Introducing the “NEW” Alu-Cab Canopy Camper

[smbisig]

Tacoma

Got it, I will let the Tacoma owners chime in. Gladiator's are super simple since we can't use the tire carrier on the door.


View attachment IMG_5121.JPG

View attachment IMG_5122.JPG

 

[seekoutbeauty]

My original tacoma method worked but we couldn't standardized it, so we run through the filler kits on all vehicles.
Originally, it was a line on the bottom of my bed, with the regulator inside of the fit kit.

 

[Wingknut]

That is exactly the same thing that happened to mine. Horrible design frankly.

FYI: Jeremy over at 813 Fab has a neat solution, but better as a preventative since the bracket or something is necessary.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[RVRoams]

Seems like I may be coming into a rig buildout in the post-rush craze era, but I feel lucky in a way that at least currently there are so many options for camper cabovers and you can get exactly what you want. It sure can lead to analysis paralysis though.

I was pretty nearly set on a Topo Topper (Badlander) for its features, weight, and the fact that they are in the town next over from me. However since I learned there was an Alu-Cab other than a heavy Khaya and learned of what you get for the price compared, I am heavily leaning towards an ACCC (or mod cap with 2 people tent - really not sure of the basic feature differences included or weight.

I think my only hesitation is my vehicle and primary use case and GVWR. At 1350 lbs available for my Ranger Raptor, I want to prioritize a minimalist build as I will also be hitch hauling motorcycles - dual sports to remoteish riding locations and sportbikes to tracks. That can be 1000 lbs camper (if I understand correctly it is 500 lbs without accessories) + hauler + bike before any real other gear required. I understand I will absolutely need different springs for the suspension.

Anyway I'm piping in as I just completed reading through this entire thread and I can see that the complaints are minimal, the positives seem high, and the product seems quality. I am only mildly hesitant or concerned with a few things - losing my tailgate, having access issues when hauling bikes, and potentially ruining the performance and handling of my amazing truck. Going with this product seems to require a fully all-in mentality of making your vehicle a camping or expedition primary use rig.

 

[MR E30]

Seems like I may be coming into a rig buildout in the post-rush craze era, but I feel lucky in a way that at least currently there are so many options for camper cabovers and you can get exactly what you want. It sure can lead to analysis paralysis though.

I was pretty nearly set on a Topo Topper (Badlander) for its features, weight, and the fact that they are in the town next over from me. However since I learned there was an Alu-Cab other than a heavy Khaya and learned of what you get for the price compared, I am heavily leaning towards an ACCC (or mod cap with 2 people tent - really not sure of the basic feature differences included or weight.

I think my only hesitation is my vehicle and primary use case and GVWR. At 1350 lbs available for my Ranger Raptor, I want to prioritize a minimalist build as I will also be hitch hauling motorcycles - dual sports to remoteish riding locations and sportbikes to tracks. That can be 1000 lbs camper (if I understand correctly it is 500 lbs without accessories) + hauler + bike before any real other gear required. I understand I will absolutely need different springs for the suspension.

Anyway I'm piping in as I just completed reading through this entire thread and I can see that the complaints are minimal, the positives seem high, and the product seems quality. I am only mildly hesitant or concerned with a few things - losing my tailgate, having access issues when hauling bikes, and potentially ruining the performance and handling of my amazing truck. Going with this product seems to require a fully all-in mentality of making your vehicle a camping or expedition primary use rig.

Your last sentence sums this up perfectly IMO. I went all-in, and have zero complaints. The suspension/frame/drivetrain modifications that I felt were absolutely crucial have transformed my truck into a very competent machine, and it drives even better than it did when it was camper-less and stock.

My Canopy Camper was 440 lb., and the 3G Tacoma tailgate was 60 lb., so the empty camper was a 380 lb. addition to my truck.

Ridding myself of the tailgate was one of, if not the best, parts of the Canopy Camper.

My buildout, while utilizing all the space available, is definitely weight conscious and minimalist for sure. My build thread is in my signature. It may contain some ideas you jive with.

 

[RVRoams]

Appreciate your build thread link @MR E30 as I need more forum material to peruse for sure. I'm on the official Facebook group now but no FB posts can ever get so comprehensive and in-depth.

Good point about some weight tradeoff with losing the tailgate as well. That about puts it exactly in the same range as if purely adding some of the other competitor options I've considered.

I am awaiting a quote and have the option to book an on-site and check out the shop rig through @seekoutbeauty 's outfitting company Tiny Rig Co. The product doesn't seem to be losing much popularity at this time where many other recreational sales are slowing down - I saw they were installing 3x last week and had 3x more lined up the next.

 

[MR E30]

Here is my experience with the Alu-Cab Adjustable Backrest for the Canopy Camper. This was originally only made for the Gen 3.1 RTT, but they made a modified version that fits directly into the Canopy Camper.

First impressions: This thing is beautiful and very easy to use.

This is what your money (~$800) gets you:

- The backrest itself, which consists of a bamboo platform/backrest, (2) brackets, and a metal frame.
- (2) new struts
- (2) mounting plates
- Hardware kit

This backrest is a direct replacement of the original 'desk' portion of the camper, shown removed, below.

Winter Upgrades 3 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

Here it is in backrest/relax mode

Winter Upgrades 3 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

I was originally curious, as the Product Description online has no info in it, about how the ratcheting support system worked. I was wondering if I would have to reach back and over the backrest to pull a strap or something to get the backrest to lay back down again.

Turns out it is way easier than that.

Here you can see the multitude of angle options, and the backrest is engaged in the third from the top position.

Winter Upgrades 3 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

In order to get the backrest to lay flat, you simply grab the top edge and pull the backrest more towards vertical, until it gets to the end of its travel, and then let it back down to the flat position.

The photo shows the bracket fully extended, ready to be lowered.

Winter Upgrades 3 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

Very convenient and easy to use.

One let down with this product are these hinges. They are symmetrical above their centerline. This is less than ideal. Also, the holes on one half of the hinge, the half that bolts to the camper frame, are too small, and require you to drill them out. Not a difficulty, but for the price I would expect something to be just about perfect.

Winter Upgrades 3 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

Winter Upgrades 3 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

The other problem with the hinge is that the other half of the hinge, the half mounted to the pivoting backrest, is improperly sized for the small dimensions of the frame members.

They want you to use (4) rivets to install the hinge to the pivoting backrest, but the spacing of the holes relative to the width of the frame member, is so close that you end up drilling through some of the side of the frame to get the rivets to work.

I opted to install M5 nutserts into the frame, and to use just (2) of the (4) holes in each hinge to mount the backrest. This allows me to center the holes in the frame member.

Winter Upgrades 3 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

That aside, I measured, aligned, and drilled everything required to get it mounted. This platform is a bit heavier than the original platform, so they have you install a second strut for raising the platform up and out of the way towards the back of the camper.

Winter Upgrades 3 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

And an 'outside' shot of the backrest deployed in the camper.

Winter Upgrades 3 by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

First use impressions?

This thing is going to be very nice to have. Our bed is now a far more comfortable place to be for extended periods of time due to having this large, stable back support available for us to lean on.

It is quick to set up, and quick to get out of the way if I need to hop downstairs for something. The bamboo top is shiny and smooth. When the backrest is not deployed this 'desk' portion acts just as the original piece did, so no issues there. Toss a pillow behind your back and lean away. Voila, comfort! A nice feature to have in this otherwise spartan home on wheels.

 

[LunarErik]

I am taking orders for some mounts to get made. These will create storage solutions for the Long Bed Canopy Camper models with the extra area rear of the side doors. You can mount gas or water Rotopax cans using the Rotopax mounts (the Deluxe is pictured) or use the other holes to mount Quickfist clamps for shovels, axes, etc.

These are cut and bent from 1/8" aluminum then powdercoated in a matte industrial black that matches the campers quite well. These panels are meant to be minimalist yet strong and have served me well during testing.

A set is being sold for $150USD plus shipping. *Please email eataylor224@gmail.com, Direct message: Lunar_Erik on Instagram, or message me here if interested.





I am also interested in hearing if there are people who want a mount like this made for the new Modcap long bed setups.

Cheers guys, happy trails!

 

[Stranger45]

Hey, yes, you are right, the backdoor has been a recent project. We started with planning a few weeks ago and have been slowly working our way through the various items.

From the "bracket screenshot" above, the right two are for mounting Rotopax or similar items to the outside of the rear door. The upper left will take a Redvision display (and possibly other stuff later on), the lower left is the enclosure for the outside parts of the diesel heater, and the top row middle is for holding our trash can (a bear safe container, secured with a RokStrap).

Here's the door, when we attached the RhinoRack loadbars:

View attachment 832082

The blue masking tape was just for mounting. The left side of the door will get two 2G Rotopax, and between Rotopax and shovel, there will be a small Pelican case where we'll put dirty diesel stuff (gloves, spout, etc.).

Regarding the shower enclosure, we do have the Alu-Cab shower cube, it's mounted on the driver's side.




This has been one of the declared goals of our build: there is a place for everything and we generally don't want to move something to get to something else. Goal was 2 minute set up and break down times, including bed and awning. It's doable with our setup, since most things are stored in a way that they pack away easily after use.



This is incredibly true! I was looking at the Goose Gear build-out for the Gladiator and while it would have saved us a lot of time, it just wouldn't have done what we wanted it to do. Weight wise, our setup is actually slightly lighter than a full Goose Gear setup, but about a billion times more comfortable in use. It wasn't all that much cheaper though, maybe a bit under half the price or so. Building with 80/20 gets out of hand VERY quickly.

We have saved money on the build, but on the other hand, we would have been done last year if we had purchased the parts. We probably could make do with these as well, it just wouldn't have been as nice, and we are an age where nice and comfortable is important. But you also end up doing a lot of stuff once, and once only, even though they are at a quality level that could be sold with good consciousness to other people.

Like the mosquito net my wife made (me holding it on during a "does it fit" test):

View attachment 832083

It does not have the canvas like the Alu-Cab net, but it's the same ultrafine netting, high quality zippers, etc.

Then my wife made cushions, including anti-slip bottom:

View attachment 832084

View attachment 832085

And here's a demonstration of the table in the high cabinet while we were still working on it:


Oh, and yes, we do bring the kitchen sink, really:

View attachment 832086

But I have to agree, the DIY part has enabled us to build the truck exactly the way we envisioned it, not some put together interpretation of a shop not understanding our ideas and just using what they know and have always used or done.

Would your wife be up to making another mosquito net for the rear door?

 

[cug]

Would your wife be up to making another mosquito net for the rear door?

I highly doubt it - we are currently in the middle of an international move. I will ask her, but I think it’s unlikely.