Show me what's in your camper shell!

I gotta get started on my build. Great ideas on here keep em coming

 

Great work!

 

I was going to build it.. had the materials and everything. then i was walking through bass pro shops and they had them for $20. i bought it and returned the materials i bought lol.

 

How is it attached?

 

The top of my cap has a raised hollow portion with fibreglass on a cardboard honeycomb marterial.

I predrilled a couple holes the same diameter as the shank of some sheet metal screws being careful not to go through the exterior fibreglass. i used 1/2" screws. after mock up and making sure everything fit with the screws.. i added construction adhesive and mounted on the screws. i also sealed the screws to prevent moisture from getting in between the fibreglass layers into the cardboard.

I actually contacted the manufacturer looking for mounting advice and was basically told i couldn't do it if i didn't order it from factory with their wooden reinforcements for mounting things and that i would void warranty if i drilled holes.. i replied saying i don't care for warranty anymore and asked for some as built drawings so i know what it's made up of. he replied telling me to check youtube and search up other people that have done similar things lol..

 

You should help me design one for my rear shell setup if you ever come down to Abq

 

I'm in Abq! Can always meet up and see if the sleeper platform fits in yours and can take measurements as well

 

Right on we should meet because my platform back there now is no where near the quality of yours

 

Made a little clean up yesterday.

 

Okay I bought a shell without tracks for a roof rack , what do I buy to prevent from drilling the shell straight into the shell?

 

If you are asking if there is a way to mount a rack without rails and without drilling through the shell, I'm not aware of such a solution. All the rails and racks I've seen are through-bolted.

 

Great stuff guys!!! Thanks for sharing your ideas. Ordering my leer this week. Can't wait to play along. I had one on my previous truck and you don't know how much you miss it til it's gone.

 

Like can you buy tracks and mount them?

 

Yes. Amazon has a ton of different options from different vendors. Usually just go measure how long the tracks should be(how long is the top flat part of the shell?) and get the tracks accordingly. If your shell has a thicker section in the middle as most do, you should not drill through that. That part has a honeycomb interior that will compress and you'll mess up your shell if that happens. You need to drill through the non honeycomb section and attach the tracks there.

 

I got the rack components cheaper thru orsracksdirect.com in the parts dept fyi

 

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...^^^... cool project ... how much weight ??

 

I Try to keep things clean and organized


Driver side has axe, shovel, and fire extinguisher


Passenger side holds the Hi-Lift


Inside the action packer (which is bolted to back rail) is fluids and tools


And course, no one likes fumbling around in the dark

 

Looking at these pics makes me really want a topper... why do they cost so much!?!?

 

Keep checking Craigslist. You can set up alerts that tell you when someone posts one that you want. Took me almost a year of searching, but found one that matched exactly for $500.

 

That's much easier when you are looking for a shell for a truck that has been in production for 10 years. I doubt a lot of people are unloading their 3rd gen shells. I didn't even try (2 months after the truck came out) and the cost is brutal. The only similar product I can compare it to is buying a small fiberglass boat. Plus, most shells have color matched automotive paint which probably adds $500. Mine was heavily optioned and it was $3k out the door. It seems ridiculous and maybe there's an opening for someone to come in with a price competitive alternative. The other cost is the dealers. they have to make their markup to cover their cost and profit. There's a bit to the installation, so I see the need for many people. It would be nice to be able to buy factory direct though.