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

[steffen707]

@steffen707 you are rad. Thanks for making those renderings. gives me a great idea of how this will look.

you're very welcome. Its not perfect, but gives you a good idea to work from. glad I could help, Lunch time!

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[steffen707]

Hmm. I really like the idea of that. It is along the lines of what I was thinking. I would equip it ideally with full length side side cabinets. I have never ran a shell period much less something like this. First problem I see with side cabinets is blocking all light into the bed. I wonder what the combo of side glass and only half cabinets is like. I was considering the leitner rack with side pods, but was already planning on engineering a solution to cover the roof. This could be pretty idea.

Don't do that just yet. then you can only get stuff from the rear.

I'm thinking one side of cabinets, or maybe 1/2-3/4 of cabinets, and leave the other side open. Then creating a shelf that runs from side to side. kinda like this photo below.

want mine modular so you can remove them. Got the idea from nuthouse industries. Then I can access half the gear without having to unpack shit.
Video starts right at "MODULAR PART"

 

[BullDogge]

So I have been looking at pics of these on other rigs. I am not sure if all option apply for us. On other rigs you can get the side doors split in half so you can actually have one part a window and the other half solid.

 

[Jeepers!]

So I have been looking at pics of these on other rigs. I am not sure if all option apply for us. On other rigs you can get the side doors split in half so you can actually have one part a window and the other half solid.

I don't think you can do that with a 5' bed. Cool, though!

edit: Although you can get a ½ length storage container (or kitchen). I wonder if that still uses one long door?

 

[BullDogge]

This setup is pretty ideal

 

[steffen707]

Instead of their lion box things, i'll just fashion 4 removable trays that go from the bed rail on left, and hook into something that's bolted to the back of the passenger side cabinet. Maximizing the utility!

 

[steffen707]

how does it provide positive pressure? Just driving down the road forces air inside like a CPAP machine?

 

[steffen707]

Got some more RLD info,
"The insides of the white doors are also white. We are unable to do different powder coating on the same piece.
The angle matches the cab. Each canopy is uniquely designed for each vehicle.
There are three ribs on top and the outside ones have three mounting points to direct bolt crossbars or you can easily add tracks if you prefer. "

Tom

Adventuremobile Inc.

James Baroud West / RLD Design USA / MOLE Overland

 

[G8R]

I have no idea how they create positive pressure. Air has to come from somewhere and without a filter you will suck in dust. If that feature has a filter and catches the air and forces it in then it makes sense.

 

[steffen707]

I have no idea how they create positive pressure. Air has to come from somewhere and without a filter you will suck in dust. If that feature has a filter and catches the air and forces it in then it makes sense.

lol, I looked a bit at the tailgate on my JT, you can see the ground with it closed, so you'ld need to block that I would assume to get positive pressure inside the box/topper. I've read other guys saying water isn't an issue with a topper, its the dust!

 

[G8R]

Yes, dust fills everything. I plan to weather seal mine as much as I possibly can to minimize this. I have had several full sized and medium sized trucks with and without shells and there is way less dust in my junk using a shell than an open bed.

 

[G8R]

In my Power Wagon with shell and Decked I really had no dust get in my drawers but did get dust in all my stuff on top of the platform.

 

[BullDogge]

Well, what I am trying to accomplish is to add convenient "trunk space", haul daily gear and to accommodate my dogs as well. I would like to leave the center aisle open so my back window can be open for the dogs. the half storage on each side dependent on where it can be located would be useful. Having a portion that could open independent of the storage would be ideal. But if a short bed wont allow that I would still want at least half the side to be storage free. Thinking built right panels or other storage solutions to contain a CO2 tank, fire extinguisher, etc for quick access secured to the bed in the open areas. May also end up wanting rear winch, which may need tire relocation to bed. On my JK most needed equipment on a regular basis was air and winch. This was day to day usage, not wheeling. JT will replace that as on road vehicle and there are times when a rear winch would have made my life far easier. This should be a far superior recovery vehicle, almost makes me excited for winter roads... lol

 

[steffen707]

Yes, dust fills everything. I plan to weather seal mine as much as I possibly can to minimize this. I have had several full sized and medium sized trucks with and without shells and there is way less dust in my junk using a shell than an open bed.

From RLD
"All caps come standard with the positive pressure vent. It’s basically a spring loaded hatch facing forward that captures air as you drive and feeds it into the bed area which then exhausts out of all the nooks and crannies so that no dust can be sucked in. Generally driving creates a vacuum in the bed which pulls in dust and water. This reverses that.

All cabs come standard with the sliding cab side window as well.

Tom

Adventuremobile Inc.

James Baroud West / RLD Design USA / MOLE Overland"

I asked a follow up about filtering the positive pressure and sliding window for the front of the cab, i'll post back with answers to that too.

 

[G8R]

I would agree that most dust gets sucked in due to dust I kick up when driving. If I am following someone on a dusty road the RLD vent will push that dust right in. Looking forward to see if they have any kind of filter capability.

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