Tops! Canopy / covers / toppers / racks possibilities for Gladiator - Show me!

[steffen707]

Ugh....that cap/canopy thing doesn't have a shelf that goes accross like a canopy has. So the cargo benefit of this is only realized with an extra cabinet of theirs (extra money) or some type of drawer system (extra money).
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/new-in-the-usa-rld-design.593043/
I was hoping it would have had its own flat base. 600lb static load is nice, but $3200 for a stainless steel topper is super expensive.

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[steffen707]

Since there has been talk of a homemade and/or 80/20 rack/topper, I took some pics of a Sport S with no 'trail rails' and no bedliner. I wanted to see what attachment points are possible.

First, the height from the top of the bed rail to the top of a hard top is 22" at the outer edge, but 23" at the center raised points.

The walls of the bed expose threads of welded nuts for mounting 'trail rails' as well as their tonneau covers. These could very well be used as attachment points for custom jobs. The grommets at the right & left would make it easy to run wire into the bed area to power anything you want powered in your custom topper.

Two welded nuts are visible under the lip of the rail near the tailgate on both sides. Looks like part of the plastic bed rail protector can be removed to access the nuts pictured. (sorry about the nose pic)

The bed rail liner could be removed entirely via these plastic clips. Doing so would expose holes in the top of the bed rail that could also be used for mounting various racks or covers. I think there were 4 clips on each rail.

As previously noted, the fuel tank enclosure may prevent certain covers from being installed.

Installing a power outlet after the fact may not require any cutting. Seems like the bed wall has a plastic cover over the hole that would have been used for the factory outlet.

you should copy and paste this post into the measurements thread, if you already haven't.

 

[steffen707]

Custom rack I've been building!

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...adiator-build-thread.17192/page-2#post-271911

can you make a 22" tall version of that?

 

[BuiltRight]

can you make a 22" tall version of that?

Would require basically a fresh design since 22" is high enough that I'd want to be running some FEA to make sure it's strong/stable enough, but it could certainly be done. What would you be looking to carry/attach/accomplish with it?

Matt

 

[steffen707]

Would require basically a fresh design since 22" is high enough that I'd want to be running some FEA to make sure it's strong/stable enough, but it could certainly be done. What would you be looking to carry/attach/accomplish with it?

Matt

i'll DM you.

 

[steffen707]

From Pace Edwards on their retractable tonneau cover
" We are certainty hoping it will not be an issue. I’m still waiting for the test fit. After that we will know for sure that we can fit it. This is not the only truck that has this same issue.
Ed"




Ed Brooks

"

 

[sad85XD]

Would require basically a fresh design since 22" is high enough that I'd want to be running some FEA to make sure it's strong/stable enough, but it could certainly be done. What would you be looking to carry/attach/accomplish with it?

Matt

Im also very interested in a cab height rack.....

 

[steffen707]

Would require basically a fresh design since 22" is high enough that I'd want to be running some FEA to make sure it's strong/stable enough, but it could certainly be done. What would you be looking to carry/attach/accomplish with it?

Matt

what's FEA?
Fricken Excellent Angle-Iron?

or Finite Element Analysis? You don't want to just kick it once and say, "AH, its good", sign this waiver of responsibility! lol

 

[steffen707]

Lakeland caps/toppers wholesale direct of Wisconsin, will not be making any caps for JT at this time.

 

[tanman]

Lakeland caps/toppers wholesale direct of Wisconsin, will not be making any caps for JT at this time.

meh, wasn't a huge fan anyhow. Good research though!

 

[steffen707]

meh, wasn't a huge fan anyhow. Good research though!

Lol, did you actually look into them? Somebody stateside has to make an aluminum topper for the JT. I mean not currently, but in the works.

 

[tanman]

Lol, did you actually look into them? Somebody stateside has to make an aluminum topper for the JT. I mean not currently, but in the works.

I just google image searched the company and saw a bunch of their stuff. It wasn't really what I'm interested in. I like the way that RLD stainless steel one looks, but I really like the functionality of the Nuthouse tech 3.

Tough choices, but as of right now I'm leaning toward a nuthouse tech 3. Because it's aluminum and extremely versatile. That is, if you shell out the extra cash for the removable top bars, and some aluminum storage boxes. I may have to buy the boxes later cause 1k for two storage boxes seems excessive lol

 

[steffen707]

not sure if this belongs here, but ever hear of a plastic continuous hinge? Its like a piano hinge, but can be liquid tight.
https://ceshepherd.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Shepherd-Plastic-Hinges.pdf

$2.99 per foot, plus $25 handling fee, plus shipping. Might be better pricing elsewhere, but i never heard of this until i started researching piano hinges for my topper.

 

[steffen707]

I just google image searched the company and saw a bunch of their stuff. It wasn't really what I'm interested in. I like the way that RLD stainless steel one looks, but I really like the functionality of the Nuthouse tech 3.

Tough choices, but as of right now I'm leaning toward a nuthouse tech 3. Because it's aluminum and extremely versatile. That is, if you shell out the extra cash for the removable top bars, and some aluminum storage boxes. I may have to buy the boxes later cause 1k for two storage boxes seems excessive lol

cool, i just thought you were making some kind of wisconsin joke. =)
I like the RLD one better too, but yikes, $3500 shipped.

Nuthouse is pretty cool. Would you do any of their lighting packages?

 

[msujedi]

not sure if this belongs here, but ever hear of a plastic continuous hinge? Its like a piano hinge, but can be liquid tight.
https://ceshepherd.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Shepherd-Plastic-Hinges.pdf

$2.99 per foot, plus $25 handling fee, plus shipping. Might be better pricing elsewhere, but i never heard of this until i started researching piano hinges for my topper.

What in the world brought you to think of a piano hinge for a topper?!?! I love the creativity! I'm getting a vinyl roll-up tonneau cover, so I won't need such a hinge. But, really creative!

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