Stu’s UTE

So I got a good run in this morning and was feeling great when I went into the garage. I decided I wanted to make a door or something for the shelf under the bed. I figured as is, you can’t really store anything of value under there. I was poking around to see what I could use. Maybe some 1/8 aluminum, but I couldn’t find any and when I looked it up on line it was going to cost me $80, so screw that. Then I saw the front bumper! Long enough, not quit wide enough and some odd holes in it. Paired up with some aluminum bread rack rails that I’ve had knocking around for 20 years a plan started to form.



First I cut off the holes on the end with the chop saw. Ending up with a piece that was just a couple inches short of perfect. I riveted a bread rail on one side and cleaned everything up with some aluminum polish on a Scotchbrite pad.



Marked a whole on the back to access the backup camera. I drilled a hole in each corner and then used a jig saw and grinder to cut out the hole. Cleaning it up with a flat file , it looked a little shabby, but I made a cover for it. On the front I cut a small hole just the right size for the stock camera. The glued it in with hot glue.



A couple of hinges and some cabinet magnets and it just needs some final touches.



Two coats of Gorilla glue and some left over rubber.





Damn, this thing fits so nice. I’m so happy with how it turned out. When it folds down it almost sits flat. The camera just tucks in behind the bumper. When it closes, it has a very satisfying snap, and perfect fit. Wether the magnets are strong enough for off road, we’ll have to see.







Haha, well I was feeling so pleased with myself when I went to put the truck back in the carport. Put it in reverse and the camera is upside down.

 

Fixing the camera was easy. I found out that if you drip rubbing alcohol on hot glue it releases. Way easier than hacking at it with a knife! Now if anyone knows how to get rid of the parking lines, that would be awesome. With the new camera location they are now useless and actually kind of obstructing the view. They aren’t coming from the camera because they were the right way up. So they are produced by the Entune unit.

I looked for ideas on latching the new tail gate, but haven’t come up with a good solution yet.

It looks like we are in for a few Spring like days this week so I washed the truck. Then mounted the camper. This is the first time I’ve tried it with the new lights and it is not great. The KC lights have to have the covers removed and then there is only an about 4mm of space above them. The passenger side ditch light is totally blocked by the traction boards! Maybe those will have to squeeze on the rear rack instead.




Then installed the rack for the first time.

 

We’re down in SoCal heading over to the desert. The battery wasn’t charging from the truck. The little Redarc was throwing a fit so I splurged on the Redarc manager 30. Picked it up from 4WP in Bakersfield this morning. Spent the day stripping out two units to replace with the way nicer Redarc. About six hours mostly scrunched up on the very small floor.









It seems to be up and running, but needs some major tidying up when I get home.

 

Nice job on the relatively quick install of the redarc. So is the the battery now charging quickly?

Did you figure out what size of wire runs from your alternator to the camper battery?

 

Rewired from the start battery to the aux battery in the camper with 6 gauge wire as per Redarcs recommendation.



I welded on an adapter to allow me to install a 50 amp thermal breaker on top of the battery.



Then a red and a black wire run down the chassis and across the front of the bed to a 70 amp socket.




Pigtail goes into the auxiliary battery compartment.

 

Nice! I need your electrical expertise to figure out why my main camper power keeps shutting down power even when the battery is fully charged.

 

Oh dear! I’m a Jack of all and a master of none. Sorry.

 

You put the same thermal breaker. Glad you're keeping busy. Getting our new Scheel Mann seats installed now.

 

I really don’t find the driver seat very comfortable, so I’m intrigued to hear what your new seats are like.

 

Just sat in them as a preview. They're a big increase in comfort. Glad I've already paid for the install, it's going to be twice as long unfortunately.

 

I lowered the KC spots down an inch or so with a new light bar. Ordered a couple more to fill out the middle for the classic look. Then noticed the @CaliRaisedLed pod that I installed in December has developed a crack.

 

I wanted a day resting from sanding Sheetrock plaster, so I broke out the grinder and welder. I stripped the padding off the rear seats and did some modifications to the frame so that I could screw the plywood platforms to them.

 

I’m just waiting on some counter sink bits, before I paint the brackets and re install the plastic trim.

 

Dude! Nice rig, How do you like that flat bed? I struggled with finding one I liked.

 

The bed is awesome. I really don’t understand why they aren’t more popular over here.

 

There’s really only two widely available commercial flatbed options for the Tacoma; either UTE bed or Norweld. A third possible option is to have someone fabricate a completely custom one. There’s a huge price difference between UTE and the Norweld though. It all depends on your use and your budget

 

Flat beds in general on mid sized trucks in the
US aren’t very popular, but its starting to grow more common. I just wish there were more options.

 

Flexing a little

 

The truck or your wallet?

 

I’m done spending money on the truck. She’s almost payed off , and then I can retire.