Canopy/Cap/Topper Carpet

[College Kid]

Ok, I've spent the last 3 days searching for something on this topic.

I am in the process of designing a sleeping platform/storage area in my Ram. The main goal is to provide a large amount of storage while still having the entire bed area open for my dogs to ride/and me to sleep. I plan on carpeting the top boards to provide some stability for the dogs and also make it a little nicer and hopefully a little quieter/warmer.

I have started my search for a cap and decide:
1) It needs to be a highrise model
2) have slider windows, (maybe even with windoors if I'm lucky)
3) have a carpeted interior to keep down condensation/ and some added insulation.

Here's the issue: I am on a tight budget, so I have being looking at used caps. I have found a number used caps locally that would work great EXCEPT they aren't carpeted. I am curious if anyone has ever added carpet to a cap?

I've thought about either a large piece of carpet glued in using spray adhesive. Trying to recreate the "factory headliners"
or
using carpet tiles, that have the tape side.

Thoughts? Ideas?

 

[1speed]

Where are you located? What year and bed length is your Ram? I may have what you're looking for.

 

[College Kid]

I am up in Toronto, Canada. Probably a little far from FL.

 

[washington taco]

Check out www.bajataco.com this will give you a basic build design. I purchased a used fiberglass canopie this winter for 200.00 spent another 315.00 for a guy to color match and paint it. I intened to build my bed area similar to the Baja Taco but cut in half but have the whole thing built on a couple sheets of plywood so I can slide it out when I need to haul building material dirt ect. I receetly purchased a 24"x 74"x 4" piece of matress foam from a matress factory and will top my bed with this, it is very comfortable. I have already camped in this at 4100' below freezing temps and condinsation is a big problem. I use a mister heater buddy heater which keeps me worm but along with it and me it gets pretty damp. Keep us up dated on the carpet if you come up with agood solution. I for one will try gluing carpet to the roof this summer and intend to drill a couple hole in the forword end of the truck bed to allow drainage as the last time I slept in the truck I had a good half gallon of water in the bed. This is all on a 2000 Taco.

 

[College Kid]

I have looked at bajataco, and all the others on this site. Actually that is how I came across this forum. I like your idea of being able to remove it easily, I have a similar plan. I am pretty much decided on the platform design. I have designed it with 33x19 plastic trunks in mind. I will be able to fit 5 of these plus 4 smaller bins. Each will be partitioned by the plywood frame. I will post up some pics as soon as I start the build. I am going to have to wait till I have a cap to do that.

Does anyone else know ways of cutting down on condensation?

 

[Metcalf]

I think the easiest way to cut down on condensation is to just crack a window or two. It might be a little colder but it beats being wet AND cold.

As fas as a design. I am building something really similar it sounds. I have to be able to keep the truck really flexible for hauling the dogs around, the odd job, a 400gallon water tank, etc.

I have been looking for camper shells on Craigslist. There seem to be a ton of them if your willing to drive. I suspect that if you can't find one with carpet you could just duplicate the carpet install buy the factory with some glue and automotive carpet. I would install the carpet with the camper not on the truck however. Flip it over and install the carpet like a big bathtub. Trying to work over your head with glue and carpet inside a truck....no thanks.

 

[Bullseye240]

You can get foam backed headliner material from places like Automotiveinteriors.com and match it to your current headliner and will likely stay up better than carpet as carpet would be much heavier. Either way the trouble will be in trimming out the corners to make it look good.

 

[theMec]

I've camped under a topper for years on some kind of a sleeping platform. I put 3" foam pads on top of the plywood for comfy sleeping 12" of storage under the plywood and everything is removeable in 5 minutes.

You probably have this figured out but the problem is if your platform is high enough for functional storage, you can't sit up. A high top helps but the big problem is that 95% of the shells on the market have sloping sides so you can't lean against the sides either. I finally went with a Callen Camper. http://callencamper.com/ (I don't have it yet or I'd post a pic.) You see them on San Diego craigslist but that's probably too far to drive.

 

[College Kid]

I like the idea of using head liner vs carpet. How does headliner install. I didn't think it was glued? Does anyone have any luck doing this?
I am going to be getting a high rise for sure. I haven't made my final decision there but I am leaning towards a wedge design. I have more or less finalized my storage platform which will sit about 14 inches above the bed floor. This will leave me approx. 27 inches at the front. As this will be enough for my dogs, who will ride around in here most of the time. I figure I can sleep with my head at the tailgate end where I will be able to benefit from the "wedge" of the cap.

I think the most difficult part is to make it look good.

 

[Bullseye240]

The headliner glues in, just spray the topper and the back side of the headliner then let it set for a min and start placing it.but be sure it is where you want it as there is no changing your mind once you start. Its best if you can flip the topper upside down and lay the material out and get it set in position first, make any necessary cuts to make it fit. You might have to sew the corners on the inside where they meet. Then fold back about half the material and spray the glue. Two people work best for this part. Begin to fold the material back over the glue, smoothing as you go but don't press too hard.