Let's see those Alu-cab setups

You and I would get along. I also take my alu-cab setup surf fishing at the OBX.

 

Got a reply from Alu-cab regarding the contour long box version. Sounds like the side doors are the same size as short box and they add filler plates on the front and rear so the door stays centered on the canopy. This is different than the explorer, and I think it will look better.

 

Great news!! At least they’re centering it

 

Can anyone confirm if an alucab for a colorado would fit a tacoma?

 

Any one know if it's possible to mount an Alu-cab awning to the roof of an Explorer canopy without adding roof rails?

 

canopy or camper? Canopy I would say no based upon

https://www.alu-cab.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/EXPLORER-CANOPY-CHEV-COLORADO-GA.pdf
https://www.alu-cab.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/282-TOYOTA-TACOMA-2016-SB-CANOPY-GA-1.pdf

 

I'll need to view these on my computer to see the specs

 

The rails are built into every explorer canopy. Did you mean roof bars? I am not sure how the awning attaches.

 

sorry, I mean without adding roof cross bars.

 

Probably need custom plates to mount to the channels on the roof

 

Short answer is "no". Long version: the awning, especially when open, applies a strong rotational force to the awning body and the mounts. This is due to the leg-less/free-standing design - in essence the whole structure is trying to bend to the side it is open. Alu-cab went to great lengths to counter this:
- The bracket is pocketing the cross bar (wraps it on 3 sides)
- They added a stout metal strap that connects the awning to about 6 inches inwards of the edge of the cross bar to counter this force.

Without a cross bar, you could connect the bracket to the longitudinal rails with one or two carriage bolds, but being a single connection point (and barely any surface contact), it will, in my opinion, rip right off, with minimal leverage.

 

If you get cross bars, I have the 90 degree brackets left over from the previous owner that had my awning mounted to roof cross bars on a Jeep…. Let me know…

 

i don’t know you well enough to know whether you’re being sarcastic or serious…. If you’re serious, again I would totally recommend Asheville as a vacation spot…. If not, I hear yah… the distance is definitely a hassle… they were pretty flexible with me on setting an install date and then I just dropped off the truck for the day and and they dropped me at a coffee shop. Pleasant experience overall and install has been flawless so far… was out in it again this past weekend at the Hiwassee in TN.

 

No sarcasm here! Trouble is I'd have my wife and dogs with me haha

 

Spot they took me to wait had basically an outdoor mall too…. I walked to Orvis and REI also…. And then you can drive 30 mins once they’re done and grab a camping spot at the Davidson River Campground…. I’ve got your vacation all planned out for ya…

 

Yikes! What happened?

 

Seconded. The install seems pretty straightforward, unless they dropped the ACCC on your truck.

I just spent way too much for the Dickinson P9000 fireplace and GP Factor mounting kit for said furnace.

Excited to get it installed.

 

definitely interested to hear more… mine seems ok so far… would like to know what to look out for

 

Still looking for replacement locks. Any leads?

 

My first question (which I'm betting you've already asked somewhere, so sorry if revisiting history) is have you seen if the newer ones on AluCab (not sure if they changed out both the canopy and canopy camper ones), and if they work? If, for some reason, this hasn't come up before, I would just call the folks at ok4wd and they should be able to help close that gap. I would also be surprised if they didn't know of a better option (when I had to work with them on a strut I broke, they were very helpful and creative since they didn't have an exact replacement in stock).

If you've done those things...then I don't think I have any more creative options off the cuff (other than just going to a shop that does camper, maybe especially work truck type conversions, installs/conversions for a more custom approach).