2008 Tacoma A.R.E DCU cap build out.

[starmog]

Figured i have got a ton of super awesome help from this community and it was time to share a little. Here is a bit of a dump of my progress so far turning my DCU cap i just got into a camper.

Started with a 29-32 DCU wedge.

Grand plan is as follows.

1. Put 1inch foam insulation in the entirety of the cap
2. Add 5/16 plywood on top of that Riveted to the aluminum frame
3. Add 1/2 inch to the celling and cover in automotive carpet ( to help with condensation
4. On all the walls cover in aromatic cedar finish boards.
5. Make shelf that will hold odds and ends (bag chair currently) and Solar generator (ninjabatt 280wh)
6. Create bed platform with sliding 48inch drawer slides. Behind that will be infrequent access stuff like recovery gear.
7. Make 2 shelves in the upper corners to make finishing the curve easier and for extra space.
8. Add 8 inch circular RV roof vent fan in the front wedge area
9. Add diesel heater (china) somewhere in the shelving area or possibly mounted inside my truck quarter panel near the passanger area. The whole heater thing is going to be the hardest part of the whole project.
10. perhaps make a custom ski box
11. Add roof rack to help the line of the truck look a little less blunt
12. Add swing hitch for bikes (already done)
13. Get slumberjack tarp for nice area coverage (Already done) and it's AMAZING
14. Add a chair of some sort that could be converted into part of the bed platform for hanging out
15. make it so i can extend the bed platform all the way to the shelf for the Lady if ever that happens.
16. add led strips under the shelving and on the back door
17. add external LED spot light on the back
18. Make window coverings and figure out where to store them when not in use
19. I'm sure i'm forgetting things.

Always more things you can add but this is my starting point

 

[starmog]

 

[starmog]

 

[starmog]

 

[starmog]

got a few more pics i need to upload but currently going to make some shelving about 6 inches by 8 inches in the upper area near the walls. Got one side done but not the other yet. Then going to finish the walls in cedar and install lights, diesel heater, roof vent fan, and god knows what else hah. by Snow time it's gonna be a real nice little dirt bag camper for ski bumming no doubt.

 

[JSwanson]

Looks awesome so far! I have never seen a shell quite like that.

 

[starmog]

Yea i was looking at a project M or simalar but wasn't willing to wait a year. It's just me and on my mid rise didn't have near enough head room. Looked into what was the biggest topper A.R.E makes and this was it.

 

[starmog]

Here is a shot of the interior shelf. Also gonna try and get the cedar on the walls up this weekend and maybe get to adding the roof fan and maybe the electrical (BIG MAYBE).

 

[starmog]

Looks awesome so far! I have never seen a shell quite like that.

Custom ordered it from ARE. wanted the biggest Contractor cap they made. Got to choose the side door options and the back door vs barn doors and the ladder rack option. All said it was about 4k

 

[starmog]

here is a few more updates from the progress this weekend. Got a fair bit of the cedar up. Only kick in the ass was the big back door will be to heavy with cedar on it and plywood. so no cedar on it sadly. Going to go with the same carpet i put on the celing instead should still look decent.

Routing around the windows was a real pain in the ass and i'm still not super happy with how that turned out but here we are. Can't really finish below the latch assembly either which is a down on the passenger side door.

 

[starmog]

almost finished all the cedar. just have a a little spot on the top right and one on the back passenger window wall.

 

[starmog]

Added roof fan and started work in on the heater this weekend. Fan turned out great, but the heater pulls more amps than my tiny powerstation could handle (oops). The little knob installed in the shelf is a variable speed switch to make the RV fan go from full on to something nice and quiet.


I did start to get the heater plumbed up, I think it will work great in the wheel well area of my truck. Pics of that will be coming along once things get figured out. The fuel pump and tank location are also going to be interesting to figure out.

 

[FAW3]

Very nice rig!
Your right about the SlumberJack Tarp. The perfect tarp for a truck cap camper. Just the right size and so many ways to rig it.

 

[starmog]

Got the heater all plumbed up and working now !!!! it's gonna be so hot in there haha. Will post a few pics soon on that . Definitly took a while and made me have to redesign my power and where i'm going to put my battery.

 

[starmog]

Been a few weeks since last update. Man heater was a son of a ********** to get burning properly tell you what. But I got it installed and finally burning right for my elevation (7000-10000). ended up having to set the Chinese Diesel Heater to .8-2.3hz and upping the lower end fan speed to 2250rpm's and an upper range of 4500rpm. Needed the higher lower end to make it not have back pressure issues.