So it's been almost a year since I've put anything up here, and I've got a couple of updates (this post got really long really fast)!
Originally I had a set of Thule bars which worked alright, although, and it has been pointed out before, I was severely overloading both the bars, and the topper. So to deal with that, I saved up for a steel ladder-rack. It's a great rack, albeit a bit on the heavy side. I did have to cut four notches in the skirt on the topper for the rack to fit into. I wasn't stoked on the idea, but it was the only way that I saw to make it fit, and unless you're looking for it, you can't even tell.
This was all happening at the end of the summer, and my girlfriend and I were getting ready to leave the San Juan Islands to head back to AZ for school...so of course everything was happening faster than it should have. Miraculously it all worked out. New shoes (Goodyear Duratrac 265/75/16's) and a set of Dakar leaves in the back too!! The ride is noticeably better.
In January of this year, I spent three weeks in Bend, OR. Partly to visit friends, and partly to pick up a FWC from davidshourd in Portland!! Having now graduated from school, my career track is taking me on some fairly excellent adventures, as I'm living and working seasonally. For me, this means that mobility is key (part of the reason for the camper). I've been living out of the back of the truck in the summers, but when it rains, blows, is dusty, or just plain gross outside, there's not a whole lot that can make life better except for being indoors...seeking shelter in a truck topper, as many of you know, doesn't cut it for very long, especially if you can't sit up. As most of my work is in the field/backcountry for long periods of time, it is silly to me to spend money on a house/apartment/room when I'm not there the vast majority of the time. So with all that said, after a quick trip through Death and Saline Valleys on my way back to Prescott, I am now in the process of figuring out how to make the FWC work for me.
I've already removed the fridge, as I already own an ARB 50 qt. Now the trick is figuring out how/where to put the ARB so that it's out of the way, accessible, and doesn't suck up too much of the FWC's already limited floorspace. The space where the stock FWC fridge was has been turned into a set of two drawers as a pantry (photos to come).
I've also added four pneumatic struts courtesy of the
WTW thread. Because the previous owner(s) added solar panels, and I'll be carrying boats, I added four 80 pounders (I know, it's a lot of lift), however I've found that they aren't that bad to get down when the roof is empty, and when it's loaded, it's just right...
On the topic of roof-loads, I've also added a set of Yakima tracks and bars, which required re-working where all of the aforementioned solar panels are located. The "afternoon project" turned into a "3 day project" with designing an aluminum frame/bracket system to securely attach the solar panels to the roof.
The lifters and rack can be seen in this photo:
And lastly, (whew, almost done) Gus, has now been broken in. He turned 100,000 in Mexican Hat, Utah, down by the San Juan River!!
Hopefully I'll have some photos of the drawers up soon!
Cheers,
West