Z's Approach/Utility Build

Look into metal cutting skill saws. They’re quick and do a really neat job. Mikita makes a good smaller one

 

IT SLIDES!

finished the welding portion of this project... (I think) So the fun's over. I think these are some of the better welds i've done with the mig...



And, grabbed a friend and hoofed the Tepui up on top. The rack is pretty heavy for what it is. Some day i will remake this thing in aluminum... But, it slid really easily with out anything on it, giving me hope. With the RTT up there, no problem! No drawer slides necessary!



Next, cutting some of the angle away so it weighs less and i can keep a couple tie downs in between the rails, cutting and mounting some delrin sliders to keep the thing from munging up the hold-down tracks, and then paint.

One face-palm moment was realizing the desire to keep the RTT out of the wind (mileage) means the rack and RTT cut off the top half of what you can see out the rear view mirror, which is unfortunate. Another thing for v2 - I'd probably make it an inch taller, and may scoop out the middle of the bar for a little more view.

More to come...

 

Cool deal man that looks like it ought to work great for what you wanted

 

I got the delrin sliders on...
and they really work. With the tent on the whole thing slides like buttah. The delrin on the plastic bed side caps is super slippery - almost too much! And it was starting to look pretty done. Which made me sad. Then i saw the trimmings from the mitering and thought... hmmm...
...more welding!
I think i'm starting to get the hang of it!

 

Can't Stop...

This thing could totally be done, but i keep thinking it's more fun to make it than be done... Yesterday I finished up the tabs and got the last 4 welded on and cleaned up so they're ready for paint.

The last thing that I've been suffering over is whether or not to cut out some of the vertical section of the "L" so i can get to the tie-down track between my rails. Making the cut was reducing my enthusiasm. I have a portable band saw but it's really hard to make straight cuts with it. Burning through a dozen abrasive discs in my angle grinder also sounded no fun. I have a little jig saw that could do it but that would also probably be pretty slow going and loud.

Thinking about my day this morning I thought, "what the heck - let's break out the oxy-acetelyne torch and see if i can cut with that." It's been... oh... 25 years since i used it? But inspired by @Casper66 plow/blade height reducing post, I gave it a go. Turns out it's pretty damn easy! I made a couple test cuts and then whipped up a quick jig to guide the torch head:

Cutting was a little slaggy - i couldn't seem to get the heat just right:

But, it cleaned up pretty easily.

FINALLY gonna paint!

Almost done...

 

That’s the glory of metal. Cut it, weld it and if it ain’t rt cut it back apart. The rack looks great btw!

 

Thx! Can't wait to get it on the truck and USE IT! (going a little stir crazy)

 

Yeah I know the feeling and have no idea where to start.

 

Rack Mounted and Tested!

Check it out, gents! @Crom @Casper66 @scocar @Blais03 @turbodb @ChadsPride

Got the rack on the truck, and the RTT on the rack. Slides so easy!




Loosen these 4 bolts and it slides.



Rear-view isn't bad...



And, this is why I made the tabs - the stock solution from Tepui is this long bolt and strap clamp that seems like I'd forever be hitting my head/back on these things and cursing. So, the tab tucks the bolt out of the way.



Here it is on the truck. (after this pic I flipped it around so the ladder is on the parking side....)

 

Sweet skills.

 

Great rack! (I can’t believe I said that to a guy) I’m glad it worked out like you wanted

 

Popping in to say that I just read your whole story and that you do some amazing work while also keeping things very clean in the process! I am a fellow DIY'er and looking at your work brings a smile to my face, keep up the great work and I look forward to following along for the ride!

 

Thankyou!

Haha, thanks man. We'll see how it works out this season, if it chews up my bed caps, creaks like crazy, what. I can see how it would be nice to have it a little taller, already. Next version: aluminum?

Why thank you! I am having a blast.

 

Rack looks awesome! I’ve been quiet in here, but reading every step along the way. I’m gonna share it in my build thread because that’s some good ingenuity that others could benefit from.

 

Aluminum should work fine. As far as aiding in the sliding process perhaps look at fabbing some smooth bed caps like the KB Voodoos. As you know smooth equals less friction so easier on the pads.

 

Randy how are the tires doing so far especially with the stock gears?

 

Not so bad. Starting on a steep incline, if I roll backwards a little, it makes it tough to get going. So I’ll just hold the parking brake as I accelerate and it’s fine. Other than that I don’t notice too much of a difference over the 255

 

That nags I need to know. Compound the starting on a hill with having the camper behind me and it “could” be an issue

 

Yeah it definitely would be. I would still like to regear to 4.30 at some point to get some torque back.

 

Dropping all that money on a rehear especially with lockers is a tough pill to swallow at least rt now I’ve got a while left with these tires I may just leave it as is idk at this point but this is why I ask the questions