Toyota-friendly Custom Fab Shop in Portland?

I'm considering buying a complete 6' bed, a longer driveline, and getting my frame extended to have a DCLB TRD OR 6-speed since I love my truck, I just wish it was more comfortable to sleep in.

I think I can find a good used bed and get it painted easily enough, I just need the frame extended and a drive shaft.

anyone have any experience with reputable local shops that could/would extend my frame by 1' and do all the heavy lifting since I'm currently without a garage?

 

Why wouldn't you just sell and buy a new to you truck in the dimension you want? I would guarantee it will be cheaper and less heartache in the long run

 

my main reasons are-

1. i've been maintaining the truck since new, and I like it.
2. I don't want to drive an automatic
3. I'll lose some money on the trade, so if its economically feasible to just extend the frame I'll do it instead of buying a new to me stock truck, adding the wheels/tires/suspension/heated seats/various other mods I want which weren't cheap either.

BUT I'm not married to the truck, I'll get something else in the next two years most likely if I can't do this. it just doesn't seem to me like that big of a project, but everyone on this site seems to think its insane

I'm just looking for any shops that weld and do lots of custom work in Portland- they'll know whether or not its feasible

 

I think it would be easier and cheaper to put a manual in a DCLB. The problem of switching to a long bed is you need to extend the frame, which you have to get right so the axle isn't tweaked, all bolts line up, and somehow avoid insurance issues regarding structural integrity and crash performance. I don't know at what point you have to re register with DMV as an experimental vehicle, but that may be a concern. You would have to find a welder that would accept the liability of you or any person you hit attempting to sue the fabricator. Finally, you may have a hard time with resale.

 

I think the reason people find it "insane" (I wouldn't go that far) is because it's a ton of work and expense all for the sake of being able to sleep in the bed of your truck. Like said above, it'd probably be easier to swap a manual trans into an auto DCLB. It'd definitely be cheaper to just invest in a rooftop tent or something like that instead.

 

Thinking about it further, I would flatbed it and build a canopy.

 

The most efficient way to do this would be to buy the bed, frame from under the back of the cab to the rear bumper, and the bed all from the same parts dismantler. That way you'll get a modification that appears to be factory. I've done a similar modification to a customers ford lightning a few years back.

 

This would be really cool to see get done, though. You'd have a one of a kind Tacoma that's for sure