Brought home the used FlipPac...

[billy bee]

Saw this here and on CL. Waffled between buying it or RockWear's Tundra and FlipPac, and finally decided I wanted a nicer truck.

Took my T100 to the Central Valley yesterday to pick it up. Took some creative shimming to get it on the T100. The bed is really too narrow to hold this thing so I had to add 3/4" shims along the bed rails to get the fiberglass flange to sit properly up off of the rail.

Then clamped it down.

After a fairly tense 132 miles of driving, I got it home and opened it up for the first time.

The inside is rather musty and there are some stains on the tent material and the mattress. It has been smoked in, but it will clean up OK. My wife was pleasantly surprise by the condition. That's a HUGE plus!!!

The carpet kit is pretty cool. I'll have to reupholster it and make it dog-friendly, but it offers some decent storage and seating.

A bed fits between the two benches.

There are two pieces that I cannot quite figure out. I think they work together. They are about as long as the bed is wide, but I cannot quite figure out what they do...

The only real repair required is the lid. Because of the constant tension of the torsion rod, the driver's side is bowed and does not seal. I will order another latch and us it in the center where the gap is the widest.

The only other nit I'll pick is with the overall quality of the fiberglass construction. I have been around boats my entire life and seen some crappy glass work. Now sure when this was made or by whom, but the quality is not great. No delam or blisters, but very inconsistent surfaces. The worst section is the lip built at the leading edge of the base. There is at least 1/2' of wave in it across the width of the lid. Not sure how it was constructed, but I may decide to grind it down so it is straight and fits up against the cab more uniformly and snugly.

Nest step is to buy a truck that it actually fits. My best bests are Chevy/GMC up to 2007.5 and Dodge 1994 - 2002. I am shooting for a Dodge diesel. Second choice would be a GM with the Duramax. Still selling the Scrambler and T100 to finance this operation.

I'll keep you posted...

bb

 

[SLO_F-250]

BB, Congrats on the purchase! I saw that thing, and was 1/2 tempted to scratch what I was doing and snag it too. :Wow1: Looking forward to see the build!

Its also nice to see another Central Coaster on here!
Paul

 

[suntinez]

:lurk:

 

[go4aryd]

"There are two pieces that I cannot quite figure out. I think they work together. They are about as long as the bed is wide, but I cannot quite figure out what they do..."

Those two pieces should fit into the slots in the middle (see the pix with Fido) to partition any storage there as well as strengthen the "bed" panel.

 

[driller]

The top piece in the picture, goes in the front of the truck bed with the carpet facing back toward the tailgate. The other piece goes on the tailgate, with the carpet facing toward the front of the truck. The flap part on the pivot of the tail gate acting as a dust shield.

 

[billy bee]

Those two pieces should fit into the slots in the middle (see the pix with Fido) to partition any storage there as well as strengthen the "bed" panel.

Figgered it out...

It is missing those supports.

bb

 

[billy bee]

The top piece in the picture, goes in the front of the truck bed with the carpet facing back toward the tailgate. The other piece goes on the tailgate, with the carpet facing toward the front of the truck. The flap part on the pivot of the tail gate acting as a dust shield.

I was out snapping pics as you wrote this. I like the dust shield idea...

Do you have a similar kit? Can you post pics?

bb

 

[Bella PSD]

The only real repair required is the lid. Because of the constant tension of the torsion rod, the driver's side is bowed and does not seal. I will order another latch and us it in the center where the gap is the widest.

bb

Mine over the years has done the same thing. I did not want an extra roof clamp so I doubled up the seal at that high spot and it does not leak. Just a thought....

Might want to check out the front seal where the hinges are. Make sure there is no rust and the silicone is in place. You don't want water getting in at this spot.

 

[rynosurf]

You can take the small piece of the bed and use it as a backrest for a chair. Slide it at an angle in the notches in the rear of the bed supports, it turns it into an easy chair when the shell and tailgate are open. It looks like they added a carpeted floor, the one I had just had the two sectioned bed piece, when you were not using it as a bed it stored in between the benches and became the floor.

 

[billy bee]

Might want to check out the front seal where the hinges are. Make sure there is no rust and the silicone is in place. You don't want water getting in at this spot.

Did you have to address this problem? Mine is filled with silicone around the hinges. Looks original and watertight.

Thanks for the weatherstripping tip.

bb

 

[Bella PSD]

No mine was OK and sealed up. But after a few years I thought I would replace it just to make sure. This is one spot you never want water to get in. Its been the demise of a few Flip Pac that I have seen posted here. Water rusts the hinge and the torsion bar rips apart the flip.

 

[flywgn]

I've been checking over the one we brought back from Montana. I don't see any problems at the hinge area. Is there something specfic I should look for? There's a bit of rust on the exposed shaft where the crank handle fits, but that seems normal. There is a fair amount of sealant at the point where the torsion rod goes through the fiberglass.

Allen R

 

[billy bee]

I've been checking over the one we brought back from Montana. I don't see any problems at the hinge area. Is there something specfic I should look for? There's a bit of rust on the exposed shaft where the crank handle fits, but that seems normal. There is a fair amount of sealant at the point where the torsion rod goes through the fiberglass.

Allen R

Sounds like yours is in fine shape if that sealant is doing it's job. At least that what I got out of what Louie said.

bb

 

[billy bee]

Gonna bring home the used Dodge Diesel...

Found a truck that I am going to use with the FlipPac. As this project is, essentially, a proof of concept (I guess in some way all projects are), I decided to spend as little on the vehicle as possible. So, I found this '97 Dodge 2500 CTD 4x4. A Central Vally ranch truck through and through.

Pretty ugly...

Oh, and it has lots of miles on it...265k. But, it was cheap. I could not find a 'beater Chevy for what I'll have into this when I'm done. I found a bed, tailgate, and lights for $350 and a new driver's door for $200. Gonna need new interior, too...

See....

It is in good running condition and will clean up well enough. It'll look like a quilt when I am done. The bed will be white and the new driver's door, red. I feel a flat olive drab green paint job coming. I'll have to take it down to my friend's place in Oceanside to paint it.

My goal will be to make it look deceivingly plain on the outside with some nice amenities within. I may re-upholster the carpet kit in a way that ties into the cab upholstery, which was once tan leather and will need replacement.

Open to ideas. Let me hear what you are thinking.

Lastly, I won't have any need for this flatbed. Any ideas on how to get rid of it?

Thx,
bb

 

[rynosurf]

Lastly, I won't have any need for this flatbed. Any ideas on how to get rid of it?

Thx,
bb

Turn it into a trailer or sell it for a couple hundred on Craigslist.