ARE Walk-In Doors

I get most help from here:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...eping-platform-drawer-storage-systems.424709/

Here is mine. I would like some better ideas.
I have a box up front, and in the middle, that I can store and not have stuff roll around.
I can put 9 boxes, the size of box the grocery store uses for 4 gallons of milk or water, under the platform, and in front of the rear cross-member. It is also high enough that the boxes will slide out. It is higher because I used 'one by' oak instead of 'two by' lumber. About 11" clearance.
The rear piece is shaped to fit around the walk-in door. That rear piece is easily lifted up, and slid forward, to make entry through the small door easier. It also allows taller items to be set in the open space. I put a Coleman lantern there, and hold it to the cross-member with a strip of Velcro.

ALSO ... anyone with a walk-in door add a bed stiffener?

Thanks,
Ken in NC

 

Sub’d. I’m seriously considering that top.

 

I saw one of these on my trip to Alaska and I instantly wanted one. They're so rad

 

I have a build for my interior planned, but other projects are first on my house. I'll post in here when my build's done.

I spent $4200 on my MX:
ARE MX ($1700)
Walk-in option, carpeted ($1200)
Outdoorsman windoors ($600)
Toolbox #2, Driver side ($250)
Tilt-down front slider ($100)
Roof rack tracks ($175)
Carpet ($120)

It is a pain in the ass to camp in a camper shell with a tailgate. It helps a lot that the Taco has the dampener so the tailgate doesn't slam down, but I still hated that in my Ranger. With the swingout rear bumper, I can't use the tailgate at loading docks for work anyways when loading up, so I didn't lose anything by ditching my tailgate.

Here's the rear end. ARE MX topper, Bajarack, and SOS offroad concepts HC rear bumper:




Swingout, door open:



Or, if I'm loading big stuff, the whole rear end opens. SO MUCH ROOM:



I use the windoor on the passenger side for loading / unloading light and bulky things. Small items like groceries go in the toolbox on the driver side though, there's room for plenty of supplies in addition to my camping and recovery gear:




I have a crappy drawing of my platform sketched out:

The platform will be U-shaped, with the middle lower area the same width as the door. This will allow easy loading of small cargo. I have a Dometic CC40 that will go on the left side right after you open the door. The Dometic will have cabinets next to it, under the toolbox. Cabinetry will also be over the toolbox on the left. On the right, there will be a long low cabinet for folding chairs and tentpoles and such. The top will have a hinged flip base that flops over to the left, making the whole middle covered. The front area will have a large storage vault under the folded twin mattress, which unfolds out into a bed to cover most of the middle area.

I already have the fridge, LED lights for inside, and some of the SVGs to laser cut the cabinets, but I have other projects that come first (finishing a basement and wiring a subpanel for an add-on in our house right now). I'll reply back to this thread when I have some tangible progress.

Obligatory dog pic as a reward for reading a long post:

 

Very nice. I’m going to be getting that same cap. I just have to decide on a back up camera I’m going to go with the license plate model so I don’t void the warranty on the flip up door. That’s per the dealer for ARE. Question how wide is the door at the bottom? If I was to pull bins out from under a sleeping platform through the glass door. Could you measure sometime?

 

I'm mounting my backup cam on the swingout. You could also mount it on a roof rack. Just something to consider!

Sorry for potato-quality picture. It looks like the door opening is 18.75" wide, so I'd go with 16" to make sure you have clearance for your hands on the side.

 

My bins are 16” wide thank you so much!

 

Thanks. The toolbox looks like something I would have liked added to the purchase.
Can you add a photo of that looking inside?

I have the backup camera in the light for the license plate. It is an odd view that low. It is hard to gauge the distance.

I have a BeaverTail in the receiver. It helps with 3 things.
1) It helps a lot as a step to get in and out through the small door.
2) It gives me a reference point in the camera view.
3) It will be a hard stop if someone hits the truck.

 

Can I ask what bins you are using?

 

Sterlite Walmart brand. 16x35” two deep. Holds enough camp8ng stuff for 3 day weekend trips

 

Thanks
Height? I have 11" and am looking for some better containers. Do you think those are brittle?

 

Here's a panorama:

 

Thank you

 

I managed to pull a bunch of 80/20 tslot from a chassis that was thrown away at work. Using the pieces I have, I think I can build the below...



Since the walk-in allows walk-in, the middle section will be lower. I'll have a way to cover that when it's being used for sleeping. The Dometic cc40 fridge will be on a slider, and fits perfectly under the toolbox on the left side.

 

This is awesome. How is your ARE MX with walk-in holding up? It's on my radar!

 

Mine is holding up well. I am considering letting it go. It does not fit my needs.

Any updates?

 

I love mine!

My installer did an absolute ass job on the front seal so I had to redo the bulb seal at the bottom of the topper, but it's been great otherwise. I hardly ever use the big hatch and almost always just use the little glass door.

Yes, a few. My design has changed a lot. I need to pull my most recent sketchup. I have the frame completely done and the bed platform done, but still need to build the cabinets. I've camped in it twice like this, I sleep on the top part and my son sleeps in the bottom area.

This is the most recent sketchup I have on this machine. I actually ended up doing it a bit differently than this to have a longer cutout at the bottom right that actually go into the ARE walk-in door area, so it goes past the normal tailgate. This makes the bed area longer than 6'... You can see it pretty clearly in the last picture. Anyways, I'll have to find the most recent file and upload it.



Quick pics from the driveway... I'll take better pics when the build is done.




The bolts on the hinge look rusty. They're not, that's a coating on the fasteners. It's more purple in person than it looks in the pics.









I haven't done slides for the fridge, I just bungee it in place and slide it in and out by hand. I can get to stuff on top without moving it at all. I may build a tilting mechanism for it instead of a sliding mechanism.

 

Amazing build!

 

@synaps3 Nice. But, I need sleeping space for 2.

 

I just got in line for a GFC because I think it will better fit my needs. Did you do a backup camera relocation? This ARE MX Walk-In would have been the next option on my list had I not gone for a GFC.