My 2013 Tacoma Access Cab Chinook build in progress

Killer sweater, bro.

 

Gracious Grifo....

 

Not my best work, compared to what you're doing up here by a long shot.

But I do like to catch dudes going shirtless off-guard with "Sweet leather jacket!"

 

Got the subfloor steel framing pretty far along... mocked the back bumper positioning and had a chance to make some decisions on positioning and how to mount some of the components... I am able to mount the generator and small water tank directly to the frame instead of the subframe. As I had mentioned, the subframe will be mounted to the existing factory frame mounting points but will be through bolted with steel plates with a hard rubber center.... it will be able to flex a bit like the cab mounts...
Tomorrow we will set the camper shell for a final dry fit. The back bumper will get welded in position and then the subframe can get welded to the cab reinforcement steel....
Unpacked the diamond plate utility boxes and they are nice! Below the fiberglass camper shell will all be aluminum diamond plate... boxes transitioning into fenders. Black truck, white camper with lots of anodized aluminum diamond plate... the back bumper will get rhino coated black to match the front winch bumper...
Soon I have to look at pulling some of the interior and protecting everything with a low tack protective plastic to not Jack up my pretty interior....
That scary cab cut away is right around the corner.

 

Bad ass

 

Been wanting to do a walk through on mine since day 1. Good job, Sir!

 

We got the camper back on today for hopefully the final dry fit. Also got the supports fabricated and got the back bumper welded in. here are a few shots of the cab with the steel support in place. The fiberglass camper will be sandwiched between the truck cab and the 1"×3" steel cab reinforcement before cutting out the walk through. The steel subframe will get welded to the cab supprt then.... Also a shot of the steel/rubber mounts that the camper will be mounted with using Toyota's factory mounting points. The Generac 3KW generator will mount behind the rear bumper. It runs on propane. I do not think it will be used that much but we will have an option to run air conditioning if needed. Also emergency battery charging.

 

Will the camper be painted to match the truck?

 

No. The camper will be white. Black is too hot for the tropics Oreo Cat...

 

I didn't even think about that

 

Awesome Build!

 

fantastic. you cut 10 inches out of the front of the camper to fit it over the wheel wells, but gained more than that with the access cab compared the regular cab of the donor truck. I've seen this done once before on a 1st gen access cab, but it was lifted, perhaps too high. Your goal of keeping the cg low should serve you well. Looking forward to following the progress.

 

Exactly Colifut... It should be about 17 feet bumper to bumper done and 6'5" tall.. Our plan is to wander central and south america. My wife and I are also looking into shipping the rig to Australia... there is a year of wandering to be done there.

 

The welded steel support for the generator is finished and the gen set has been dry fit behind the rear bumper... there will be access through the floor from above to service it. Also got a good jump start on pulling the interior of the cab out so the walk through can be cut out.... upholstery is wrapped and stored and I will cover everything else really well so it does not get damaged... this truck has a really nice interior and I want to keep it like that.
Liking the aluminum scissor stairs that store in the rear bumper!

 

I was going to suggest you add another solar panel and drop the genny to a 2k. You could still add another solar panel. But hey, looks like you have done some good planning and thinking and certainly have a better idea of what you want than I do.

Will you be able to run the power from both at the same time or is it one or the other?

 

Thinking about the wiring hasn't gotten much priority yet Beauford. Mostly getting the structure worked out and the space planning right now.... but I will have good power options. House batteries with solar and alternator charging, shore power or generator and the truck's 400W inverter....
Plus propane to cook, heat and run the generator....

 

Very cool build so far! I'm looking forward to seeing the progress on this thing. Also it sounds like you've got an awesome trip in the making once this build is complete.

 

God speed bro

 

Very cool. How are you going to address frame flex? That camper is going to want to move independtly from the cab.

 

The steel sub floor frame will mount on the 6 factory frame mounting points on 4"×4" steel plates with hard rubber centers... it will be very stiff but allow for some flex and movement... fiberglass has the ability to flex a bit as well StickyTaco...