Enclosed Bed Rack with RTT on F350

[Jsweezy]

Hey Y'all!

So I have seen a lot of trucks with the bed racks and the Roof Top Tents, and I always wondered, do people ever "Skin" the outside of the bed racks in order to make an enclosed space underneath?

I am going to be getting a used rack and an RTT for my long bed F350 because I can't afford a slide in pop top camper and honestly want to make sure I will actually get out before I go dropping that much money on one of them.

I have found an RCI 12" long bed adjustable rack, Im in a wheelchair so the shorter it is the easier it is for me to get up in it and I also want it to sit underneath the roof line. My long bed truck is mainly for carrying longer things, not really taller things. Oh and I have 2 kids that I want to safely be able to get them in and out of the tent so it just makes sense.

The tent I found is an Area BFE triangle style tent, again, easy to setup and easy to take down. Which while that is mandatory for me to a degree its also just going to get used more if its not a pain in the butt to do.

So I am thinking once I get this all setup I may run some aluminum along the front and sides of the rack in order to create somewhat of an enclosed space and was wondering if anyone had any input on doing something like this? The rack even has attachment points on the sides for adding things which still could be done as long as the holes were drilled for things. I guess I just don't see why it hasn't been done yet, or maybe it has and I just haven't seen it.

Thanks!

 

[Jsweezy]

Alright so I got the rack and the rtt. Works perfect as is but if you’re a member of this forum we know that’s not the end of the story.
Plan now is to cut a front and side panels so any water coming off of the tent doesn’t just run down into the bed and I need to figure out a rear panel solution without getting in the way of the tent entry that can easily open and close.
I really wish the rack was high enough to be level with the roof but racks are either mid height or full height and I don’t want it sticking up over the top of the cab. How would I fit through the Starbucks drive through if it did?! One option I thought of was to add their tonneau cover option which is just brackets that lift the rack 3” up. That might work but I also feel like the height of the rtt is perfect for getting in an out with that folding stool on the back of the truck and if I go higher it just complicates my entry and exit. I’ll drive on with this height and the 3 panels for now and then maybe make some with the extra brackets later.
Let me know if you have feedback for me!

 

[ramblinChet]

Awesome looking build! I don't think I have seen another person bolt on panels to make an enclosed space in the rear. What would you plan to use the space for?

I would love to hear more about additional upgrades you are planning to also include wheelchair accommodations.

Also, not sure if you have ever considered the Washington Backcountry Discovery Route but I completed a few hundred miles of it in a Sportsmobile last year and it was a beautiful and scenic ride!

 

[Jsweezy]

Thanks!

I haven't done that yet but I definitely have heard about it and hope to get out and about in the PNW more now that my kids are older.

So I have had a slight change of plans as I evaluated my setup and decided I didn't like that I had to sit with a slight arch in my back in the bed of my truck so I wouldn't hit my head. I also liked the thought of being able to have more enclosed space in the truck bed as I do cross country skiing and am constantly wanting a place out of the elements to be able to relax, get warm, make food or whatever while I hang out with friends either before or after the ski session. I think having it heated with a cheap diesel heater is also on my list of must haves. I also usually like to have a fair amount of gear when I go on trips because as someone that is already at a disadvantage being in a wheelchair, I hate relying on others if I can help it and I am an Eagle Scout so "Be Prepared" is constantly etched on my mind.

With that I have decided to go ahead and order a full size Up-Top overland rack to replace this one I got whenever it does show up (12 week lead times) and I decided to get the full rack because I realized that would put the RTT maybe 3" max over the top of the cab. The one and only drawback to this situation would be that I have to get higher up to get into the tent. But I have some work arounds to be able to make that happen and I think if I am smart about it I might be able to even make a cool little hatch in the top to be able to pop up out of the "canopy" and then climb into the tent. The other main reason for ordering this rack from the jump is because making panels to enclose the bed rack isn't going to be cheap or easy, I mean its not going to be any more expensive than a fiberglass top and it can support a lot more weight so its worth it to me, but basically I just don't want to have to do it twice. Id rather just build it once for the rack I want to leave on permanently and call it a day.

Oh and as far as my being in a wheelchair goes its just because I had to have both legs amputated after an IED explosion. So I still have full use of my core and upper body which allows me to get around fine, I am just height challenged so I end up stacking boxes frequently to get to high places ha ha.

I know a lot of you are probably thinking why not just get a fiberglass top from ARE and throw the tent on top of that?

Because I was going to do that and they were taking forever to even make it and then on top of that, its expensive and if I want to be able to mount a RTT to the top and feel good about it then I would have to get the ARE HD option which puts an extruded aluminum frame inside anyway so I figured I could spend half the money, make a solid canopy out of bed rack that I could skin with some aluminum sheet metal and that would support the RTT for half the price of what I would have paid ARE for the same capability.

Plus I just like messing with stuff.... and really I could see this becoming an easy way to turn a bed rack into a canopy, which I think would be super cool.

 

[ramblinChet]

Dude - totally awesome. I love hearing about cool ideas and solutions that few have ever tried. Depending on the material you decide to enclose your bed area with you might want to talk with a local sheet metal fabrication shop, fiberglass boat repair or heck even just some nice chunks of wood. I know you mentioned aluminum which is used frequently but you also mentioned cold weather and aluminum has a high thermal conductivity. But then again if you are just looking for temporary shelter it might be just fine. It will be really cool to see what you come up with and I do like the idea of having a little man cave on the back of your truck with a heater so you can relax after some cross country skiing. The idea you shared regarding a possible hatch sounds really cool also.

And your comment regarding stacking boxes has me spit coke all over the place, hahahaha. I spent nearly a year with one leg, one arm and one eye not working, so much of it was in a wheelchair also although my stuff was minor compared to yours. You must be one strong willed SOB...definitely not Air Force, lol. Make sure you take lots of pictures and notes during your build and post them here - you will be providing some really valuable information.

I just looked at your rig and tent again - very cool choices. I spent around three years sleeping in a James Baroud hardshell roof top tent and loved every single minute of it. It feels so good to have the birds wake you up just before sunrise or to fall asleep listening to a nearby stream or a distant owl. There is so much out there to explore.

Are you also considering other accessories such as a stove, refrigerator, etc.?

 

[Jsweezy]

So I know its been a while but I sort of did this. I haven't fully completed it yet or did what I wanted but I made it functional for the winter so I consider it a win for the time being.

Here is an up top overland truss afs rack (full size) with a area bfe medium tent on top. I used corrugated plastic to enclose the sides and its not totally waterproof because I didnt want to make it permanent when ideally I want the side to be made of metal.

Anyone can view this shared album at: https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/#B0b5Uzl7VHSgeAS