Tradesman Truck Tops commercial style topper/shell

I'm thinking about a DIY fairing project to extend the front fairing on my Prinsu. Toying with the idea of mounting some 1/4" aluminum flat stock to some hinges like these and use some turnbuckles with rod ends at the other end so I can adjust the angle of the fairing depending on what I have loaded on top.

 

Agreed, all the items pre-made non-custom seem to be obese tow-behind trailer types. Drafting up a few drawings and planning to go custom with either fiberglass from a mold I'll shape with foam or aluminum formed and as a bolt on (may make an excuse to make it out of solar panels as well). If and when it happens I'll be sure to share.

 

Thank you for posting, I was curious how long it took for the felt to offgas. Thanks much !

 

The smell from the glue used on the carpet lining has faded to almost nothing after 6 months, but it was never particularly noxious IMHO.

 

This is the first photo I've been able to find of somebody with a 26"-32" wedge on a Tacoma! Thank you! It is exactly what I am looking to get soon, even with toolbox on driver side, and windows on passenger side. I'm shooting you a PM with a question too.

 

I camped in it two days after install and didn’t notice much of a smell if any.

 

That’s awesome! Thank you for responding
I was curious also if you have had any leaks, in shell or the rubber seal on the bed.
Thanks again

 

No leaks from the shell itself, but it took several tries to get the gap between the front rail and the side rails fully sealed against rainwater. Lots of Sikaflex 221 urethane. Also, I pre-emptively took off the side rail caps, sealed beneath them, and reinstalled the caps before the shell was installed.

I bought a tailgate seal kit, but haven't found it necessary to keep out rainwater (stationary or moving). Perhaps I will install it later this summer to keep the dust out when I'm on trails.

 

I haven't had any leaks but did find when I was parked downhill on a side hill, in the rain, water would work its way down the back hatch, hit the tailgate, then go inside of the shell along the side rail. So now I park uphill when it rains .

The other thing I did was put some 1.25x.120 inch steel flat stock along both rails and added a third clamp on each side. I hadn't noticed any shifting of the shell or leaking, but the side rails were slightly deformed at the clamps and putting the flat stock gave it a more rigid surface to clamp down on. It appeases my sensibilities if nothing else.

I've got a tailgate seal which keeps most of the dust out, though some dust seems inevitable.

 

Dang that’s unfortunate!

 

Yes it is for sure, though I built a new one out of bamboo sticks and masking tape.

 

The stargazing is going to be amazing.

Good luck with the sale. If I had a job I'd be all over it.

 

What kind of gas mileage are you getting? Also, 4wd or Prerunner, crew cab or Access.

 

For those of you that have the Yakima tracks or are thinking about adding them to a shell I want to share a much easier solution to mounting to the tracks.
I wish I had bought these first before getting the "Yakima" specific type. These just arrived and are so simple to put in and take out. Sorry the image is ginormous.

https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories-and-Parts/Thule/853-2106.html

 

Hey! What was the cost for one? I checked their site but it’s not that great to browse through. This is awesome!

 

Access Mfg should post their price list on their website. Oh, and they should have a website... Instead, you have to go back and forth via email to figure out what options you want (and can afford). It took me about 30 emails to get it nailed down.

My Tradesman topper from them -- 5' long, 26" high, with two windoors and color-matched paint -- was about $4500. You get what you pay for.

 

A new competitor to the mix. At least new to me. Found this on Expo.
https://www.rlddesignusa.com/

 

Those are pretty sweet. Maybe slightly on the over-engineered side of things but really clever stuff and reasonable pricing. Too bad they don't offer a taller-than-cab option. There's no way i would do less than a 26" shell now that I have one.

 

I dig it. Definitely has that “I’m out here” Park Ranger vibe to it. Looks like it’s got tons of versatility and capacity. Good lookin truck. Thanks for sharing

 

RLD will compete with Alu-Cab's caps.
Tradesman, ARE, and Leer have the ally framed and skinned caps.
And Norweld is by themselves with the full on aluminum canopy.