Hello all, gonna try to share some pictures and my build process with everyone. I am always looking for cool ideas so if you have any please feel free to pass along!
Background on the truck:
I bought it new in 20. I think she had about 5 miles on the odometer. It has a 6.75' bed, plow/tow package. It also has upgraded suspension in the rear to slide in a camper.
My wife and I bought a truck bed tent last year and had the basics to overland. However, with a bone stock truck and stock wheels, I was not comfortable doing a lot of trails, mainly because we had nothing for recovery other than a 3" x 30' tow strap. We love the outdoors and we found that with the truck bed tent and the equipment we had it took about 45 mins to setup camp (way to long for the type of trips we want to take). Long story short.....we decided to spend some $ and build the rig.
1st thing I did was bought bigger tires. Truck is now sitting on 35s mounted on 20"wheels. I have about 10.75" to 11" clearance on the diffs, so hopefully that will be sufficient enough to get us down most trails. We arent looking to rock crawl or anything like that, we just want to be able to make it to so.e remote campsites with great views an 0 crowds!
Next I started to work on the bedrack. I have it just about complete (building it out of scrap steel I have around my shop). Currently having the side plates cut out. Once those are done, I can paint it all and install it on the truck. 1 of the things that was of great importance to me was being able to use my tonneau cover with the rack installed. So I had the rack complete a week ago, till I tried to install the cover......I forgot to make accompadations for the 2x2 sq tube, so the cover wouldnt fit, ugh. So, being me i had to figure out a good solution, but the solution had to be quick, easy, and relatively painless. I added some "extensions" to the rack plates (that set on the bed sides). Reinstalled the rack....cover fits!!
I am hoping to have the rack complete and painted by the end of next week.
I have already purchased a Smittybilt XL Overlander tent (2nd Gen) and the XL 270 awning.
I am pretty sure I have my design for the bed/kitchen system. The kitchen pullout will be on the driver side (60" locking slides). I also plan on building a bed slide to go over the kitchen box, so I can easily access the 10" or so, of space that I should have between the top of the drawer and the cover. On the passenger side of the bed, I will have my fridge/slide. I am thinking that behind the fridge (between the cab and the fridge) i will have 2 batteries, inverter, charger etc for accessories.
Im thinking of fabricating some type of a "hitchswing arm" that I can carry extra water etc., on a folding table that i made last year.
Again, all ideas are welcome, and thank you for taging along with me on this build.
Rick
Background on the truck:
I bought it new in 20. I think she had about 5 miles on the odometer. It has a 6.75' bed, plow/tow package. It also has upgraded suspension in the rear to slide in a camper.
My wife and I bought a truck bed tent last year and had the basics to overland. However, with a bone stock truck and stock wheels, I was not comfortable doing a lot of trails, mainly because we had nothing for recovery other than a 3" x 30' tow strap. We love the outdoors and we found that with the truck bed tent and the equipment we had it took about 45 mins to setup camp (way to long for the type of trips we want to take). Long story short.....we decided to spend some $ and build the rig.
1st thing I did was bought bigger tires. Truck is now sitting on 35s mounted on 20"wheels. I have about 10.75" to 11" clearance on the diffs, so hopefully that will be sufficient enough to get us down most trails. We arent looking to rock crawl or anything like that, we just want to be able to make it to so.e remote campsites with great views an 0 crowds!
Next I started to work on the bedrack. I have it just about complete (building it out of scrap steel I have around my shop). Currently having the side plates cut out. Once those are done, I can paint it all and install it on the truck. 1 of the things that was of great importance to me was being able to use my tonneau cover with the rack installed. So I had the rack complete a week ago, till I tried to install the cover......I forgot to make accompadations for the 2x2 sq tube, so the cover wouldnt fit, ugh. So, being me i had to figure out a good solution, but the solution had to be quick, easy, and relatively painless. I added some "extensions" to the rack plates (that set on the bed sides). Reinstalled the rack....cover fits!!
I am hoping to have the rack complete and painted by the end of next week.
I have already purchased a Smittybilt XL Overlander tent (2nd Gen) and the XL 270 awning.
I am pretty sure I have my design for the bed/kitchen system. The kitchen pullout will be on the driver side (60" locking slides). I also plan on building a bed slide to go over the kitchen box, so I can easily access the 10" or so, of space that I should have between the top of the drawer and the cover. On the passenger side of the bed, I will have my fridge/slide. I am thinking that behind the fridge (between the cab and the fridge) i will have 2 batteries, inverter, charger etc for accessories.
Im thinking of fabricating some type of a "hitchswing arm" that I can carry extra water etc., on a folding table that i made last year.
Again, all ideas are welcome, and thank you for taging along with me on this build.
Rick
