Alu-Cab Explorer Canopy on 2019 DCSB

Chaury08 · Oct 30, 2019

cludwig[OP] said: ↑

Wow! Looks like an awesome setup
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Thanks man and awesome idea on the tubs. One side of mine leaks really bad but a little bit of silicone and I'll be set

cludwig · Oct 30, 2019

No problem. My biggest issue is that I can't find a good place for maxtrax. I have the two cubbies and the table so there is no room up under the roof. I have a big tent up top. Can't figure out where I can put the Maxtrax where they will be out of the way. Oh well. First world problems.

ninernation · Oct 31, 2019

You'd have to do some drilling but how about on the side doors?

Chaury08 · Oct 31, 2019

Photo of my leak but should be easy fix.

cludwig · Oct 31, 2019

Chaury08 said: ↑

Photo of my leak but should be easy fix.
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Yikes. I rarely drive through standing water, but when I do, I get water through the plastic to steel gap like that, just probably not so bad. Also look out for that storage cubbie next to the power outlet. Water and dust can come in there as well, it has holes in the bottom.

cludwig · Jan 29, 2020

FYI to potential buyers:
I put some lock lube in the locks and that made it much easier to insert a key. Just look out as the lock lube can damage the paint used on the canopy. So far, the locks haven't frozen on me. I do find it about impossible to get the latch to open with gloves on for some reason, but otherwise no complaints after a lube.

Chaury08 · Jan 30, 2020

cludwig[OP] said: ↑

FYI to potential buyers:
I put some lock lube in the locks and that made it much easier to insert a key. Just look out as the lock lube can damage the paint used on the canopy. So far, the locks haven't frozen on me. I do find it about impossible to get the latch to open with gloves on for some reason, but otherwise no complaints after a lube.
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They suck when you first get the . I used wd40. Works perfect now.

scar_lemon · May 7, 2021

cludwig[OP] said: ↑

Wow! Looks like an awesome setup!

I had some minor water leaks as well. So far, I'm not concerned enough to do any sealing as my front box corners have a leak spot I haven't sealed, the box sides leak where the steel meets the plastic when driving through water, and I don't have a tailgate seal so I get severe dust on desert roads. So, I keep everything in 56 qt Plano tubs (161901) for the dust if nothing else. The 56qt tub is a great size for packing in a Tacoma. I put three across between the wheel wells and stack them two high for 6 tubs total. We put food, clothes, bedding, everything in those tubs. They keep everything perfectly dry and dust free. Plus, as a bonus, they are sized perfectly to go in and out through the side doors ahead of my two storage cubies (kitchen and tool storage).

I've also done a pile of electrical work the last few weeks that I am very proud of. Wife said she wanted a fridge, I said hell yes!

CTEK 20A DC-DC charger and the jump start switch to tie the two systems together if my main battery fails. (The aux battery charges to 12.8, the max my main battery charges to is 12.5)

Aux battery install:

Power routing to the canopy:

Power distribution and hard mounted onboard air system (passenger side)

Switch panel:

Driver's side air line.

Ready for the fridge, whenever I order it. It is frigid cold here, so I'm not in a hurry to purchase one right now.
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Your setup looks really awesome! Do you have a link of where you got the power outlet that you mounted in the bed of the truck? It's the one you wired the Anderson plug to.

cludwig · May 7, 2021

I'm not sure what the policy is for links to purchase things, but I bought it on Amazon. Just do a search for this "LINKSOLAR Weatherproof ABS Solar Double Cable Entry Gland,Curved Cable Connector for All Cable Types 6mm² to 12mm²". I cut a square hole in the side of the box with a dremel and glued or epoxyed the box in place.

Jayhat · Dec 6, 2021

How are you still liking this? I ordered one and will be driving down to pick it up 12/17!

Jayhat · Dec 6, 2021

Chaury08 said: ↑

Update on mine. Came in last month the day of our trip. Love this thing. Biggest issue I have is mine seems to leak pretty bad in some areas. I'll just need to seal it and it will be goo . Besides that it's well built and sturdy.
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I assume you mean it leaks from the area where the bed meets the shell? Not like from the windows?

DAS Taco · Dec 6, 2021

cludwig[OP] said: ↑

FYI to potential buyers:
I put some lock lube in the locks and that made it much easier to insert a key. Just look out as the lock lube can damage the paint used on the canopy. So far, the locks haven't frozen on me. I do find it about impossible to get the latch to open with gloves on for some reason, but otherwise no complaints after a lube.
Click to expand...

Use graphite, powder type in locks.

NvrSmr · Feb 2, 2022

What is the weight capacity for the roof? Their website shows 330lbs but I am unsure if that is dynamic or static.

bryan_taco · Oct 4, 2022

cludwig[OP] initial post: ↑

I just finished with the biggest mod to my 2019 DCSB yet, the install of a Alu-Cab Explorer Canopy. Fit to the truck was excellent. The front of my box is about 1/8" higher than the sides. That makes it hard to get the front corners clamped down good, but I managed to get it to where the only gap between the Cap and the bed rails is at the front corners. That isn't Alu-Cab's fault. That is where Toyota put the channel in the top of the bed rail plastic, like it was designed to let water in. I had to stick foam there to seal my tonneau cover. I'll do the same for the Canopy.

Build quality was good. It has been raining every day since the install. I have no more than a few spots of water on the bed mat, about 2-3" in diameter. I think that came in from a couple of the rivets that hold the roof rails on. I can easily resolve that with a bit of caulk.

So far, I am very happy with my purchase. Had it just been my wife and I, I absolutely would have bought the Go Fast Camper from Hondo's.

I have 2 little ones though and need at least a queen size / 4+ tent so no GFC for me.

I was set on the Overland AT Habitat as I could sleep 4 with fill in panels. I took a new job in Utah and live about 3-4 miles from the office. The Hab would have been perfect for us. Then I got assigned to a client that is 45 miles away, on the other side of SLC. Making that drive with my gas guzzler MT with the Hab catching the wind the whole way would have been too expensive for me.

I ended up deciding on the Explorer Cap. I'll be running a 23 Zero Byron tent on quick mounts for weekend camping trips, and will pull the tent off when not planning a camping trip for another few weeks. I figure a tent is much easier to hoist off up under the garage ceiling than the Hab would have been.

As to the color, I live in the desert. Nothing should be black in the desert. I think it looks cool and is utilitarian in appearance. I am still waiting for the Kitchen storage kit for the driver side. I also have load bars for the top, the Alu-Cab table, and the under ceiling table storage brackets.

I ordered from OK4WD. Rin and Brian were very helpful.

Enjoy the pics...

Came well packed and protected.

Welds on the corners are good enough for my eye. There is a good seal at the top of the tailgate, plus this big rain ledge:

Fit at the front was very good:

Room for my tire repair kit, recovery bag, and air compressor. I'll probably eventually hard mount the compressor. I bought one that can be portable or mounted.

Fits, just. Would be better to mount the compressor high on a shelf. That would be a good aluminum craft project.

If you look closely, you can see the Toyota-supplied gap at the front-left corner. Thanks Toyota for having zero regard for how your trucks will be used. This photo is after a rain. Dry enough for me. I won't expect perfect dryness. I didn't with the tonneau cover either.

Driving with it on has been a non-issue. I find that it doesn't obscure any blind spots. I look out the rear windows for that, not the back window. The view out the back is constricted, but good enough, especially since I have the backup camera.

I'll report back if I find any reduced fuel economy with the clean roof configuration.
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I live an hour from OK4WD in Jersey and I think I’m going to have them install it rather than install it myself in their parking lot. Only thing is , they say it’s a 4 hour install time. How long did it take to install ?
Love your set up !!

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Alu-Cab Explorer Canopy on 2019 DCSB

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Alu-Cab Explorer Canopy on 2019 DCSB

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