Summit Expedition Trucks Ltd. - NA Produced Trays for Midsize Trucks

Good day everyone,

As some of you may have seen, I've put a feeler out on Facebook to many different Toyota enthusiast gauged pages, in regards to a product we will be producing right here in Canada for the folks that are looking at getting a tray/flat deck for their midsize or half ton series truck.

Please note, the pictures below are from the prototype only, and are merely the direction we will be going with our production model. We have already made significant changes to the design, and are very excited to show everyone in the new year!

The pricing that we've set out will be for the production model. This is not based on the pictures below, but to give an idea as to what to expect in the coming weeks/months. We will be in the realm of other brands that make similar products, but without the wait or shipping times.

We've already received lots of feedback, both positive and negative, but that's what the prototype stages and designs are all about. To incorporate commonly suggested features and to make an all around, turn key product.


Key features about our design that will catch your attention;

• All aluminum construction
• Manufactured and designed right here in Canada
• Stainless steel fasteners, hinges, latches and tie downs
• Easily removable side boards
• Headboard with dual tire carry functionality
• Modularity, tool boxes, drawers, water tank; can always be added and don't have to be purchased with the initial tray
• Plug and play wiring
• Easy installation, can be done in your driveway with the help of a friend
• Shipping throughout North America
• Canopy integration (ETA late spring)

APPROXIMATE WEIGHTS:

5ft Trucks

- 295lbs Base Configuration
- Side Gates 30lbs
- Tool Boxes 35lbs
- Drawer 80lbs
- Water Tank (empty) 10lbs

Complete configuration - 450lbs~

6ft Trucks

- 330lbs Base Configuration
- Side Gates 40lbs
- Tool Boxes (rear) 35lbs
- Tool Boxes (front) 30lbs
- Drawer 80lbs
- Water (empty) 10lbs

Complete configuration - 525lbs


Since everyone asks, we set out our pricing at $7,500 CDN, or $6,000 USD. This includes the following;

• The base tray, with exterior tie downs
• Rear LED lighting, plug and play connection
• One piece, left and right fenders with mud flaps
• Trailer connector relocation
• Back-up camera relocation
• Bed plug relocation
• Tool box, water tank and drawer ready

Canopies are a few months out, but will be also available from us.

If you have any questions, or comments, suggestions, we would love to hear from you!

Social Links

Instagram






Updated Renderings - 6ft Box Trucks











Updated Renderings - 5ft Box Trucks



Update - Production Model (Tourer Package shown here)

 

Looks very nice! Do you have a model for long bed Tacoma? Also, what is the weight?

Thanks!

 

What is the weight when compared to a standard truck box? Does the head board have gusset plates to prevent vibration with the sides removed?

 

Long bed configuration is available as well, just getting our hands on one to show case with. With all the tool boxes, we're estimating around the 500lb mark, which is in comparison to what you have on your truck, possibly a bit more for the long bed Tacoma's. But we're striving to be as light weight as possible!

 

The head board is held in place with 8, 1/2" bolts. It's extremely sturdy and does not rattle or shake. There's some other additional structural features also in place for added strength and rigidity as well.

 

Will these be short bed only?

ETA: NVM I hadn’t refreshed the thread.

 

Not only short and long bed midsize trucks, but also have sizes available up to full size trucks with 8ft beds.

 

It looks like you used a lot of the Ute ltd components for the prototyping of your tray.

I am interested to know if you will be making the accessories for your tray, such as the fenders and under tray storage boxes, backward compatible with the Ute ltd tray?

 

Certainly looks functional enough but UGLY IMO.

 

Correct! The first thought when this all started, was to see if we could utilize the existing tray and add onto it. This proved more difficult than imagined. Since it would’ve been easy to just add the bumper, tool boxes and fenders, and made it more affordable. The amount of rework it all required, well it just made more sense to start from scratch and make our own and that’s what we’re doing going forward.

Can the fenders and tool boxes work and be added? Maybe. If someone is wanting to try it, by all means, when the production items are ready, I’d be happy to sell someone the tool boxes and fenders and they can probably bolt them on with some modification.

 

Oh I know haha. The tool boxes did come out not how we thought they would. We’re still trying to source better lighting too. Just don’t want to use the typical round tractor trailer lights you see here.

 

No value-add comment

 

Love the concept. Factory truck beds are so limited in function, and keep getting cost engineered into oblivion.

Have you looked at the idea of having a spot for a toolbox?

And are you going to do something with the space in front of the rear wheels? I've seen some people stuff an air compressor in there, so its usable space if you're creative.

 

One of the guys here has a 1st Gen, so we’re really looking at what’s possible for those trucks! The canopies will be coming, just trying to figure out the internals to a point that is both manufacturable and very user friendly.

The goal is to have 3 main options, half canopy, compact and full length.

 

And taillights are such a pain in the rear. I really like the ones you can get in Australia, but they're crazy expensive. I ended up going with 4" round ones on mine because they're a standard and I can swap them out easily.

 

Tool box on the tray floor? That’s easy to do for sure. Canopies will offer plenty of storage space, and the half canopy will allow for ample deck space still.

As for in front of the wheel wells. Not on the DCSB trucks. It may look like there’s space to use there, but not enough. The ACLB and DCLB will have a tool box there as well. All trays will have the space for an optional, rear slide out drawer.

 

We’re trying to source a better solution for tail lighting. The ones we used in our prototype definitely work, they’re very bright and offer tons of back up light. The biggest thing and most importantly, is being DOT and SAE approved on the lighting. We looked at the 4” round, but we want to be different haha.

 

Ah ok. I found at least on my first gen that there was some space I could use at the front of the bed where the frame dips down to squeeze in a taller toolbox by sinking it through the floor of the bed. Full disclosure, its not done yet, so we'll see if it was a terrible idea later

Hmm. If you're not going to use that space, are you going to rework the front of the fender? That angle and empty circle triangle doesn't really flow. Might even just cover it up with a flat panel.

Yep yep. I've got stuff I want to do for my taillights that would be fun and interesting, but I just don't have the manufacturing ability, and it probably wouldn't be technically DOT legal. Not a lot of options out there if you don't have the ability to build them from scratch due to DOT regs.

 

That’s what the prototype is based off. The Ute Ltd. They work, but there’s a lot of extra work involved, and we’re doing ours in such a way so it is so much easier for someone to install, and not require any additional parts or thought to it. In my opinion, the biggest downside to them was the unfinished factor, and they didn’t allow for a drawer with the way they’re mounted.

Our premise is modularity, so a customer can fit together a tray however they please.

 

A cover panel is totally doable, and can absolutely have it as an option. We will be incorporating a water tank as an add-on accessory, and the tap for it will come out of this space on the passenger side.