Flat bed for my 1Gen

I hear you, would also prefer steel as it is cheaper, and much easier to weld. I dread to idea of TIGging aluminum out of position, whereas stell you can MIG all day long. But weight management is key for me. Let me know how you proceed with the build.

 

thanks for the suggestion, have contacted them for a price quote

 

How would you go about that? Just walk in to a local upholsterer?

 

Where I live, there's a big boating/fishing community and industry, so we have a lot of canvas shops that do custom work and that would do it. I don't think a regular upholstery shop would do it but I could be wrong, if they work with outdoor materials and projects it'd be worth asking. Phoenix might have a custom awning/tent place? Not sure. Just have to explore some options.
If you google image search, "canvas canopy cover," you'll see what I'm thinking...

 

Update: Got a few price quotes and adding them here in case anyone else is wondering about the same thing. THe flatbeds go from $3,600 to $4,400 but the usable product will need to include lots of accessories (mounting kits, side walls etc) even in a bare bones setup. Plus the shipping is 500-1,300. So final prices are 5K to 14K.

I priced out an ARE top (the MX model which is 6" taller than the cab), and that is somewhere around $4,500.

Of course the camper cap and the flat bed are radically different directions to take the truck, but I like more the simple flat bed, as I feel it gives more options for future development. The UTE Ltd B6 is my favorite right now.

 

Damn, I guess the prices have all gone up. My UteLTD quote was like $2,500 for the base setup. I was looking at the B6 as well, I just wish they had one that was a little skinnier because it'd stick out a bit more than I'd like on each side of the 1st gen body. The price was coincidentally about what I paid for my ARE CX shell with sliding/vented windoors and carpeted interior when I decided to go that route instead and ordered one. ($2,475) Can't imagine paying $4,500 for an MX. (You can get a new AluCab Explorer Canopy for less than that.) I have a FrontRunner rack on top of it now, and that's the setup I've had for the last 3 years. If you go that way, definitely get the windoors, can't imagine a shell without them. I still think about ditching for flatbed at times, but have been happy when everything is all sealed up inside away from weather. They're definitely two very different paths.

 

First off, 10/10 love your setup -- clean, elegant, functional. What wheels are those, and what tires are you running?

And yes, I like everything about the B6, except the width. While that makes sense for a commercial use, I'd prefer to keep it cabin-wide.











The images above are from the pdf flyer from Ute's website. (the "B" version is shorter than what is shown above, deck length being 77-3/4").

I am going to measure my bed width, but I am pretty sure it is narrower than that. I wonder if they'd be willing to make me a narrower one (within reasonable costs), but doubt it as it will mess up downstream accessories (rear side wall, headache rack, canopy, etc).

 

I even thought about having the UteLTD one modified after the fact when I got it here. You'd have to cut the headboard, rear and every floor panel and attachment pieces underneath, seemed like a lot. And like you said, it might affect accessories later. So far the Summit one has been the best I've seen on a 1st gen, no contest. Good luck with your plans and decision making, I know the back and forth game well!

https://setoverland.com/1998-2004-toyota-tacoma-gallery/



As for my setup, thanks for the kind words...I was running steel spares in that photo, still my favorite wheel. (planning on running them again but will powder coat next time) They're wrapped in 235/85/16 Cooper AT3s. Been running that size since 2017.

 

Those are my next tires once the current Falkens (which are excellent and quiet, btw) wear out. Love the narrow tall look while the higher profile allows to air down better.

 

They've been perfect. I used to have a desire to bump up to 255, but it just isn't necessary for what I do. I try and keep things simple.

 

by the way, those wheels: were the originally this color or did you have them painted? I checked with Toyota today and they only have them in black. I suppose I can have them powder coated silver but wanted to check before I pull the trigger. Thanks.

 

Yeah they were all black. Definitely go with powder coat versus paint.

 

So I had my wheels powder coated. I like the steel wheel look, but the hue is not what I wanted. Now it's done so I will just look away and hope that dust and grime will be the great equalizer; honestly I am quite disappointed but c'est la vie. Will learn to love it.

 

The tire carrier is home made:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-EOoNmNGeg

As for the wheels I am getting used to them. I wanted to match the cars paint, which was a fool's errand. Should have gone with a boldly different hue but these are warming on me now.

 

I posted more details and pics of the tire carrier in build thread:

 

Reviving this thread with an update:
Have pulled the trigger an ordered this DD kit. Will receive the plasma cut parts and blueprints but am still thinking of making it out of aluminum, using their plans. Will post updates.

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

My goal is still to get smth like this, but can't afford $13K;
https://setoverland.com/toyota/#tacoma1998

 

One thing I think I will need to modify is wheel travel -- very little room with the factory setup of the DD flatbed.

 

Yeah, in the video they say the tire clears the fenders at full flex with the wheal and tires that are on the truck.
But by how much?
This looks like a super cool kit. Looking forward to see it come together!

 

Every choice in life is a trade-off and revisiting my initial goals listed in the OP, the two questions that immediately come up while waiting to receive the parts are:
A. how much to lift
B. should I make it out of steel, or alu?

The main motivation to build UTE tray is that I think pickup truck are not practical for a lot of use cases due to the open, undifferentiated bed space. Specifically I need a closed space to store out-of-sight various tools, a second battery and a compressor with its airtank. So one of the main functions for the UTE tray is to have a long drawer and under-mount side boxes that lock.
The DD design does not accommodate a drawer and they do not offer under-mount toolbox designs for the 1G Tacoma. One could get a short

$270 Buyers Products 1703349 Black Steel Underbody Truck Box with T-Handle Latch, 14 x 12 x 18", Contractor Toolbox For Organization And Storage, Job Tool Chest

Buyers box and just mount it; would probably fit on the passenger side in front of the wheel. Hovewer behind the wheels, one will almost certainly need to fabricate trapeze or triangular boxes and that gets complicated quickly.
As for the drawer, I will look to see what compromise is reasonable to lift the UTE tray to allow more wheel travel and fit a drawer but not go crazy high.

The second choice will be the material: alu vs steel. Removing the factory bed plus rear bumper will net about 200-250 lbs of saving, and DD states their tray adds 200lbs over that so somewhere in the 400lbs total weight. So weight is a big driver. Maybe I can make the headache rack less substantial and save some weight there.

Steel is far easier to weld, for sure. But Alu machines easier if I need any connectors or custom parts. Mixing the two is complicated -- how do y'all prevent galvanic corrosion?

Having made the purchase, I am happy with it. You get blueprints for the tray and jig, and a series of 31 videos that I watched and are great; laser cut parts are forthcoming. So far I think it's a great value for a starting point.

This will be an interesting journey, for sure.

 

Call Alcan and get rear leaf springs made custom for the new weights. You can also tell them the amount of height increase you want and they can give you that. Alcans plus a mild lift shackle gave the the perfect ride height for my flatbed