Irish_11's 99 Tacoma Extra cab build

[irish_11]

Getting setup for a night run at Naches Pass this weekend, so I figured the ARB looked lonely without some lights on it. I added a set of Hella 700ff's. They are stock for now, but I'm seeing a HID conversion in the future.

 

[irish_11]

I finally took a weekend day off and got out to the trails. I really love my ARB bumper. It took a hard hit coming off a trough where I hit a shackle on a rock and it took it like a champ. Also my backup/work lights on the rack really come in handy for setting up camp in the dark. All and all it was a great trip.

 

[irish_11]

So I havn't posted on this build in a while because nothing has changed. I still really love this truck.I sold me 4runner recently, and am now down to one rig. My friends and I are planning a trip to arches and Ouray this summer and I am thinking a canopy and sleeping platform are called for. I'm looking at the Gemtop Workmaster or an ARE DCU. Hopefully I can find a deal on one or the other locally.

 

[01greentaco]

I really liking your rack. How much did it cost you in metal materials?

 

[irish_11]

Thanks. It was actually really easy/pretty cheap. I think I spent $100 or less on the steel. Including the gussets. There are two 1x1 gussets at the rear and four 2x2 on the top section where the bars running lengthwise connect to the legs. I used the two closest to the cab as backup light mounts and I am surprised how much I use my backup lights. They were a great addition.

 

[laxtoy]

no luck finding an are or gemtop steel lid yet? find out if a nissan one would fit?

 

[irish_11]

no luck finding an are or gemtop steel lid yet? find out if a nissan one would fit?

Not yet. I'm still searching. I did find out a second gen will fit. As long as it is not the ambulance door style 1/8" too wide on either side to fit where the tailgate goes. I haven't found a Nissan shell worth trying in the Seattle area. I'm thinking as spring rolls around the options will open up a bit.



After I find the canopy I will have a some more build photos up while I hopefully outfit it. Its going to have a sleeping platform inside. Outside I've come up with a backup light plan I like along with a hi-lift and axe/shovel mount that I would like to fab up. But that is down the road. I will need them for a trip to Moab and Ouray this summer.

 

[irish_11]

I started my sleeping platform build last weekend. I would like to take all the credit for the design, but I stole it from a fellow board member http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=50667

I am still working on the side supports, but I have the center and wings done. The challenge is that I wanted it to be removable without having to take my canopy off. So I stole the folding design. I used 2x2's for the frame, shored them up with 3" angle brackets and topped it with 1/2" CDX. It was a little flimsy at the front so I made a brace out of 1" angle iron I had sitting around and now it is very solid. I was worried about the front because it will take a lot of force from climbing in and out at a single point.

Here is the platform:

This is what is looks like folded. I went with a split on the drivers side to hold taller gear. All the camping gear will go on the drivers side and all the recovery gear and tools will go on the passenger. Which I left as a single piece to aid in getting my hi-lift in and out.

And here is what the underside support and storage look like:

And since I lost my Toyota badging when I took the tail gate off. I wanted everyone to know it is still a Toyota:

 

[Louisd75]

Looks good :sombrero: I like how you split the wing up so that you don't have to access the whole thing at once. I also like the 90* brackets that you used on the support framing. It looks much stouter than how I made mine. Good ideas that I'll borrow if I ever make a version 2.0

Louis

 

[Deleted member 9101]

Looks good.. but why paint it black? why not red to match the truck?

 

[irish_11]

Looks good :sombrero: I like how you split the wing up so that you don't have to access the whole thing at once. I also like the 90* brackets that you used on the support framing. It looks much stouter than how I made mine. Good ideas that I'll borrow if I ever make a version 2.0

Louis

Thanks, the wing split just came to me and I thought I would try it out. I picked up the brackets at home depot in a 4 pack for like $4 a piece, so not too bad. There are 16 on each support (one on each side of the leg where it connects to the runner) which is a bit overkill but it is very solid feeling. Good design though with the folding, that one I couldn't come up with on my own.

Looks good.. but why paint it black? why not red to match the truck?

Not sure what color I am going to go with yet. I might make a poll out of it. I like red, but my red is kind of faded so it might be hard to match. Black matches all the accessories I have put on it, but I think it might get hot during the summer.

 

[irish_11]

I've decided to ditch the FWC setup after much debate. I really liked the idea, but I am just a bit too tall/broad shouldered for sleeping inside of it. I'm going to revamp the bed rack and build a platform on it for Rubbermaid action packers, gas cans, water cans, the hi-lift, axe & shovel. For sleeping I am going with a ground tent for now and maybe a RTT down the road.

 

[irish_11]

I've been busy prepping for a long trip this summer. A group of friends and I are headed to Arches, Moab and Ouray at the end of August to the begining of September. I will get some updated photos in soon, but here is my newly added mods list:

• 78" Trail Gear sliders
• Core-trax bed tie down system
• Bracketron CB mic & GPS mount
• Re-routed OBA system w/ upgraded waterproof switch
• Coated my rack in Duplacolor bed liner
• Added a truck box for storage

 

[irish_11]

Now with sliders

Here are my trail-gear 78" weld on sliders.

Just enough to clear the rear tire of obstacles

Scab plates and reinforcement

 

[irish_11]

Rack and new lights

I re-coated my rack with bed liner in a can and added some better Hella optilux backup lights.