on here with guys using commercial caps.

 

I’m sorry that they’re dark. Black DC is seller’s pic. I’ll take a better one of course, but the main thing is the length and size of it. This is a huge rack.

It’s not fully installed — only temporarily clamped. The flat supports for the rack need to be bolted in to the top of the truck bed. I’m hesitant to drill, but if I de burr and prime he holes I figure I should be good.

 

This may be too much cap for me, since MPG is important to me — I may sell the rig on. But for now I’d like to build it up and modify for our family’s lifestyle.

Looking at my photos vs. the seller’s, it looks like maybe there was some garage door damage to the rear? [edit - it's the angle. they seem to be as designed] Seems repaired and ok enough to me. I’m not about having a looker to drive.

 

@Toynado 's build thread and a few others may be able to give you some inspiration. You may even want to peek your head in the Habitat or GFC camper mod threads to see if you can find anything to suit your fancy.

 

Nice find. I don't understand the configuration of the tubes on the back of the rack. Are both sides bent? The damage matches the dent on your drivers side door quite well. I say leave it as is.

 

Yeah, I can't quite figure it out. Both sides are indeed bent.

It seems normal on a recent photo from the seller's CL ad. He had quite an operation going there, and I wonder if he tried to modify in some way? Dude had a first gen with a tailgate that he'd chopped crosswise and added the lower TACOMA embossed nameplate section from a later Gen Taco. Mad genius.

They may be designed that way to better allow removal of the removable crossbar at the back, for loading tall appliances, etc.

Or perhaps the original photo just seems to be at an angle that doesn't show the bends. It seems solid enough for my purposes. And it does match the accessory dent I bought the truck with, to be sure.

 

I figured out that I will be able to run some tubing crosswise through the 3/4" (approx) round cutouts in the support plates between the rack tubes, conveniently placed at about car rack distance apart. My Thule Cascade XT will fit perfectly there. I think that is the design intent.

If I make them so that they install with cotter pins, I can remove them when the rack needs to do ladder or lumber duty. I'm liking this.

 

https://expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/custom-roof-rack-for-tacoma.19193/page-2
Somebody's got a similar idea...

 

Dude...I like it, especially with the rack.

I have thought about getting a commercial shell, and customizing it for sleeping, cooking, storage, and hauling/loading on top. I also wanted to get the one with a full door that eliminates the tailgate.

Few ideas I had were:

• Box on driver's side = outdoor kitchen (half for storage, half for cooking area)
  
• Box on passenger's side = get rid of to make more room for sleeping & to have a window for light & ventilation...or...have it open on the inside for shelving
• Between boxes = shelves/beams to accommodate bins for storage, but high enough to still be able to sleep in
• Fold down table on door
• Rack on top for kayaks & other essentials

Of course, your customizations are limited by your imagination. A lot can be done with this type of shell.

 

I like it! It may have more versatility than my Leitner! The storage in the sides is great. Good find!