Flippac installation instruction on 2015 Tundra...

[jndeller]

We finally received our Flippac camper yesterday, and are excited to install on the 2015 Tundra for a weekend trip. the installation instructions provided simply state to "bolt the camper onto the truck bed". Does anyone have a bit more detail or recommendations for properly installing the camper? specifically, I am curios about:
1. Does installation require drilling through the Truck's bed rails for the bolted connections?
2. Does the OE plastic bed rail cap remain in place?
3. I assume that installation of a seal or gasket is necessary(?), if so what type? (double bulb gasket?)
4. is a different seal needed for the front rail due to it's thinner profile?
5. where is the power typically connected for the interior lights? (for now I prefer to use the vehicle battery)

Thanks for any advice/assistance

--R&J

 

[brian90744]

seal info

I used this seal which was 23ft, maybe you need longer=

 

[Arclight]

Yes, you will need to drill holes through the bed rails and use 3/8" Grade 5 bolts with washers and nylock nuts. They recommend 3 on each side for a 6.5-8' bed, 2 on each side for a short bed. It's in the Flippac manual.

They recommended I take out the bed liner on my T100 for a good fit. Other trucks seem to be fine with the bed caps. You may need to test-mount to check that everything will line up. Not hitting the cab and being able to properly close the rear glass are what you want. Well that and making sure it's on straight.

Arclight

 

[jndeller]

Thanks to both. I ended up installing two parallel strips of the cap seal that brian90744 recommended due to the ~4"width of the tundra's bed rail, and a single strip in the front. Rather than drilling through the metal on the Bed rail, I aligned the bolts with the existing bed cap attachment slots, by drilling upwards with a guide bit through a slot, penetrating the cap and camper. I then drilled downward with a 3/8" bit, and installed the recommended 5/16" bolts (x6). Be sure to clamp the camper near each drill hole to ensure alignment . I also applied some silicon sealant to a few spots where factory seams in the truck bed may allow water/dust to enter the living area. It worked great.

Flippac included two sets of front struts (29" and 30.5" eye to eye), however both appear to be too short for the 2015 Tundra. Also, the SS hood anchorages appear to be incorrectly designed to work with the 2015 Tundra hood/fender interface (see photos) as alignment of the eyelet is incorrect(?). Before I drill into my new truck, it would be nice to see how/where others have placed these front strut anchorages.

Lastly, can the power for the camper's interior lights be connected to a power source within the taillight, or does it need to extend to the battery (or other continuous 12V) power source?

Thanks

 

[brian90744]

You could run a 10G wire from the battery to the bed, and find a place to pass the wire thru into the inside. run a ground wire from the lights to the frame/body. The Bedrug works fine on the knees and keep it warmer when cold. = just FYI=brian

 

[dman93]

What's the issue with the strut retention hooks? It's not clear from the photoS. Is it the alignment with a fore-aft axis, or the angle above the horizon? I've seen installations with the pins facing both forward and backward,with the struts attached from the front or rear.

 

[jndeller]

strut alignment...



The strut length is short fore-aft, and the angle of eyelet contact is too sharp to accept the strut. Hard to see in photo, but that is all I have right now..

 

[brian90744]

A lady named SUNTINEZ had a long bed on ,with pictures, check it, looks like your. search=by name SUNTINEZ in pop up camper, for photo. or=
Forum General and Administration For Sale and Wanted Section Expedition Campers and TrailersFS - 2007 Flippac for an 8ft longbed - $3000 (its sold) however the pics may help???=brian

 

[dman93]

From your photo, it looks like the pin may align better if it's flipped 180 degrees. Then the angle may line up. On my truck. I have the pins facing forward, but I've seen other installs where they face backwards. The retention clips secure the struts either way, so it's not a big deal, though I added washers to spread the load a bit and take up the slop. Also, my friend bought Suntinez's FlipPac for his quad cab Dodge and he had the pins up on the cowl vent at the base of the windshield rather than in the hood gap. But maybe that's a longer cab.