Let's see those Alu-cab setups

I actually wanted no windows and was going to call AVO and put a down payment on one and the same weekend I made up my mind, I found this one that was only a few months old with load bars for a price I couldn't pass up. Now that I've had it for a while and taken trips with it, I'm glad that it has the windows. I don't actually use them but as silly as it sounds it looks better to me having the windows, like it kinda fits the truck if you will. The windows do come pretty dark already but I will be getting my window tint guy to make them as dark as possible.

Tyler

 

Got it on last Wednesday, pretty easy getting the canopy on. Installing the brackets were a little confusing based on the unrevised instructions you are given.

installed the FBC 3rd brake light with parking light harness on the passenger side rear brake light and keep getting a “brake and gas depressed at same time” notification on the dash. . Tried splicing and using the 3 way connectors and its still shorting.

I unplugged the harness and i’ll troubleshoot it later.

Took it camping over the weekend but didn’t get any action shots, here it is at the parking lot at work.

i’ll follow up with the troubleshooting and the installation of the add-ons i have waiting at home.

 

no damage from your box falling apart during your drive?

 

Haha nope, no damage. i flipped it up and down on the grass to inspect and all struts, panels, welds, edges, and everything looked uniform.

i will be power washing it this week to see how good of a job i did sealing the seams and bulkheads, see if any water intrudes

 

I just got mine in, trying to figure out the brackets right now, any tips?

 

Hey Gang

Does anyone have the EXPLORER alu cab canopy and choose the front window option? I'd love to ask a few questions

Contour owners need not apply.

 

hey! here's a pic of how I did it.


-The longer bolts go vertical, bolt head on top and lock nut on the bottom.
-Horizontal bolt heads slide through the bed and canopy railings.
-The weird shaped 2 squared hole plates go in the bed railing and fit right with the square shanked bolts.
-Thicker 2 hole plates goes in between the bed railing and vertical bracket.
-Shims are the slimmest plates and are stacked and placed based on your discretion as to how flush the brackets are sitting. I have 5 shims placed on the rear passenger side bracket.

Impact driver and wrench helped with the lock nuts.

Black caps go over the lock nuts and bolt heads after tightening everything down.

Don't forget to include the washers. I was missing some hardware and had to pick some up from the store.

Let me know if anythings not clear, GL!

 

I installed the FBC Bed Light T Harness. Easy install

 

Thanks for that, did you use 5 shims on all 6 brackets?

I noticed the front corners of the rubber weather strip are continuous and folded into the corners so it doesn’t make a perfect seal up front, anyone seen this?

 

No, each bracket varied from 4 to 6 shims. I just eyeballed what looked "even" or not.

And yeah mines the same with the weather stripping. My passenger front-corner weather strip actually came undone from the canopy when i was adjusting it on the bed rails. I just lifted the canopy and pushed the strip back into place and added more butyl tape to the bulkhead areas.

 

gotcha, thanks for the help. that's right around how mine ended up, along with a bit of butyl in the corner weather strip


For the record... if anyone is curious, and having owned both now. Everything about this thing is WAY better than the RSI Smart Cap. Its MUCH lighter, the paint looks more durable, the lock cylinders don't seem to bind up, the window locking mech is much better too. I could push the slider window on the smart cap and pop it open and "break into" my own shell, those windows were not secure at all.

 

Anytime!
I washed the outside of the canopy and there was some water intruding from the bulkhead corners, had to reapply some of the butyl tape.

Good to hear from someone that's had both! RSI was what I originally wanted, then I learned about Alucab.

 

Thanks for all this info. I am just about to pull the trigger and debating on whether or not to install myself. I am being quoted 4 hours @135/h ($540).

I was reading the install directions and they mentioned a shim for the front bed wall as well as the sealing with the butyl tape. Did you get any kind of shim? Any chance you can post some pics of what you had to waterproof.

Looks great on your truck, can't wait to get mine.

 

$540 isn't too bad if the installation is insured and the brake light is wired. BUT, if you got the manpower I would just install it at home.
I didn't have an issue with the installation price. I just saw it as another fun project to work on the truck!

Sealing it, wiring the brake/dome lights, and running the hardware/brackets are all pretty easy to do if you're mechanically inclined.

And no, never installed a shim for the front bed wall. I just stuffed every crevice at bulkheads with butyl tape, inside and out of the canopy.

Thank you! You're going to loves yours. Here's the truck featured on Sibi Built's instagram...


Note that Sibi Built are not the vendor that allocated me the canopy.

 

They were close but the tailgate cleared. I think those mounts were from Cali Raised if I remember correctly.

 

'Thanks for choosing us for your mounts!

 

Well, I’m 2.5 months in for wait … emails said possible early march so hoping that’s the case . In the meantime though I’ve been able to get much of the custom wiring ready to go to the rear (coiled and sealed up for now) and also took some time to carpet and wire up the cupboards. Even my cat approves

 

I installed the rear Contour Security Window Grid and latch covers,
The instructions aren't outdated like most of Alu-Cabs install instructions.

They recommend SIKA 521UV to be used for sealing the fasteners.

I will be installing the 270 Shadow Awning for the RHS as soon I get the mounting feet for the load bars.
I'll upload some pics on how that goes!

 

Did you adjust the locks at all after putting the covers on? Mine felt a little tighter, but honestly I haven't been back there since I installed the covers

 

Nope, but they do feel tighter. It's probably the seal from the covers.

Since, we are on the topic,..
I am checking these out so I can sleep in the back and not worry about getting locked in.
https://www.canopylocks.com.au/alu-cab.html
I saw them mentioned on another thread here.