My Custom Monolithic 8' Bed Rack

[yoopercharged]

I will be buying the 8020 extrusion as raw material and cutting to length.

I do not see the need for a roof rack with my designs, I have plenty of storage between between the over head platform, vertical storage pods, and the decked bed system. I don't do RTT's - I opted for an ARB 2500x2500 awning with their tent attachment.

I do have future plans to build an oversized squaredrop trailer from scratch down the line.

That awning/tent looks awesome. Only problem is having to pack all that up if you're taking the truck out for the day. I guess that's why I've always just stuck with a normal tent. A little teardrop trailer really is the move if you can justify the cost or can build your own.

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[SGT Ranger]

That awning/tent looks awesome. Only problem is having to pack all that up if you're taking the truck out for the day. I guess that's why I've always just stuck with a normal tent. A little teardrop trailer really is the move if you can justify the cost or can build your own.

I eventually plan to build a custom oversized squaredrop trailer, but depending on how much money I end up sinking into the new Ranger it may be awhile.

I am ordering an EZUP Vantage Cube as a stop gap addition to my camping gear to alleviate the exact issue you are speaking of. Gives an inside foot print of 10' x 10'. That way our sleeping quarters can be detached from the truck if we want to go trail riding or sight seeing.

 

[SGT Ranger]

One of two options:

A horizontal bar the length of the rack halfway up with mounting provisions on either side inset into the rack. Thin sheet still attaches on the outside. Boxes in the inside.

Alternatively, have cross support on the inside of the sheet with your mounting provisions.

For my need, inside storage can be accomplished with a molle panel. All I’m doing is enclosing it for sensitive cargo, and then pulling the sheets off for daily driving.

I don't think the idea would be terribly hard. Like I said a bunch of square/rectangle waterproof paneling with rubber gaskets on the back sides. The only really detailed part would be how far would you take the attachment points. Quick disconnect latches? Standard nut and bolts? You could rig secondary internal latches to take care of the security portion so you couldn't just pop them off from the outside.

Truck liner finish? Aluminum panel finish? Old school stained woodie look? (LOL)

I could see the cost quickly growing out of control depending how it would be designed.

 

[goalieThreeOne]

I don't think the idea would be terribly hard. Like I said a bunch of square/rectangle waterproof paneling with rubber gaskets on the back sides. The only really detailed part would be how far would you take the attachment points. Quick disconnect latches? Standard nut and bolts? You could rig secondary internal latches to take care of the security portion so you couldn't just pop them off from the outside.

Truck liner finish? Aluminum panel finish? Old school stained woodie look? (LOL)

I could see the cost quickly growing out of control depending how it would be designed.

The aluminum bed caps are in the $4500 range so I know it’s not cheap.

I’m not a camper or overlander so I’m not sure what options are out there but a simple C channel or unistrut with drilled holes would be sufficient for me

 

[SGT Ranger]

The aluminum bed caps are in the $4500 range so I know it’s not cheap.

I’m not a camper or overlander so I’m not sure what options are out there but a simple C channel or unistrut with drilled holes would be sufficient for me

An entire enclosed topper could be built for far less than $4,500.

People are making square drop and teardrop trailers from scratch for under 3 Grand and that's with everything included.

Labor and materials markup is pretty much how. company's make their money.

Some people have more money than time or more money than design imagination or some combination of the two so buying off the shelf makes sense to them.

Everyone else outside of this category is basically a DIYer. The good news is in our day and age anything you want to learn about is just a YouTube video or website away.

Prior to the work on my current Ranger I basically had zero knowledge of metalworking 12 volt electrical systems upholstery work and so forth.

In a very short time frame I have designed and engineered metal components, I can now design and install complex 12 volt subsystems, I can do basic upholstery work, etc etc

Fabricating stuff is just as much a hobby if not more than actually driving the truck I learned all of that stuff to do on.

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