Ok, when you first said “air bags” I was thinking suspension and was a bit confused - never even considered the restraint systems… Wow!
Builds 2013 Toyota Tacoma Access Cab Chinook build (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter Jaybashant
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- off road camper pop top
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Ok, when you first said “air bags” I was thinking suspension and was a bit confused - never even considered the restraint systems… Wow!
Nice work!
- Thread starter
- #23
PaToyota, I did not think to clarify that we were not talking suspension... this truck has front and full side air curtains..l scared the crap out of me as we contemplated the cab cut! I hope I never need them but it is nice to know they are there...
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- Thread starter
- #24
Patrick had a great idea to design an aluminum water tank that would make use of the heat coming off the tacoma muffler for hot water.., Hot damn, great idea. This is the start of it. The radius part will be 3/4" away from the muffler. According to my math...14 gallons.
The steel subfloor us off for ospho, prime and paint...
The steel subfloor us off for ospho, prime and paint...
- Thread starter
- #26
Fairing and getting the camper shell ready to mount and paint was the priority today... also some last details on the subfloor. Mounting points for the under body aluminum utility boxes and mounts for a subfloor fiberglass storage box... next the steel needs to be osphoed, primed and painted... it will be mounted tomorrow (hopefully) after the aluminum water tank is welded and then mounted......
Then the camper can be mounted!
Then the camper can be mounted!
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- Thread starter
- #27
More fairing on the camper shell and it is getting pretty close to ready to prime... still some fussing to do to mount the tacoma factory tail lights. Trying to mate these compound curves is a bitch. I am going to look for a rubber extrusion that could be used to mount the tail lights.... something like an H shaped glazing bead.... would make life easier and create a water seal at the tail light.
The aluminum water tank is dry fit together and at a neighbors shop being welded. Here is a pic to show how it will hug the truck muffler to give us some hot water. I will insulate the outside of the water tank except for the radiused surface that will be about 3/4" away from the muffler. After the water tank is installed the steel subfloor can be permanently mounted.
The aluminum water tank is dry fit together and at a neighbors shop being welded. Here is a pic to show how it will hug the truck muffler to give us some hot water. I will insulate the outside of the water tank except for the radiused surface that will be about 3/4" away from the muffler. After the water tank is installed the steel subfloor can be permanently mounted.
- Thread starter
- #28
Made some head way today.... got the water tank back from my neighbor all welded and ready to mount below the subfloor tomorrow. Mounted 2 of the 4 aluminum diamond plate utility boxes and put the camper shell back on for the final dryfit. The camper shell permanent mounting is so close!
- Thread starter
- #29
Home stretch for the permanent mounting of the camper shell. All the steel is done and the camper was put on for the final dry fit (finally).... it is looking great and it is amazingly sturdy with it just C clamped together. It will be a rock on Friday when it is all bolted and laminated together...
So here is the plan. Pull the shell off tomorrow. Pull the subfloor off. Ospho, prime and paint where needed for rust controll. Install water tank and stub in the fill, vent and supply hoses.
I have already cut to fit 1" divinicel structural foam for every section to be filled in the steel subfloor. Tomorrow I will laminate the bottom of each foam section with fiberglass mat then install them in the steel floor. The entire bottom will then get sprayed with undercoating.
Then the camper shell goes on and the camper gets fiberglassed to the floor. It will be very strong... the divinicel is closed cell ridged foam That is an insulator as well as very good acoustic sound deadening material. I will use a thicker foam over the generater... note the floor is raised about 3 inches over the generator. That small platform is where the tiny e way fridge will mount with a tiny dometic microwave on top of it...
That is what I am hoping to finish by Friday afternoon....
Oh...also I received the 2 will composit LP tanks and they are the bomb! Each weighs only 5lbs empty... they will mount externally on the back to supply the generator, heater, stove and fridge when needed...
So here is the plan. Pull the shell off tomorrow. Pull the subfloor off. Ospho, prime and paint where needed for rust controll. Install water tank and stub in the fill, vent and supply hoses.
I have already cut to fit 1" divinicel structural foam for every section to be filled in the steel subfloor. Tomorrow I will laminate the bottom of each foam section with fiberglass mat then install them in the steel floor. The entire bottom will then get sprayed with undercoating.
Then the camper shell goes on and the camper gets fiberglassed to the floor. It will be very strong... the divinicel is closed cell ridged foam That is an insulator as well as very good acoustic sound deadening material. I will use a thicker foam over the generater... note the floor is raised about 3 inches over the generator. That small platform is where the tiny e way fridge will mount with a tiny dometic microwave on top of it...
That is what I am hoping to finish by Friday afternoon....
Oh...also I received the 2 will composit LP tanks and they are the bomb! Each weighs only 5lbs empty... they will mount externally on the back to supply the generator, heater, stove and fridge when needed...
- Thread starter
- #30
So, tomorrow is the day to finally join all the pieces...pulled it apart again first thing this morning.... the steel frame is all painted. The foam floor inserts are all fiberglassed on the bottom side ... after the shell is installed the camper, floor and steel will all get laminated together.
It is a puzzle to put it together. The steel floor first then fiberglass camper then the steel floor has to be lifted in front to install the cab frame.? The camper shell is being sandwiched between the cab and the 1"x3" steel frame. The seal is being done with a butyl rubber gasket and 3M 5200 chaulk.... 5200 is one if not the strongest marine sealant.
I got finish on the back bumper using a shaker can bed liner. Came out pretty good! Also got the outer under rim of the pop up camper top painted in a white bilge paint and spatter coated with black. It will only show when the top is up... we are boat people and I am using materials I know from boat construction including the structural foam used in my composite floors...
It is a puzzle to put it together. The steel floor first then fiberglass camper then the steel floor has to be lifted in front to install the cab frame.? The camper shell is being sandwiched between the cab and the 1"x3" steel frame. The seal is being done with a butyl rubber gasket and 3M 5200 chaulk.... 5200 is one if not the strongest marine sealant.
I got finish on the back bumper using a shaker can bed liner. Came out pretty good! Also got the outer under rim of the pop up camper top painted in a white bilge paint and spatter coated with black. It will only show when the top is up... we are boat people and I am using materials I know from boat construction including the structural foam used in my composite floors...
- Thread starter
- #31
Well I will not get to mount the camper until Monday. Just not enough time in a day. Had to cut and fiberglass the rest of the foam panels for the wheel wells and back corners. After fitting them it made sense to glass them in from the top....
I had planned on doing that after the shell was mounted. I had to not install a few floor panels where we need to mount the water tank. The inside of the wheel wells will, be fabricated in aluminum diamond plate and tie into the under body utility boxes. Monday the floor section comes off and will be sprayed with a rubberised black undercoating. Water tank goes in and then the camper gets mounted.
Got a coat of white primer on the pop up top as well...
I had planned on doing that after the shell was mounted. I had to not install a few floor panels where we need to mount the water tank. The inside of the wheel wells will, be fabricated in aluminum diamond plate and tie into the under body utility boxes. Monday the floor section comes off and will be sprayed with a rubberised black undercoating. Water tank goes in and then the camper gets mounted.
Got a coat of white primer on the pop up top as well...
gofast
SILVER Star
Subbed as well - very cool build!
caz
Keystone Cruisers
Indeed, way cool!
Great build .
Just curiosity , what is that sink in the middle of the floor ?
Just curiosity , what is that sink in the middle of the floor ?
- Thread starter
- #35
It is not a sink Renago.... it is a fiberglass box that is below floor dry storage that will be accessible by a hatch...
ok , makes sense .
secret place to hide the SILVER
secret place to hide the SILVER
- Thread starter
- #37
Looks like it will hold about 20 kilos.... he he....
- Thread starter
- #38
The camper is mounted! Rubber gasketed, tech screwed, through bolted and then the shell is glassed to the floor and steel frame...
The pop up top is temp mounted. the scissor ladder is mounted in the back bumper and the generator is finalised with the muffler mounted remotely behind the bumper.
Next the 4 diamond utility boxes get permantly mounted...
The pop up top is temp mounted. the scissor ladder is mounted in the back bumper and the generator is finalised with the muffler mounted remotely behind the bumper.
Next the 4 diamond utility boxes get permantly mounted...
YES BRO!!!! Looks amazing. This thread is amazing and you are certainly a skilled fabricator.
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