Project Alpha Bound II: Electric Boogaloo

[Duder]

Awesome rig and looks like you are very happy with the pop top. I've considered this option ever since seeing the prototypes on the forums here, but have a few questions if you don't mind.

1. With the roof cut the way it is, does it render your factory sunroof inoperable?
2. Does CampTeq give any consideration to roll-over strength of the roof after cutting? The aluminum structure might add some strength, but I'm wondering if they've done any calculations to that end.
3. How usable is the interior space with the top popped...ie, does it get crowded with all of your gear in the back, needing to leave room on the floor for standing?

I've camped in a VW Westy bus and it was awesome as a little home but not so awesome as an actual vehicle on the highway. I'm perfectly satisfied with my 80 as a vehicle, and have slept in the back solo, but wondering now if a self-contained solution like this top is doable for a 3-person family (me, wife, daughter) for extended trips.

I'll be very intrigued to check back and read your impressions of the rig after future trips. Thanks for sharing!

 

[ab1985]

See my answers in bold below. My first impressions are a family of three, one being a smaller child, would fit fine. One would need to give consideration to the interior design to make the best use of the available space.

I've considered this option ever since seeing the prototypes on the forums here, but have a few questions if you don't mind.

1. With the roof cut the way it is, does it render your factory sunroof inoperable? The top covers the sunroof so it's not really usable. The area in the roof that the glass slides back into is gone, so mechanically it would work, but the glass would open into your standing area. We removed my glass to reduce the weight. So to answer your question, the cutaway itself does not render the sunroof inoperable but the pop top, as a whole, renders it pretty useless.
2. Does CampTeq give any consideration to roll-over strength of the roof after cutting? The aluminum structure might add some strength, but I'm wondering if they've done any calculations to that end. As far as I know there has been no destructive testing performed to date. I'm not an engineer, but after seeing what was cut out I wouldn't be surprised if the end result was a wash. I guess that depends on the hardware more than the top. I will probably install an interior cage at some point mostly because I've been involved in a severe rollover. I'm not in a bug hurry, though.
3. How usable is the interior space with the top popped...ie, does it get crowded with all of your gear in the back, needing to leave room on the floor for standing? The interior space is extremely usable. A lot of it depends on how you set things up. If you're going to go all the way I would recommend a thoughtful storage setup vs. tossing a bunch of gear in the back. Both would be fine, but I'm a fan of having everything in its place. It makes the trip so much more enjoyable. I'm excited to get started on building the interior.

 

[Duder]

Awesome, thanks for the thorough reply! I realized after I posted that the pop top covers the sunroof anyways...derp. Interesting that it still functions though. I would look into removing the glass & mechanism for some weight savings; electric sunroofs are surprisingly heavy. Glad to hear you are considering some kind of cage in the rear. Agreed about keeping everything in its place making trips more enjoyable, plus the layout is half the fun if you were any good at Tetris as a kid.

The wood slat roof is pretty sweet, never noticed that on their website.

 

[Mauka2Makai]

Awesome shakedown on White Rim... Looking forward to your interior build plans.

 

[ab1985]

Got my leak figured out. We installed tie down rails on the top at the last minute. I believe these are normally welded on, but we bolted them on and at the time neglected to use silicone around the bolt holes. Easy fix. We've had a lot of rain since I returned so the testing was real world. Ready for some nice weather so I can get to work.

 

[ab1985]

Cleaned everything out last weekend and put the second row seats back in. My oldest is totally into the tent:

 

[Danimal]

My oldest boy would never sleep in his bed again if I did that to my 80.

Out of curiosity, do you plan to keep the rear mud flaps off permanently? I seem to recall that you took them off before your trip. Also, do you think that rear and front factory mud flaps would have been a problem during your trip?

 

[ab1985]

I removed the mudflaps and don't plan to put them back on. I don't think I would have had any problems on that trip, but I don't like the idea of having them hanging down there just waiting to destroy the flares.

I spent part of the weekend at Red River Gorge with my oldest. We had a good mix of weather. I was glad to have the Bus Depot awning providing extra protection from the elements, but it was woefully out of place next to the CampTeq/Hannibal combo. I like it for what it is but hope to replace it as soon as possible with another Hannibal. Being able to set up/tear down in minutes is high on my priority list.

The new owner picked up my old 4Runner on Sunday afternoon so I now have plenty of space in the garage. Hopefully this motivates me to start on the interior, or I may just keep enjoying it the way it sits for now. We'll see.

 

[Ghostdog]

Tires

I have the same rig as you and need new tires. What do you think of the set you have on yours? Have you ever driven them in snow?

 

[ab1985]

I've had a couple sets of KM2's and like them. I haven't driven this truck in the snow much.

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

I removed the mudflaps and don't plan to put them back on. I don't think I would have had any problems on that trip, but I don't like the idea of having them hanging down there just waiting to destroy the flares.

I spent part of the weekend at Red River Gorge with my oldest. We had a good mix of weather. I was glad to have the Bus Depot awning providing extra protection from the elements, but it was woefully out of place next to the CampTeq/Hannibal combo. I like it for what it is but hope to replace it as soon as possible with another Hannibal. Being able to set up/tear down in minutes is high on my priority list.

The new owner picked up my old 4Runner on Sunday afternoon so I now have plenty of space in the garage. Hopefully this motivates me to start on the interior, or I may just keep enjoying it the way it sits for now. We'll see.

I have a Bus Depot awning also...scary Are you using the Bus Depot gutter clamps?
FWIW KM2 suck really bad in snow and Im from AZ

 

[ab1985]

Ha, that is scary. In the past I've used velcro straps to attach the awning to the rear load bar. I used one of those straps around the DS tent strut up front then used the existing Hannibal straps off the back. You can see a little better in this pic:

 

[ab1985]

I've been scratching my head about the interior, and after a dozen nights in the tent I think I've got a rough idea of where I want to land. I decided to build my storage/downstairs bunk using steel instead of wood. I picked up a bunch of 1x1 square today (1/8" thick). I have guests in town this weekend, but they have a family reunion tomorrow so I'm going to get after it for a few hours. Below is a rough layout so you can see what I'm targeting. I'll post more pics tomorrow night.

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

Is your lay out in the photo above the wheel wells or below? I assume the white box is water storage, how big?

 

[ab1985]

It will sit between the wheel wells at 43.5" wide. I'll add wings so a 26" wide mattress will fit on the driver side leaving ~10.5" between the mattress and fridge for a walkway. I've found the space between the fridge and passenger side to be ideal for storing my porta privy and toilet, but I may get creative there.

The water tank holds 14 gallons. Originally, I planned to mount this underneath where the spare tire hangs, but I think I'm more comfortable having it inside the cabin. The two storage containers I use currently provide roughly 3500 cubic inches of space a piece. Each of the two drawers in this unit will provide roughly 5000, so I'm fine giving up the space for the tank. This will leave the area underneath free for an aux tank or something else better suited for outboard life.