A lot of my mods are the same as those others have already posted (see my sig. line), so I won't recover that same ground here. I will try to just keep this buildup thread to "new" mods that I have not seen any or much discussion about.
First off, this truck was originally a 2wd Prerunner and we drove it (and wheeled it in some tight spots) stock for almost 5 years. But we didn't really get into wheeling officially until Yotamasters converted the rig to 4wd using factory parts from a salvaged 1997 Taco with manual hubs. Thank you Eric and Jay!
Since several other TTORA members had questions about our home-made sleeping platform/tonneau cover we built I have posted some pics showing its construction and use at this link...
http://s263.photobucket.com/albums/...onneau 1/Sleeping Platform Tonneau/?start=all
We were too cheap to buy a flip Pac or Pop-top camper to solve the sleeping 2 people (my wife and I) in a short bed and locking the gear into the bed space problems we had while planning for a 3-month expedition into Mexico. The shells we looked at ranged from $3,600 to $8,000 and were very nice, but just too much for our budget. We designed and built this home-made solution for about $250, then bought the truck tent for another $250 for a total of $500.
Materials are 2x4 and 2x6 lumber and 3/4" plywood, 5/16" carriage bolts with lock nuts, door hinges, framing braces, Master Locks/hardware, rubber stoppers, and some small u-bolts and fasteners. All readily available at your local hardware/lumber store. And all was built in the driveway using simple tools like a Skill saw, hand drill, and a jigsaw to cut the curve on the extension with no modifications to the bed except for removal of the factory bedliner. If anyone has questions after viewing the pics at the link, feel free to PM me.
This setup is not the nicest looking, but is very functional and has held up well for 6 years now. It locks all of our expedition gear into the bed nicely and still gives us a place to sleep where we can fit a queen-sized airbed to sleep 2 comfortably with our short bed setup.
The truck tent has held up nicely for extended trips during hurricane season in Mexico, and sheds water very well with the optional rainfly attached. Total weight of the platform minus the Hi-lift Jack is about 80-100lbs, which lowers the rear end of the truck about 1/2" when otherwise unloaded. Once we put the extra gear, water, 6-gallon gas can, etc. in for a trip, the truck loses about 1.25 to 1.75 inches in the rear. Interestingly, the truck gets as good or better gas mileage loaded like this as it does with the platform removed. I guess the reduced wind resistance of a tonneau style cover on the bed is the reason for that.
We have set up tripods and stood up on the platform (both of us) to use it as an elevated photo platform, set up camp chairs and used it as a viewing platform at events like 4th of July fireworks, etc. And it has been a simple cheap solution for us.
First off, this truck was originally a 2wd Prerunner and we drove it (and wheeled it in some tight spots) stock for almost 5 years. But we didn't really get into wheeling officially until Yotamasters converted the rig to 4wd using factory parts from a salvaged 1997 Taco with manual hubs. Thank you Eric and Jay!
Since several other TTORA members had questions about our home-made sleeping platform/tonneau cover we built I have posted some pics showing its construction and use at this link...
http://s263.photobucket.com/albums/...onneau 1/Sleeping Platform Tonneau/?start=all
We were too cheap to buy a flip Pac or Pop-top camper to solve the sleeping 2 people (my wife and I) in a short bed and locking the gear into the bed space problems we had while planning for a 3-month expedition into Mexico. The shells we looked at ranged from $3,600 to $8,000 and were very nice, but just too much for our budget. We designed and built this home-made solution for about $250, then bought the truck tent for another $250 for a total of $500.
Materials are 2x4 and 2x6 lumber and 3/4" plywood, 5/16" carriage bolts with lock nuts, door hinges, framing braces, Master Locks/hardware, rubber stoppers, and some small u-bolts and fasteners. All readily available at your local hardware/lumber store. And all was built in the driveway using simple tools like a Skill saw, hand drill, and a jigsaw to cut the curve on the extension with no modifications to the bed except for removal of the factory bedliner. If anyone has questions after viewing the pics at the link, feel free to PM me.
This setup is not the nicest looking, but is very functional and has held up well for 6 years now. It locks all of our expedition gear into the bed nicely and still gives us a place to sleep where we can fit a queen-sized airbed to sleep 2 comfortably with our short bed setup.
The truck tent has held up nicely for extended trips during hurricane season in Mexico, and sheds water very well with the optional rainfly attached. Total weight of the platform minus the Hi-lift Jack is about 80-100lbs, which lowers the rear end of the truck about 1/2" when otherwise unloaded. Once we put the extra gear, water, 6-gallon gas can, etc. in for a trip, the truck loses about 1.25 to 1.75 inches in the rear. Interestingly, the truck gets as good or better gas mileage loaded like this as it does with the platform removed. I guess the reduced wind resistance of a tonneau style cover on the bed is the reason for that.
We have set up tripods and stood up on the platform (both of us) to use it as an elevated photo platform, set up camp chairs and used it as a viewing platform at events like 4th of July fireworks, etc. And it has been a simple cheap solution for us.