Hi new to site: chevy avalanche questio

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eugene

Explorer
What about a non popup. There are truck caps that are extra tall. Look at the cap on the truck at the very bottom of this page http://www.actioncrash.com/

I've also seen them with a small area over the cab. These are nothing more than a simple aluminum cap just made taller than normal. So some 1" aluminum tubing for the frame and a skin. Very light.
 
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cj454

Observer
yup thats what i was thinking but being the av no one makes one. I have to make my own it looks like.
 
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cj454

Observer
i have not had time to persue this... family came in from the north so its been quite busy but Im still working on it.
 
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cj454

Observer
So I spoke to a local guy about just making a soft back for the truck. The ones like Bestop makes for pickups. He wanted like $1200 for it. That seems high

It would have windows on the side and one in the back. if I ddi solid sides it would be like $950 or so.

Then it is tied to the truck an not really a camper shell. It would be nice and easy to remove and could use it to haul things when not camping that are to big for the hard covers.

The other option is do make my own slide in box like these one in the link. But make the top angle up from the back and make some soft sides that fold out like they show on their site for the trailers they make.
See these trailers http://www.livinlite.com/VRV-overview.php

THen you could put it on a trailer or on the ground etc.

Not sure how much that would cost. want to keep it to 435lb like they have or less.
 
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cj454

Observer
the other think i was thinking of was to make it so it came out the tail gate and slid in on roller. I have a home made "bedslide" that is great when things go to the front of the bed. just pull it out and them come with it ;)

So what if I user my same rail system and that would make it easier to take in and out of my truck.

question is length... do i keep the tgate down with it in or make it short enough to have the tgate up and may be some sort of cover over the tgate when camping.

What about converting a latter rack system i seen them for 200 at harbor freight ... ideas still rolling on this just stopped for a while,

something like this but shortened to accommodate the AV... they go on sale for like 200 ever so often and i have a local store

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=98511
 
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eugene

Explorer
So are you going back to soft sided again?
Look at safaripacific's custom short flippac, I bet they could makea similar for the AV.
 
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cj454

Observer
ya i may have to go back to softop design.. and when mone allows get a RTT..

I come back to this every so often i get new idea.
 
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eugene

Explorer
The reason I suggested them is because they are willing to do custom stuff like the one for safari pacific
 
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cj454

Observer
eugene said:
The reason I suggested them is because they are willing to do custom stuff like the one for safari pacific
Click to expand...

Oh OK Ill have to call them and see.

So I have a holiday coming up (as we all do in the US) and the woman has to work I have the better part of tday to myself before we got to the rents for dinner.

So I am back thinking on this big time.

I was going to try to prototype a shell frame out of either 1x3 or 1x2 or pvc. What do you think would be the best material to try to build a prototype a frame. just to see how it would look on the truck.

I have scrap steal but think thats to much work. Figured the other was cheap and easy to cut glue etc. I think the pvc might be to flexible,

Once I get that built i would find a guy (have to locate a good one) and have the frame made out of aluminium.

But my question is what to skin it in., Most of them are fiberglass. I could go thin aluminum or diamond plate (but I want a smooth paintable surface to match the truck i think) Or may be some thing wood and fiberglass over that???

Just looking for ideas not even close to that part yet.

The frame is the easy part I think.

I know how i can attach it to the truck. I will have a plate that will bolt to the top of the sale panel. It has 6 screws that the snugtop bolted to and the back bolts to the handles

It will follow the lines of the truck up the sides etc.


smooth or windows in the back not sure yet. Have to make some windows for the sale panels too.

The other thing I want to figure out is how to make the roof open. The one mentioned above has a nice (looks to be) spring loaded opening system. Not sure how i could do that.

So how can I adapt (or have made purchase etc) a tent that will fit on the top and open up.

wheels grinding .. need some oil :)

Need good place to source part like latches windows etc. I was thinking mcmastercar but any other would be great.
 
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eugene

Explorer
could be. Go look at safaripacific's ranger thread, he shortened the bed and flippac made a custom short one for him, yous would be similar length just with the front being angled.
 
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