Ovrlnd Camper ideas and bs

I just ordered one of these for my first gen. I'm STOKED!

 

Right on! The stoke is real. Nice truck by the way

 

My build is months away but I already installed a diesel heater for it. It's almost too much heat for the camper shell I have on the truck now, but will be perfect once the OVRLND is on there.

 

Very clean. Looking great
I like how you went through the bed of the truck. How was it choping the bed? Any photos of the install?

 

Here is a short build post:
https://expeditionportal.com/forum/...ater-in-1st-gen-tacoma-for-ovrlnd-top.225122/

 

Dave-rass and others, it looks like you guys don't have the gas-lift strut option. With as light as this thing is how heavy can the roof be to lift? I like the less is more as[ect of these campers and the exterior struts don't appeal to me if they aren't truly needed. I'm 6'1" so height shouldn't be an issue on the lift so long as it isn't that tough.

Also, thinking of skipping the front and rear non operable windows. Is rear visibility just fine with just the stock mirrors?

I'm on the list with Jay after my RSI Smartcap evidently got lost at sea or in space or somewhere...

 

Woah... are you saying the gas struts go on the outside? That is almost a show stopper for me.

 

Looking like it to me. Most all on their site don't show them but this one photo does.

 

Crap.

Man I wish I could try one out to see what its like without them. Making the roof easier to lift is mainly to pacify my wife, but I am also a man who craves leisure ......

 

I am interested too. I live in FLG town and will ask Jay to try one out when when possible. See what he says. For the time being let's see what the current owners have to say.

 

Yes for sure.

Maybe that green rig in your picture is an early design? I see bgraboyes build thread shows pics of shorter struts on the inside.... https://expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/another-nother-ovrlnd-camper-build.223162/page-2


edit - nevermind, I also see external struts on his too.

 

The first models didn't have any gas assisted lift struts. I opened one without them and it wasn't too hard. If you put heavy items on the roof it will become very difficult to open without lift struts. I have the in-between models with the gas struts on the inside the camper. This option only helps marginally because of the not so good mechanical advantage. I wish mine had the struts on the outside but it's not that big of a deal especially because I like to keep things simple.
I have no issues seeing with the stock mirrors while driving forward. When reversing you will probably want a backup camera.

 

I had the internal struts to start with because i already planned to put stuff on the roof like kayaks so was hoping that would be enough. I added a 160 watt solid renogy panel to the roof slammed as far forward as possible and then it was really hard to get the front to open. like, need to lay down and bench press the roof up hard, not optimal and didnt even have a kayak or racks up there yet. so i talked to jay and he sold me 4, 35 lb struts and brackets for cheap and i installed them in an hour or 2. now it finishes opening on its own with a little push to start on both ends and i have to pull a little to get it down.

my thoughts are, if you put absolutely nothing up top, no fan, insulation etc, you would probably be fine with no struts inside or out. with light stuff like a fan, insulation, lights, headliner, the inside struts should do. if you add solar in the middle of the roof and it's just one 100w panel, you may still be fine. anything more and i'd recommend the outer struts. less sleek but way more user friendly camper. In retrospect, I probably would have skipped the internal struts and just gotten external struts as i don't think they (internal struts) help enough to be worth the cost in my experience.

It was also super easy to add the struts, just some measuring then attaching with some large self tapping metal screws that seem to be holding up just fine. only advantage to getting ovrlnd to add at the start is they have a more beefy attachment (i think through bolted to the frame?) but you can surely add the struts later if you feel like you need em, and jay was super helpful and can throw those few items together for pretty cheap plus shipping if you need em.

One last thing to consider is that i have a long bed f150 so it is a lot of roof compared to a short bed taco both in width and length so my experience may not be at all similar to a taco or other midsize truck.

As always YMMV but hope this helps.

 

Well I just talked to Jay and he said that by the time mine is built (I'm 7-8 months out) struts will be outside only, they are doing away with them inside completely. I also mentioned that with the short bed 4 door taco would I need them on the small roof. His adamant answer was get them, he said he has had several folks come back to have them added on and that seems like the most valuable endorsement to me.

I don't like them on the outside but if that is going to make life easier, especially as I get older or if I happen to sustain an shoulder/arm injury it would be a bummer not to be able to use the darn thing.

 

Just added the relentless fab tailgate reinforcement in raw aluminum. Stoked to have another flat surface to cook on/ work on. I like how this wraps onto the tailgate cap. Pretty solid for being aluminum. I know there are a few companies that make something similar but this suited my needs. Only concern is how hot this will get in the summer months.

 

That fits like a glove! Unfortunately he's sold out of the first-gen tailgate ones.

Hey, where do you source your 8020 parts?

 

Amazon and tnutz

 

Wild build!

 

Yeah, I have been watching his build progress. Pretty awesome. The guy is a craftsman.

 

Put my deposit in about a month ago.

Can’t wait to drive out to Arizona in the Winter to pick it up!