Simple yet Satisfying DCLB

Excellent, smart move, wish I had done the same a few years back!

 

It's never too late....

 

Thanks. This gives me the option to bolt strait down onto the tie-down channels as well instead of of sliding bolt heads into them. A much better way to attach, and the load will sit right on the strongest part of the bed sides. Should have done this sooner.

 

I'm looking at these as well, can't wait to see it!

 

I figured I was a little overdue doing a write up on my homemade RTT rack. When I bought my roof top tent, I knew I wanted to mount it low in the bed to keep it all as aerodynamic as possible. It had to be high enough though to fit my kayak and gear under the tent and off of the roof (basically for better center of gravity and aerodynamics). I went with 8".

Next was pricing out the options. They are really expensive especially after dropping big money on the tent. So, I decided to make my own. Problem is I don't have a ton of metal fabrication tools or experience. So here's how the average Joe can weld up a great product:

Tools used:
1. Cheap-ish 110 volt wire feed welder
2. angle grinder
3. wood working circular saw with a metal cutting blade
4. Drill w/ bits
5. tape measure, misc hand tools

I started by cutting some scrap angle iron to length and cutting some groves that will allow bolts to slide in and bolt to the factory tie down tracks on the truck.


Next up was figuring out the angles and where to cut the scrap pipe I used for the hoops. I drew the shape I wanted on the garage floor first. Then I used some math and a fair amount of trial and error on a piece of thin tin that I could quickly transfer onto several sections of pipe. After cutting my layout on the tin, I used Zip Ties to hold in on each pipe, so I could paint the angles.





Next I cut it all out, bent it, and tested each section on the garage floor layout.





Well, I just got interrupted, so I have to finish this later on this evening...

 

...part 2 .

After the hoops were all cut and bent, it was time to see if it would work with the "tool" box and the kayak.


It all checked out, so I welded it all up, added some scrap Uni-strut to tie it all together, and painted it.



I still plan to make some improvements to it over time...

It's not perfect, but it works great. I hope this gives someone else without a lot of fabrication background the confidence to take something like this on.

 

Excellent start. Looks like you've got some skills.

 

Thanks! I had done this back in May but just now doing the write up.

 

Look forward to your finished writeup, very helpful for someone like me looking to learn how to fab. metal projects. Thanks.

 

Finished write up!

 

Nice job man!

 

I work with fabricators, full time, professional fabricators, who couldn't build this if somebody had a gun to their head.

 

Thank you!

Thanks! It wasn't really that difficult though. I didn't really see it as a big project, just a series of small projects. Working in construction probably helped some with figuring out the angles and such, but it really wasn't too complicated.

 

Want a job?

 

Well, I had a few beers after work today and figured I'd drag out the Sawzall and welder. @EddyRRT made me an awesome bumper that would fit the truck beautifully if I had left the plastic fender flares in place. But I will be leaving them off. I hated to cut into such a great product but here's what I did:
Before:


After:

It looks so much better now, but more importantly, the bumper is not hanging out there to hook onto a tree if I slide into one on our slick soil.

The pics also show how I plugged the fender holes (carrage bolts painted white) and where I chose to put my rear differential breather mod (first pic behind tail light).

 

Ordered up a set ST Maxx (255/ 80/ 17) today! They say they'll be in one week from today. I kinda feel like I've cheated on BFG though, because I've bought about 5 sets of them over the years. The ST's look like they'll be a better fit for my needs and a little cheaper.

Luckily the F150 needs tires soon, so I could justify this. It will get the "hand me down" tires off the Tacoma.

 

Trucks looking good! How is using the annex with it being that low to the ground? Still easy to get in/out?

 

Thanks! I don't use the annex very often. I've found that parking on a slope with the rear wheel (annex side) on a rock or piece of wood helps a lot with the annex head room.

 

Oh okay. The only time I use my annex is when it's freezing cold out (put the heater down below) or when my lady comes along. I'm going to a bed rack to lower my rtt set up so just wondered