toppers

[Nullifier]

Well I just wanted to get a few idea and thoughts. As with everyone wieght and fuction is a very delicate balance. I have a fairly strong desire to put some kind of roof over my bed. However I need to be able to carry canoes/kayaks/ and a safari rack. I am thinking about this set up as an option. Mount a piece of L channel down the length of each bed rail using 4 J bolts per side. Then make 4 steel hoops that would come up off the L channel a little taller then the cab. The hoops would be tall enough for a topper to be installed inside them. It's kind of like how they have the hoops mounted to the outside of aluminum toppers, to mount ladders and such onto.( hope you guys follow me.) I was going to basically place 1 hoop by the cab 1 by the bed and then evenly space the 2 in the middle. This would give me a super strong rack that I can load anything onto. Then to prevent snag points weld a piece of tube between each hoop where it bends to go from vertical to horizintal. Hell I can even make the rack out of aluminum to make it lighter if I want.


Now I am thinking about a can-bak to help save wieght on the topper. I am not planning on sleeping in the back so that is not an issue. The new rack will be alot stronger then mounting racks on a topper of any kind, and I will not have to worry about window damage. The can-baks roll up sides also give me easy unrestricted access, and on nice days can be opened up to improve viz out the back. Anyone have anythought on this.

[Scott Brady]

Great idea! I know Chuck is considering something similar with his extended cab.

I also considered a Can-Back, but eventually changed my mind due to security. I just couldn't leave the truck parked.

I will say though, that the Can-back is my favorite from the appearance dept., very safari'ish ;)

[Nullifier]

I though about security but I am thinking I can use several lock boxes in the back to secure my stuff that's expensive. I figure 4 boxes will cover 90% of my stuff.

[BajaTaco]

Nullifier, you mentioned using a roof tent in another post but you were concerned about carrying your canoe. I had an idea a while back that I would love to see put into practice :) You could put a rack on top of the cab, that would support the weight of your canoe, with a turnstyle "lazy susan" device on it that would lock and unlock. You could then put the roof tent on your hoop rack behind the cab (I would put it lower like Scotts so the canoe could ride over the top of it). When you get to camp, you unlock the turnstyle and pivot the canoe 90 degrees so that it is perpendicular to the cab, then flip open your tent (or crank it up if it is a maggiolina).

[Nullifier]

I was actually sketching out something like that the other day. I was trying to incorperate some gas struts to do the lift portion once it is unlatched. Then a pull line to bring it back down, My only concern was in foul weather if there was high wind or rain that would become a problem.

Still working on it but I think that for me the reality of being a ground dweller is it. I just can't see myself using an inflatable or folding boat. THe thought just makes the hair stand up pn the back of my neck. I'm such a gear snob LOL!

Whats funny is the more I work on a rack the more I am inclined to build a custom "flatbed" from scratch. Maybe something really unique with canvas but have the canvas on the inside of the frame. Maybe mount the canvas with some kind of partial sleeves over the bars. It would allow me to use the frame as the rack instead of adding a rack on top of the frame. Stonger and more economical. still working on it.

[BajaTaco]

I was actually sketching out something like that the other day. I was trying to incorperate some gas struts to do the lift portion once it is unlatched. Then a pull line to bring it back down, My only concern was in foul weather if there was high wind or rain that would become a problem.

Still working on it but I think that for me the reality of being a ground dweller is it. I just can't see myself using an inflatable or folding boat. THe thought just makes the hair stand up pn the back of my neck. I'm such a gear snob LOL!

Whats funny is the more I work on a rack the more I am inclined to build a custom "flatbed" from scratch. Maybe something really unique with canvas but have the canvas on the inside of the frame. Maybe mount the canvas with some kind of partial sleeves over the bars. It would allow me to use the frame as the rack instead of adding a rack on top of the frame. Stonger and more economical. still working on it.

Hmmm - not sure if I was clear, when I said pivot the canoe 90 degrees, I meant with the hull still parallel to the ground, same as it is in the driving position. But with the bow and stern off to each side of the truck. Hard to explain...

[Nullifier]

Gotcha like a slide sytem. That might actually work. I just need to incorporate a track to slide the whole canoe sideways the erect the tent.

Good Idea!