2002 Tacoma build for extended stay in the desert

I have purchased a 2002 Tacoma to build my dream extended stay desert camper. I am still researching all the great info here at TW but have a good idea on how I want to set it up. It is going to take a while to build it out as I am working overseas ($$$) and come home 3X a year for a month.

So I purchased a 2002 Tacoma from a California original owner. Truck had 124K on it. 3.4 auto trans, a TRD supercharger and a few owner mods. Add a leafs, air bags (rear) front shocks, BFG tires, Torque Lift camper tie downs and a shell. He also wrapped the whole truck in 3M woodland camo. The reason was he scratched (pin stripped) the hell out of it traveling through manzanita bushes in California. Paint color is Forrest green under the wrap.

I have been researching all the different canopy, caps, wedges etc. to start the build. I considered building my own of wood and fiberglass but decided I would spend too much time (lack of proper tools etc.).

I don't like tents and fabric. I feel they can't handle extreme weather events very well (desert winds can be brutal). Don't care for packing a wet tent.

I don't care much for camper shells as it seems all the dust gets sucked inside of them and the sliding windows can't be open in a driving rain and they don't offer much security against theft.

So I have just ordered the 1st component. A Tufport T55. I have been given an estimated delivery date of 1st week of June. I know it's going to have some sail area. But at 375lbs and a low CG (compared to RTT) much more room than a high top shell. Plenty of room to move around in and a fair amount of space to customize.
http://www.tufport.com/home

I also have my name in for the group buy on the ARB snorkel going on now.
Snorkel has arrived at house (thanks Ramon).

I have ordered Arctic Tern windows that I will install on the camper. These were from Tern Overland in Prescott, Az. I will detail the install of these later.
https://www.ternoverland.com/

I am working on the group buy awnings with SoCal going on now. I will update on this.

Have already purchased a Dometic CFX65 refrigerator.

I live in Arizona so it will be built for stays of up to 2 weeks in a desert environment. My main consideration is having everything I need to be comfortable. Also try to keep weight to minimum.

Planning for: Solar, Shower, suspension, lighting, shade, sleeping, sliders, bumpers, cooking, roof rack and more.

This will be a slow thread but check back every now and then and see how she's coming along.

 

Very cool ! Interested to hear about the windows!

 

Badger the windows are like or the same as these. Pretty much what all the earth roamer expedition builders use.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anro1U5LmAQ

 

A couple more shots of how the camper looks on a Tacoma and an interior shot.

 

Nice build. How much did they want for the Tufport?

 

With shipping/customs etc it will be around $7,200.00. Very pricey but don't like any of the other options out there especially for my plan. I'm heading to San Diego tomorrow for sliders, ARB front bumper and ARB snorkle install. So will have some new pic's/update on Monday.

 

Okay time for an update! Picked up my sliders, ARB snorkle and ARB bull bar. Headed out to San Diego and had Speed Freek do some install work for me. I had the sliders lineX'ed. Here is the results. Should have another update soon.

 

I'm currently looking at buying a Tufport as well. What made you choose the t55 over the t59? I have seen the units in person (they are built 40 miles from here) and they are EXTREMELY well crafted. Like you, canopies always seem to let dust in, and truck campers, well, I had one and it was nice, but the upkeep (it rains here a lot, as in 3" in a day multiple days of the week) meant a lot of upkeep and storing it under cover.

 

Woofer. The T59 is wider, taller and heavier. I am still trying to keep weight down. The T55 is 375lbs. It is also even with the side of truck. The T59 is 6 feet wide which is great for a cross bed setup. I also want center of gravity low as possible because I'm gonna do some serious 4 wheeling.

 

tslick, I can appreciate your reasoning.
I spoke with the company this morning and they said they have never had a structural failure that wasn't due to an immovable object, or crash. ( I was worried about torsional stress on the unit from frame flex.)
I have small child, so can use the extra space of an east west bed for adults and a cab over space for the child when sleeping. That being said, there was a T55 for sale on a 98 Mazda B4000 for half the price of the t59 alone, so if I could make that work, I'd just sell the Mazda and be done with it. I'm waiting to hear from the guy. Like you, I essentially want something that doesn't leak or get my stuff covered in dust. As for serious 4x4ing, I'm not there yet, so I don't have the same set of concerns. You're going to love the unit, they just exude quality. I'm also looking at a 2017 T59.
I've been looking at these for a while now.

 

And I have been in contact with Tufport and finally decided to order T59 with 81 inch length and add on electrical outlet and roof rack. Roof rack i could use for installing solar in future else for now it will carry the gear. Very impressed with these units

 

Cool. Be nice to see some pic's when you get it. All my stuff is sitting in garage waiting for me to get home. I'll be back in January and my build thread will get active again. Can't wait.

 

I really like where you’re going with this. I have tried a RTT and am on like my fifth camper shell right now. I can’t stand fabric walls for the same reasons as you, and I am really getting fed up with dust and water working their way into the camper shell. My current plan is a sleeping platform in the cab with all the passenger side seats removed and tool boxes in the bed for storage.
If I find I need (want) more space, Tufport looks like a great option.

 

Sub’d i met a guy at Mid-Atlantic with one of these on an F150. He wasn’t a hardcore off roader but I really enjoyed his build. Looking forward to seeing how it works out on a Taco. Nice work so far.

 

This is a most excellent build thread already. I'm excited to see this Tufport camper installed.

 

Okay time to get this rolling again... Time to install the windows. I measured everything 100 times, cut a template out of Masonite and traced things out. I needed to fabricate some frames for the windows as the thickness of camper wall needs to be 1+ inches for the frames to screw tightly together. Also the blind/screen mechanism has to screw into something to anchor it. Couldn't find 1 inch plywood locally so glued 2, 1/2 inch pieces together. Then after getting perfect fitting/sanding I applied resign to seal the wood and allow me to epoxy the frames to camper walls.

Materials used:
Masonite, plywood, painters tape, epoxy resin, wood glue,

$34 west systems 610 resin/hardener epoxy adhesive, 190ml cartridge, straw

west systems 610 epoxy adhesive, loctite.

Tools used:
Jig saw, fiberglass blade, wood blade, clamps, level, paint brush, screw driver.

 

Got a little project completed. Removed the camouflage wrap. It was a slow process but came off fairly easy. I believe it was on the truck for 7 years or so. It was 3M product so good quality.

 

Looks so much better!

 

Thanks. Paint is in pretty nice shape. Of course now I can see a few scratches and dings. No big deal. Now to get busy on the camper set up.

 

Got some more done. I gutted the interior and deep cleaned the whole thing. Previous owner let his big dogs run free inside truck. Hair everywhere and slobber everywhere. I spent 15 days hand scrubbing everything. The interior looks brand new but my hands and fingers look like hell. After that took off to see Jason (SpeedFreek) in San Diego for my suspension. He installed an All Pro kit for me. Expo leafs, U bolt flip, rear shocks and mounts, front coils, shocks, UCA'S and skid plate. He also welded rear frame plates and custom camper tie down anchors on sliders and rear bumper. Starting to look like my in visioned rig. Well still have much more to go.