NWXPDTN - 04 TRD 4x4 XCab

Got the side awning (ARB 2000) mounted up today. Now gotta find me some camping time soon!

 

I'm so jelly man, mines not coming till next TUESDAY! It looks awesome.

 

Got my fairing rack decal applied today. Thanks, @CBoy808!

 

Sweet build! Thanks for getting me the right sizes to mount my quick fist mounts. What do you actually carry in those rifle cases on the roof?

Also how did you decide how you set everything up on the roof? I know my ARB 2000 will b going on the passenger shell area, but not sure where to put the shovel, axe, traction jacks, etc.

 

Thanks, man, I appreciate the kind words.

I've got my recovery gear in the rifle case -- shackles, snatch block, tree saver, trailer hitch, ax, etc. I mostly laid everything out on the ground in my garage first to get an idea of space utilization. The maxtrax, shovel, and rifle case up front, then hi-lift along the side on the canopy. I've got 4 kuat "dirtbag" mountain bike fork mounts on the canopy as well. Then an ARB 1250 (4') awning off the back for my camp kitchen and an ARB 2000 (6.5') on the passenger side. It's working great -- love the options that the Prinsu racks provide. Really, you can mount anything to them, limited only by your imagination with mounts. I made my own holders for the maxtrax pins and just drilled through the bottom of the rifle case and mounted with carriage bolts and fender washers directly to the crossbars.

 

Looks sick! Radiant Red 1st gens FTW!!

What size tires are you running?

edit: nevermind, I just checked the first page. Looks great!

 

Awesome dude. I might go that route with the rifle case, I have my shit in the truck bed under my homemade platform.. which is behind the fridge box.. horrible spot lol. Is it a Plano rifle case?

 

This is the one I have:

Plano All Weather Tactical Gun Case, 36"

https://smile.amazon.com/Plano-Weat...=UTF8&qid=1473970591&sr=8-1&keywords=plano+36

 

I have the 46" its bigger and cheaper by like $1

 

Haha that's awesome! The 42" was out of stock when I was looking to pick up a case (thanks, TW haha!), but the 36" is perfect for my needs.

 

I wanna say that's true, when I bought mine I know like 5 other guys buying it too yeah it would work perfect but for the price at the time why not

 

UGG I need to stay away from here so I don't regret selling my shell

 

Haha fair. I never envisioned myself as a "shell guy" but I am totally sold on it now. Super functional and doesn't look half bad -- it's definitely grown on me.

 

I love having the shell about 15% of the time. The remaining 75% of the time it just gets in the way. I really love the versatility of my softtopper

 

For me, one of the things I HATED about having a canopy was crawling into it and wrecking my knees -- I'm old!! My solution was a sliding bed and I LOVE it!! Easy to store stuff at the front of the bed and have access to all of it. I always wanted drawers but they are expensive. My dream is to (eventually) get the drawers and relocate the sliding drawer on top of those similar to what @DefconBrix did with his truck - his rig, and this one, have been inspirational since my plan in mind all along for this truck has been a BOV. Great rig and thank so much for sharing all you have done!!

 

Just killed a HUGE spider that had built a web inside my canopy. How he got in there, I have no idea, but crawling into that canopy to smash that little guy was among the more terrifying things I've done during my life. I considered burning my truck to the ground. Fortunately, I prevailed against the eight-legged demon and emerged victorious.

Carry on.

 

Spiders this year are so bad I hate it. 5 minutes after ill walk through somewhere will be a web

 

Oh my god I nearly crashed my truck last week because I saw a spider crawling down off the roof and heading for the window that was down. I scrambled for the button to roll it up and managed to trap it's leg with the window. I was too afraid to roll it down until I was able to stop, open the door and then roll the window down. That monster was terrifying

Edit: Here's the picture I took once it was trapped in the window

 

Got the OME D43XL AALs installed today. Tired of staring at them in the garage haha. Should have gotten them installed earlier with adding the canopy and rack system, but I just used my airbags to compensate. Will be nice to use mostly the leafs to support the load with the airbags providing just a little cushion, instead of the other way around.

New U-bolts sourced from Aalbu Brothers in Everett. They're rock solid for custom-made U-bolts while you wait. Just be prepared for the gruff office guy haha!

 

Those things are the jam! It's awesome to not have to dig around for straps, etc.. I went with the 42", it's just enough to cram air hose, straps, small shovel/hatchet/saw, compressor, etc.etc. in.

The rack looks great on your rig! Looking forward to getting mine and joining the club