02 Taco and Flppac

[RMP&O]

congrats!! :victory:

That looks great! I have an 04 D/C Taco and want a Flip Pac so thanks for posting pics.

I am curious, can you tell me how long it took to get the Flip Pac from time you ordered it to the time it showed up at your place? And this is not an AT Flip Pac is it?

 

[Harp]

congrats!! :victory:

That looks great! I have an 04 D/C Taco and want a Flip Pac so thanks for posting pics.

I am curious, can you tell me how long it took to get the Flip Pac from time you ordered it to the time it showed up at your place? And this is not an AT Flip Pac is it?

Yes it is a AT flipac, I ordered from Mario and Martyn, I guess with the window there is no room for the decal that Taco Doc has. (I would have liked that graphic too) The production time out is at least 8 weeks. Another 5 days to ship from CA to NC. I had to pick it up at a Fed ex hub so you need a good size trailer. (the pallet is wider and longer on all sides). As far as mounting you need 4 guys one on each corner or a friend with a fork lift. I had a friend who owns an airplane machine shop help me with mine. Working in a heated hanger out of the rain, nice. We had it ready in about a 12 pack. (about 3 hours) He had all the cool tools to make things easy.

 

[VikingVince]

It was on back order and should arrive this week. The day I picked it up it rained and fairly steady for the last 5 days. A little moisture from installation but the tent was dry as a bone when I opened it and see if I needed to dry it out today.

My aging flippac has never leaked anywhere when it's closed...and I'm sure yours won't either. You'll need the rain cover when it's open and it's raining...trust me! You'll be glad you ordered it.

With my homemade cover, I stay totally dry. I can't speak to the storm cover they sell.

 

[Harp]

Thanks for the info Vince, I have enjoyed the pics of your setup. You have been an inspiration for a few ideas I have in mind for mine. I like the top rack. How much does it weigh? Did it make a big difference after mounting for opening and closing?

 

[VikingVince]

Thanks for the info Vince, I have enjoyed the pics of your setup. You have been an inspiration for a few ideas I have in mind for mine. I like the top rack. How much does it weigh? Did it make a big difference after mounting for opening and closing?

My top rack was a mistake!!! I don't know exactly but I'm guessing it weighs around 40 pounds. The only things I ever carry up there are a couple camp chairs, roll top table, and sometimes a bundle of firewood. If I had it to do over I would definitely just put a couple load bars up there (as in the support/load bars for racks)...attach the Quick Fists to the load bars and I could still carry everything that I mentioned. (just bungee a firewood bundle between the bars...or you don't really need Quick Fists either...just bungees would work too)

I also changed the mattress to a 4" dense foam...very comfy but also adds about 10 pounds. (Your stock mattress should be fine for a number of years...mine started to compress and I could feel the bottom of the flippac...of course it was over 10 years old!)

So with the rack and mattress, I have to be "creative" with opening and closing the flippac...as in propping it up almost halfway with my hiking stick before using the crank and using a rope to close it!!! LOL...it works! The rack is the weight culprit...load bars are the answer! (making some from aluminum would be the best)

 

[RMP&O]

Yes it is a AT flipac, I ordered from Mario and Martyn, I guess with the window there is no room for the decal that Taco Doc has.

Hmmnnn, that is odd because when I asked Martyn if windows could be done he said one wasn't a problem. Leading me to think two was a problem.

5 days to ship across country is pretty fast!

I am curious...Vince have you had your flip pac in some high winds? 40-50mph? If so how does it hold up to that?

 

[VikingVince]

I am curious...Vince have you had your flip pac in some high winds? 40-50mph? If so how does it hold up to that?

I've been in multiple windy situations from low to moderate (40-50mps) to heavy 80 mph gusts.
Any tent type construction is going to wake you up in windy situations and the flippac is no exception.

Structurally...surprisingly, I've never had any rip/tear in the tent fabric or damage to the folding tent structure/poles from any windy situation...although in moderate to heavy wind the structure moves around a little. I've minimized this with a simple 2x3 with notches in each end that I wedge diagonally between the poles in the middle.
The 80+ mph gusts were in a severe coastal storm right here in southern CA. Every canopy and tent on the beach was getting ripped apart and people were leaving in droves. No doubt the highest wind I've had the rig in. One of the support poles that attaches to the front of the truck broke off where it attaches to the fiberglass...but no damage to the fabric or structure itself. Later, it was a simple repair with fiberglass bondo...although, at the time, at that point I packed up and took off also.

Soooo....I don't think you'd have any problems in 40-50 mph winds, other than being awakened. The 2x3 wedge in the middle is probably a good idea although it temporarily inhibits getting in and out of the bed area...just have to maneuver around it.

 

[RMP&O]

thanks Vince for the detailed reply! I figured if anybody had been in high winds with their Flip Pac it would be you!!

great simply idea on the 2x3 brace....