I am looking for a camper cover for my truck but am having trouble finding a used one for a short bed Ranger step side (I am too cheap to buy a new one) so I have been thinking about making one. Bend square tubing to make a frame. Then wrap sheet aluminum around and rivet. Any suggestions on windows and a rear door?
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May 6, 2009 6:40 p.m. porksboy Dork
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May 6, 2009 8:18 p.m. mw Reader
Riveted Lexan windows? Good from a security standpoint, bad for ventilation.
I have been planning for ever that if I bought a pickup I would make a hard tonneau cover out of a tubing frame and riveted aluminum skin. I would also put a piano hinge in the centre so it could fold in half if I had something big to carry.
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May 6, 2009 9:32 p.m. ManofFewWords Reader
The first thing that popped into my head was to modify an existing shell from a similar truck.
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May 6, 2009 9:52 p.m. benzbaron Reader
I've seen a homemade rack made out of wood that wasn't too bad. The cooler option is to build the frame and stretch canvas or sunbrella over the shell. I'm pretty sure I've seen that one before but it looked professional.
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May 6, 2009 10:04 p.m. andrave New Reader
soak a sheet in fiberglass and drape it on there. shrugs
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May 6, 2009 10:18 p.m. motomoron New Reader
Craigslist ~will~ result in one eventually. I found one for my small cab-long bed Dakota with a little looking, and no one bought those, at least around here. Funny thing, even though I left it unlocked the crackheads in Camden NJ ripped the thing off the truck and left it between the ghetto-kota and a brand new Lexus SUV. All night, in a windstorm.
My swanky 2001 Tacoma came with a color matched ARE cap with gas struts and a key and a tiny battery powered light.
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May 7, 2009 10:26 a.m. 44Dwarf Reader
My 96 f150 xlt has a cab and a 1/2 with a darn 7 foot bed... I could not find one ither. Got 8 footer fiberglass unit and took a skill saw to it. Screwed it back togather with plywood wraped in fiberglass.
It had a plywood window in the back with plexiglass. It's rotted now and needs replacement I'm going to use Mini-tec alum to make a frame to hold plexi. http://www.minitecframing.com/ and an alum piano hindge from Mc Master
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May 7, 2009 10:57 a.m. 44Dwarf Reader
Anyone know where to get or who makes the extruded alum that inerlocks to form a hinge? I can't find'em anywhere so likley use a piano hinge but i'd rather not have to worry about the pin getting stiff.
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May 7, 2009 11:19 a.m. walterj Dork
44Dwarf wrote: i'd rather not have to worry about the pin getting stiff.
Think about baseball......
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May 7, 2009 12:51 p.m. andrave New Reader
lol, but I think tractor supply carries a steel version of a hinge that interlocks and is detachable for trailer/tractor/barn use... I love TSC...
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May 7, 2009 1:02 p.m. JFX001 Dork
Howz 'bout dis?:
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May 7, 2009 1:43 p.m. 4cylndrfury HalfDork
Actually...build a frame from tubing, then...
andrave wrote:
soak a sheet in fiberglass and drape it on there. shrugs
and then do it 2 more times...dundy
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May 8, 2009 6:12 a.m. 44Dwarf Reader
andrave wrote:
lol, but I think tractor supply carries a steel version of a hinge that interlocks and is detachable for trailer/tractor/barn use... I love TSC...
Do you know what they call it? I can't find it on there site and nearst one is a 2 hour ride.
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May 8, 2009 10:41 a.m. jamscal HalfDork
44Dwarf wrote:
Anyone know where to get or who makes the extruded alum that inerlocks to form a hinge? I can't find'em anywhere so likley use a piano hinge but i'd rather not have to worry about the pin getting stiff.
Mcmaster sells those hinges.
Geared hinge I think it's called.
On or around the same page as the piano hinges.
Expensive.
-James
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May 8, 2009 11:29 a.m. 44Dwarf Reader
Yes Geared one are. The one that was on my truck was not a geared type if you lifted the door you can slide it off. Reminds me of fingers clasped or a train coupler.
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May 8, 2009 6:23 p.m. porksboy Dork
Thanks JFX. I didnt see that in my searching. Now lets see if he responds to my email.
