Advice on mounting awning and rack to slanted topper?

[Alplily]

Hi all,

Pictured is Scout the Wonder Truck, my 2003 Tacoma with shell. I have camped comfortably in the truck, but am planning for a combined painting and volunteering trip to the Pine Ridge and Wind River Reservations. But when I sleep in the back, I need more storage space, especially if I am traveling with my oil painting gear. A Flip-Pac is my dream, but it's just not in the financial cards as I work in the nonprofit arena. I picked up the shell, which has screened windows, for $150 (replaced the struts and lock), and have devised a simple, clever (if I do say so myself) bunk made from collapsible fruit crates, which hold my camping and emergency gear, and provide a low sleeping platform. And it all breaks down and stores quite nicely stacked in the garage.

Two questions for you expedition gurus and Obi-Wans:

1. I would like to mount a retractable awning to shade me while I am painting (so it can't be a wild color). Is it possible to add one directly to the fiberglass shell without a rack? (side mount) I have a Kelty tarp, but it is a pain to set up, especially if I am in a hurry, and it cannot be used easily and quickly in areas where tent stakes are impossible or a no-no (National Parks, for example).
2. I have a large Thule cargo box... approx. 7 feet long. I would like to mount that to my truck, but gosh darn, because the shell is not level, the rack systems that have been quoted to me are outrageously expensive, $700 and up. I have even considered one of those ladder racks. If I can find an inexpensive rack solution, problem #1 is solved, too.

Anyway, I am looking for clever, affordable ideas. I really want to paint landscapes on some of the reservations, have a show, and donate some of the sales proceeds back to the people.

Thanks! *Alplily

 

[Ducky's Dad]

1. A used lumber rack that mounts to the bed rails and comes up around the shell.
2. Yakima makes a series of rack mounts that fit to the sides of the shell rather than to the top, and elevate the bars above the shell. I think they are called Side Loaders (or something like that). You should be able to mount two on each side above the big window, plus another pair of drip rail or clamp-on mounts to the cab at the same height as the side loaders. Then the awning and Thule box get mounted a little forward of normal position, with most of them over the cab.
3. A cab-mounted roof basket, and just forget about mounting anything to the shell.

 

[Alplily]

Thank you... I think I will look into a simple lumber rack. It will serve my needs, and can be fairly easily removed so it doesn't collect snow in winter (I am in Colorado snow country). Appreciate the ideas!

1. A used lumber rack that mounts to the bed rails and comes up around the shell.
2. Yakima makes a series of rack mounts that fit to the sides of the shell rather than to the top, and elevate the bars above the shell. I think they are called Side Loaders (or something like that). You should be able to mount two on each side above the big window, plus another pair of drip rail or clamp-on mounts to the cab at the same height as the side loaders. Then the awning and Thule box get mounted a little forward of normal position, with most of them over the cab.
3. A cab-mounted roof basket, and just forget about mounting anything to the shell.