The new Tacoma Rack

[Desertdude]

The New '04 Tacoma Rack

Welded up a new rack design for the Roof Top Tent. This project has been long over due...

I spent one evening last year at Britton's place in AZ. He is an awesome fabricator and has nice tubing bending equipment. We even code-named the rear brace tubes the "Britton Bend". Thanks Brit!

I carried all the pieces to my buddies shop in CA. While I was out here on a work project we had the chance to put it all together. My buddy Dan is a superb welder and metal fabricator. He has once agin done a fine job.

It's was great to finally get this rack built and on the Tacoma. Now for a bit of paint and powder coating.

More photos here:

 

[007]

Thats pretty clever. What dia. tube?

 

[Desertdude]

1.5 " OD x .120 wall for the main rack structure.

1.25" OD x .120 wall for the cross sections.

Sitting on 1.5" X 1.5" Angle (attached to the bed rails)

We left the ends wild during the bending, then cut to fit once we started to weld up.

 

[Ursidae69]

Slick. :costumed-smiley-007

 

[007]

That is very stout. Your tent would fare well in a roll over, but I'm not sure about the bed sides!

 

[Desertdude]

That is very stout. Your tent would fare well in a roll over, but I'm not sure about the bed sides!

It is amazing how flimsy the bed is (just bended tin) - I added the cross section behind the cab to keep the bed from separating.

I have been traveling with the Maggiolina RTT on the old rack since 05 - and its been everywhere... This new rack design should prove to be much more washboard ready

 

[007]

It is amazing how flimsy the bed is (just bended tin) - I added the cross section behind the cab to keep the bed from separating.

That was a nice touch, I'm sure the bed rails will hold up the rack and tent forever, I just wonder if it would be worth going to the frame in each corner?

You would still have a lot of cosmetic damage in a slow roll over, but it would maintain the right shape. Plus it would utilize all that DOM, I'm just not sure its worth the hassle unless the cab and nose were equally protected.

 

[Desertdude]

True enough... As long as it hold up the tent I will be happy

 

[Dave Bennett]

Looks great Pasquale!

 

[Overland Hadley]

Nice work, looks good.

 

[p1michaud]

RTT Rack

Welded up a new rack design for the Roof Top Tent. This project has been long over due...

Looks great. I like how the front and rear hoops protect the tent from the low branches, big issue in these parts. Cool design.

Cheers,
P

 

[Willman]

Nice DD!

Are the hoops for putting longer items above the RTT like DOC's rack?

:camping:

 

[Desertdude]

The hoop is where the tent mounts to the rack. Just like the previous rack only different

 

[Arivalsend]

Good looking rack

Hey looks great Dude. A little care, planning (and friends with the right tools:wings: ) go a long way. I have been trying to work out a similar build but mine is designed to fit over a topper and so the mounting points are to the bed rail but are outboard and not flush. Not sure how I like it yet....guess we will see how the topper fits under it. But thanks for the inspiration I am going to get home tonight and do some more bending. Cheers

 

[alvarorb]

Pasquale,

Nice!
That's something that I see doing to my Taco in a few years down the line.
I'll pick your brain when we get there.

Regards

Alvaro