Considering Upgrading the Taco to a Tundra (2 Viewers)

[weejub]

I have some new tires/wheels thanks to @Steelman and his buddy They had some <3K BFG KO2s in the exact size and wheel I wanted . .so pretty good deal for me! This will hopefully free up a little cash from the budget

Thanks to Lincoln for meeting me in Lexington to pick them up.

 

[weejub]

Costco has some polyester rug material in 6x9' that is perfect for covering the plywood to make my expedition base. I got the grey. Two pieces for $36 after taxes - compared to the stuff I was looking at on Amazon for $130 for half. I will use a roller and apply adhesive to the plywood after it is cut to fit.

Looking at running bolts up from bed, through the plywood. I can bolt it down and then use the end of those bolts ALSO as tie downs.

More to look at here.

So many projects, so little time!

 

[JohnVee]

You might want to rethink the bolts coming up from below. You'll need to slide something in the bed at some point and will want a smooth surface, especially if it's a cardboard box or furniture. There are plenty of ways to still accommodate tie downs. Northern Tool has some that ride inside a track (various sizes offered) that can be recessed into the wood.

 

[weejub]

Thanks for the feedback, John. I am full of crazy ideas so I appreciate the feedback.

The plywood piece will come out after we go on the "expedition." We will simply slide it in, put the bolts in and hold it down. When the plywood is out, we will have the bed liner in and have probably a shorter carriage bolt facing down to plug the holes. We will have lots of little 1" tie downs like you show above on the board in all the right places, in theory The alternative is take the damn bed liner out and just get rid of it . . I think it will get smushed with or without bolts/washers trying to hold it above, facing up.

More thoughts:

• ~40-50"x71" of plywood, covered in poly carpet - just a giant carpeted piece of rectangle plywood.
• It is slid in on top the bed liner. (bad idea prolly)
• There are 4 to 5 holes in the bed and bed liner that are aligned with the plywood.
• I would connect the bolts at the point where the bottom "valley" of the bed liner touches the top "ridge" of the truck bed.
• These bolts stick up and go in this order from bottom: Carriage bolt, big metal washer, big poly sealer washer, truck bed, bed liner, poly small sealer washer, small flat metal washer, nut, big flat washer, plywood piece, big flat washer, nut, corner tie down, small washer, nut.
• These corner/center bolts may help carry some load or simply keep the plywood from being smushed down on the bed liner and destroying it if they were top down - not sure about the physics of that - should align with the ribs of the bed liner and be sunken in between the bed liner ribs.
• More tie downs through out the board: Footman's Ties in 1"

 

[weejub]

You might want to rethink the bolts coming up from below. You'll need to slide something in the bed at some point and will want a smooth surface, especially if it's a cardboard box or furniture. There are plenty of ways to still accommodate tie downs. Northern Tool has some that ride inside a track (various sizes offered) that can be recessed into the wood.

View attachment 1410274 View attachment 1410275

Or if I take the bed liner out, maybe these are low profile enough I can keep them in and put them in the recessed parts of the bed without even needing the plywood? Just pull the track ties out when needed to use for stuff that would catch on it.

 

[JohnVee]

There's also these that are 2" wide and might be less likely to snag on things sliding in.

Anchor Track, Airline Track, Motorcycle Tie Downs

 

[weejub]

I just hate to drill a bunch of holes in the bed. I think I have to go the plywood route - need to decide if I should take out the bed liner out or not. . .

 

[NCFJ]

You could mount the tie downs to the plywood like you suggested and use the 4? bed bolts to bolt the plywood down. That is how I did the same set up in our FJC, had fitted plywood up to the back of the front seats.

 

[weejub]

You could mount the tie downs to the plywood like you suggested and use the 4? bed bolts to bolt the plywood down. That is how I did the same set up in our FJC, had fitted plywood up to the back of the front seats.

Thanks - that is the current plan. Heather and I just discussed also NOT bolting down and just wedging in between the wheel wells and the tail gate.

We could possibly slide this out a bit, too this way . .

 

[weejub]

Update:

Picked up the ARB fridge, so now all attention will turn to the cargo area and dual battery systems.

We will try to just slide the carpeted plywood first, but then may consider a sliding system.

Edit - interested in this: Two strips of these: 1515-S

Bolt them down to the bed or up to the underside of the plywood, then run this bearing thing from the underside or on the bed: 6525-Black

Anyone use this stuff?


Also will likely have a storage system like this for our gear to keep it all ready to go above the garage doors:

Racor PHL-1R Pro HeavyLift 4-by-4-Foot Cable-Lifted Storage Rack - Ceiling Mounted General Purpose Storage Racks - Amazon.com

 

[lumbee1]

Update:

Picked up the ARB fridge, so now all attention will turn to the cargo area and dual battery systems.

We will try to just slide the carpeted plywood first, but then may consider a sliding system.

Edit - interested in this: Two strips of these: 1515-S

Bolt them down to the bed or up to the underside of the plywood, then run this bearing thing from the underside or on the bed: 6525-Black

Anyone use this stuff?


Also will likely have a storage system like this for our gear to keep it all ready to go above the garage doors:

Racor PHL-1R Pro HeavyLift 4-by-4-Foot Cable-Lifted Storage Rack - Ceiling Mounted General Purpose Storage Racks - Amazon.com

Talk to @fourtrax about an anchor solution for the bed of the truck.

 

[fourtrax]

L-Track Tie Down - Airline Track Cargo Tie Down Rails & L-Track Straps

 

[weejub]

Three "accomplishments" today:

1. Found the correct codes for the Transmission Temp for 2005+ Tundra for my Scangauge II. It is now working! Before it was just not reading.
2. Ordered the HKSKO sliders from Mr Stubbs. Rocksliders He quoted me a price a LOT lower than the listed one, which was great because shipping is expensive.
2. Confirmed the board layout with wife for the first round. Purchased needed items for board.

Bottom is nearest tailgate. I owned all below except the fuse block, clear storage and Sherpa.

From bottom left:

1. Aqua-tainer: Amazon.com : Reliance Products Aqua-Tainer 7 Gallon Rigid Water Container : Camping Water Storage : Sports & Outdoors

2. Clear 60 and 16 Quart Storage: Amazon.com: Ziploc WeatherShield 16 and 60 Quart Storage Box, 4 Pack, Clear: Home & Kitchen

3. ARB 47L Fridge

4. On left side of truck bed (not on platform): 20L Water and Fuel cans tied down

4.1. Hi Lift Jack bolted down. Will carry fold up chairs on top of it most likely.

5. Behind ARB: Fuse Block and 3rd Battery (CPAP) Blue Sea Fuse Block Ato 6 Circuit W/Grd Thermoplastic Base & Polycarbonate Cover - - Amazon.com

6. Under 60 Quart Storage in middle: Amazon.com: Lifetime 80160 Commercial Height Adjustable Folding Utility Table, 4 Feet, White Granite: Patio, Lawn & Garden

7. Behind ARB and Electrical - Sherpa: Amazon.com : Camp Chef Sherpa Camp Table and Organizer (Brick) : Sports & Outdoors and Amazon.com: Camco 51891 Aluminum Fold-Away Side Table - Large: Automotive

8 & 9. Tool box and parts.

 

[weejub]

Almost forgot - we named this gal:

PEARL

• Her color is Phantom Grey Pearl
• Daughter said she reminder her of Pearl Crabs - Mr Crabs' grey whale daughter on Spongebob
• The white topper reminded wife of a pearl . .

 

[weejub]

Talk to @fourtrax about an anchor solution for the bed of the truck.

So there is the anchor system on top of the carpeted plywood (like what @fourtrax posted up) . .and then there is the sliding system undernearth the carpeted plywood that allows the plywood platform to move in and out of the bed for easier access.

We are waiting on the slide system underneath the plywood. Going to see how it is to just let the carpeted plywood piece slide on the plastic bed liner for now.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

I'm liking this! I assume the fridge end (bottom of the pic) faces the tailgate? How are you getting to the stuff in the way back?

 

[weejub]

I'm liking this! I assume the fridge end (bottom of the pic) faces the tailgate? How are you getting to the stuff in the way back?

The initial plan is to have this 48"x70" piece of plywood, that is covered on both sides by carpet. The carpet bottom just sits on the plastic bed liner. Counting on the carpet and plastic to allow for some easy movement. We would simply slide the plywood out far enough to access the back, but not too far to fall over the tailgate

The is the "poor man's" initial solution.

Solution 2 is to use a sliding system under the plywood.

 

[weejub]

Have too much going on today with the kids to get much done, but threw a couple of the items for the board in the bed to double check foot print.

Working on the planning for the double battery:

Dual Battery Setup

 

[weejub]

I had to share time working on the Tundra with painting a picture frame and some steel to go inside it for mini pics of folk art /w mangets. . .fun project, but lots to do on the Tundra in the next two weeks before Spring Break



I did get a few things done on the Tundra:

Ran a differential breather up from the rear axle this AM. Front axle and transfer case already have extended breathers. I may try to just tie into those and run them back to the right side of the ARB. The water would have to be half way up the motor to get in those breathers, though. The rear was just a stubby one.

Got the 3/4" plywood purchased and cut to size for the carpeted bed board. Sanded the edges on one side. Layed out the carpet plan.

Did another test run of the loading on it - -got the Wife's approval

 

[weejub]

Looking for advice on a piece of trim I can put around the bed-board. Needs to go over 3/4" plywood + some very thin carpeting. Might just put down the carpet and just use Gorilla brand Duct Tape . . . All the trim I have found in 3/4" is super expensive.