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Alu-Cab Gladiator Bed Cap

Gatorized

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I actually just bought a 10" strap hinge, it's super thick, I'll cut off what I don't need after marking and drilling the hole. "tonight's project"!
10” will be a little overkill. You don’t want the loose end to be so long it gouges the cab top when it drops down. The 3 inch hinge you pictured is probably just right. Big enough to bolt thru the 2x2 support and plywood close to the center of the 2x2. With a couple fender washers.
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steffen707

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10” will be a little overkill. You don’t want the loose end to be so long it gouges the cab top when it drops down. The 3 inch hinge you pictured is probably just right. Big enough to bolt thru the 2x2 support and plywood close to the center of the 2x2. With a couple fender washers.
the longer the strap, the thicker the metal generally. the small straps were too thin and it was only $2 more for a 10" strap hinge. So i just plan to cut off what I don't need.
 

Gatorized

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the longer the strap, the thicker the metal generally. the small straps were too thin and it was only $2 more for a 10" strap hinge. So i just plan to cut off what I don't need.
True- I just think you are overthinking the stress you could put on these connections.. if you are just holding the totes on the roof you could conceivably use a much smaller gauge hinge. With a ratchet strap the totes will likely collapse before the hinge fails. Then again, if I already had the 10” hinge in my leftovers pile, that’s what I’d use too! There’s nothing more satisfying than repurposing an item to do something different than it was designed for!
 

steffen707

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if you are just holding the totes on the roof you could conceivably use a much smaller gauge hinge.
Most likely, but I don't want a weak hing bending on me and somehow the strap rattling loose then have the tote fly off and break, or worse, cause a car accident. Overkill to the rescue!
 

steffen707

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Good news the 10" strap hinge cut down worked well. I had to mount on top of rail, because if it was below, it would have banged into the canopy when not in use.

Well this is what it looked like before the highway 80mph test. front and middle totes were empty
Jeep Gladiator Alu-Cab Gladiator Bed Cap 20200630_204112
Jeep Gladiator Alu-Cab Gladiator Bed Cap 20200630_204126


This is what it looked like after. i'm guessing the different sized totes and being empty contributed to the middle one flopping around. if they were all equal height probably wouldn't have happened. sighhh, guess I can bungy them down laterally too.


Jeep Gladiator Alu-Cab Gladiator Bed Cap 20200630_205519
Jeep Gladiator Alu-Cab Gladiator Bed Cap 20200630_205523
 

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steffen707

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lol, looks like i'm trying to reinvent the wheel, could have just bought one of these....
https://www.alu-cab.com/product/roof-rack-tray/
Jeep Gladiator Alu-Cab Gladiator Bed Cap 1593574860786


Roof Rack Tray, maybe ok4wd can order this. Will be lighter and probably stronger, but I think I like my dimensions better, it sticks over the hardtop about 9 inches.
 

steffen707

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Okay, can somebody educate me on how cargo nets work? Seem simple enough, but this one says its 3'x4' and stretches to 6'x8'. So does that mean you're supposed to stretch it over your cargo, so there's no stretch left for stuff to fly around on top of your vehicle? Or do you not need to stretch it tight? Silly, i went through all that trouble to get my hinge mounting point to work, I can either use 3-4 ratchet straps, or a cargo net.....


Jeep Gladiator Alu-Cab Gladiator Bed Cap 1593576958210

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BTLL99...9Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=
 
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Rokon

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Never used one that stretched..... seems it has to be tight to be secure.
I sewed my own for my FJ Cruiser rack from 2” nylon webbing. No stretch. All the interwoven intersections were sewn. Used velcro to secure the cinch straps that came from each web. About 6” grid openings. Mostly used for soft stuff, tents, awnings, chairs, duffles, bags of charcoal.
Worked really well. Sorry, no pics.
 

steffen707

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Never used one that stretched..... seems it has to be tight to be secure.
I sewed my own for my FJ Cruiser rack from 2” nylon webbing. No stretch. All the interwoven intersections were sewn. Used velcro to secure the cinch straps that came from each web. About 6” grid openings. Mostly used for soft stuff, tents, awnings, chairs, duffles, bags of charcoal.
Worked really well. Sorry, no pics.
I've always wanted to get a badass sewing machine. Not sure how often i'd use it, but could come in handy. i'm assuming you used something like that for your nylon webbing intersections?


Hey look at that, a company makes the nylon nets specifically for our truck! :CWL:
Jeep Gladiator Alu-Cab Gladiator Bed Cap 1593578002732
 
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Rokon

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Yeah pretty cool machine. 1929 Singer on a 60’s table with a clutch an 1 hp electric motor. Does canvas and leather well. Definitely gives rise to the saying “Runs like a sewing machine”. Smooth, powerful and a bit fast... keep an eye on your fingers! Doesn't stall, might break a needle though.
New England had many textile shops and old machines can be found pretty dang cheap.
It sits around until you need it..... just opens up possibilties.
Really tempted to sew up my own RTT.
 

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MattyB80

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This is a Tacoma Alu-cab Canopy and Gen 3 tent on a JTR. It’s not perfect fitment but could be with a couple minor modifications to the front mounts and tailgate. Love the Alu-cab design - very light and strong with mounting rails literally everywhere.

Did have to shim up the tent to clear the hard top because the Tacoma is not quite as tall.

I did order a JT version of the canopy and will be posting this Tacoma canopy for sale in a few weeks. It was just part of a barter I worked out.

I’m impressed! Just have to decide if the tent will live on the Jeep or if I should take my adventure trailer Horizon off the market and upgrade the current Eezi-Awn with this one.

Jeep Gladiator Alu-Cab Gladiator Bed Cap C2F22DFF-73F7-4991-A2CD-0014A879125E
Jeep Gladiator Alu-Cab Gladiator Bed Cap 5754E132-6490-4E49-947B-16CF2F3FE79A
Jeep Gladiator Alu-Cab Gladiator Bed Cap 4B3E25A2-D599-4D15-A844-145315646919
Jeep Gladiator Alu-Cab Gladiator Bed Cap 9F48415B-9322-41AD-9A3F-3F889E5BD38E
 

steffen707

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This is a Tacoma Alu-cab Canopy and Gen 3 tent on a JTR. It’s not perfect fitment but could be with a couple minor modifications to the front mounts and tailgate. Love the Alu-cab design - very light and strong with mounting rails literally everywhere.

Did have to shim up the tent to clear the hard top because the Tacoma is not quite as tall.

I did order a JT version of the canopy and will be posting this Tacoma canopy for sale in a few weeks. It was just part of a barter I worked out.

I’m impressed! Just have to decide if the tent will live on the Jeep or if I should take my adventure trailer Horizon off the market and upgrade the current Eezi-Awn with this one.

Jeep Gladiator Alu-Cab Gladiator Bed Cap 9F48415B-9322-41AD-9A3F-3F889E5BD38E
Jeep Gladiator Alu-Cab Gladiator Bed Cap 9F48415B-9322-41AD-9A3F-3F889E5BD38E
Jeep Gladiator Alu-Cab Gladiator Bed Cap 9F48415B-9322-41AD-9A3F-3F889E5BD38E
Jeep Gladiator Alu-Cab Gladiator Bed Cap 9F48415B-9322-41AD-9A3F-3F889E5BD38E
Looking real good!

Team Alu-Cab!
 

MeanMachine

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Looking real good!

Team Alu-Cab!
I'm team RLD but it does look great!!

Matt - you should try the Airlift 1000 bags, work great in relieving the rear end squat, relatively inexpensive and easy to install
 

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This is a Tacoma Alu-cab Canopy and Gen 3 tent on a JTR. It’s not perfect fitment but could be with a couple minor modifications to the front mounts and tailgate. Love the Alu-cab design - very light and strong with mounting rails literally everywhere.

Did have to shim up the tent to clear the hard top because the Tacoma is not quite as tall.

I did order a JT version of the canopy and will be posting this Tacoma canopy for sale in a few weeks. It was just part of a barter I worked out.

I’m impressed! Just have to decide if the tent will live on the Jeep or if I should take my adventure trailer Horizon off the market and upgrade the current Eezi-Awn with this one.

Jeep Gladiator Alu-Cab Gladiator Bed Cap 9F48415B-9322-41AD-9A3F-3F889E5BD38E
Jeep Gladiator Alu-Cab Gladiator Bed Cap 9F48415B-9322-41AD-9A3F-3F889E5BD38E
Jeep Gladiator Alu-Cab Gladiator Bed Cap 9F48415B-9322-41AD-9A3F-3F889E5BD38E
Jeep Gladiator Alu-Cab Gladiator Bed Cap 9F48415B-9322-41AD-9A3F-3F889E5BD38E
Who did you order your new one from? FYI mine shipped from ALU-CAB back in May and has been sitting at the Port of Cape Town ever since. The port is FUBARed due to COVID and shipping is WAY behind. Do you have any pics of you mounting of the TACO cap and what mods you had to do?
 

MattyB80

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Who did you order your new one from? FYI mine shipped from ALU-CAB back in May and has been sitting at the Port of Cape Town ever since. The port is FUBARed due to COVID and shipping is WAY behind. Do you have any pics of you mounting of the TACO cap and what mods you had to do?
I ordered through ok4wd. Not surprised on shipping, hopefully by fall. :)

I didn’t do any mods other than move the front drivers bed mount more towards the mid point of the rail just to get it home. If it was going to be a permanent install I’d have to modify the bracket a bit to clear the bolt. the taco cap is wider so the bolt holes don’t line up if you locate the bracket at the widest point of the canopy (the front).

I also had to shim the tent up because the taco cap is shorter and the RTT was coming into contact with the hard top.

Nothing major.
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