New Shell 2005 Tacoma

[J*C*M]

Well new to me.

Taking it home:
My bed box is pushing it forward a bit, so the back end doesn't look like it seats quite properly. It wasn't intended for a Tacoma, but it's the right length, it's slightly narrow, it matches up with the midde of the bed rails.

Ugly blue and certainly used, but cheap and solid, I think it's going to work out fairly well after it gets some attention.

 

[J*C*M]

And the work begins

I got some funny looks hauling this up to the self service car wash to get it cleaned up.

 

[J*C*M]

By the end of the first day i got it clean, taken apart, and started on the sanding.

 

[J*C*M]

My plan is:

1. Paint it black
2. Reinstall the windows, new seals and screens
3. Install Roof Rack
4. Wire interior lights, new tail light, and a set of flood lights off the back of the roof rack for camp activites.
5. Redesign bed layout of carrying gear.
6. Install shell
7. Build sleeping shelf with storage drawers.

 

[AlwaysExplr87]

Way to be creative man! Looks pretty good, hopefully you can get it to sill up water tight. I wouldnt put too much money into it if you cant though, you can probably find another shell to fit for around $400 used. I bought an aluminum shell for my taco and have had to get creative to keep water from coming in through the front of the bed near the cab. Does this shell fit down into that gap up near the cab?

 

[J*C*M]

The sides seal all the way down, the rear seals across, the front is in the right place, but it's about an inch high, but i'm not really worried about that, it should be an easy fix, the guy before me had it on a taco and had it sealed with some weather stripping, but i think i'm going to use some sort of foam rubber or something so it actually presses in to it when it seals.

 

[robert]

When I bought my shell the installers put two strips of weatherstripping on the front. It's been on there since 2006 and is just now needing to be replaced. Make sure you clamp it tight or it will shift and damage the foam.

 

[J*C*M]

The Shell is sanded clean and i'm going to Re-Primer tonight,
but my build got slowed down due to work, and a tube bumper falling in my lap.

 

[Gregster]

So how did this shell project work out?