Alu-Cab Gladiator Bed Cap

[Mtpisgah]

Hey guys. I wanted to share a mod that you can all benefit from. As outdoorsy people we have sweaty stinky clothes. Ours are usually from cycling and hiking, but even sitting by the campfire can be an issue. The gusset panels between the camper and cab hide a huge space and the panels are not needed for strucutral integrity.
I recently removed mine and added hinges. Now I can put clothes there to keep from stinking up the truck or camper. They will also dry better there.

I also finished the cabinet build with 8020 Framing. The Dewalt boxes fit perfectly and this makes storage really simple. I considered Goose Gear but I wanted to have more flexibility and to be able to unpack the truck for better bed access when needed.

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[steffen707]

Hey guys. I wanted to share a mod that you can all benefit from. As outdoorsy people we have sweaty stinky clothes. Ours are usually from cycling and hiking, but even sitting by the campfire can be an issue. The gusset panels between the camper and cab hide a huge space and the panels are not needed for strucutral integrity.
I recently removed mine and added hinges. Now I can put clothes there to keep from stinking up the truck or camper. They will also dry better there.

I also finished the cabinet build with 8020 Framing. The Dewalt boxes fit perfectly and this makes storage really simple. I considered Goose Gear but I wanted to have more flexibility and to be able to unpack the truck for better bed access when needed.

That's a great use of that spot behind the cab. Thanks for sharing.

 

[alpineovernappa]

Hey guys. I wanted to share a mod that you can all benefit from. As outdoorsy people we have sweaty stinky clothes. Ours are usually from cycling and hiking, but even sitting by the campfire can be an issue. The gusset panels between the camper and cab hide a huge space and the panels are not needed for strucutral integrity.
I recently removed mine and added hinges. Now I can put clothes there to keep from stinking up the truck or camper. They will also dry better there.

I also finished the cabinet build with 8020 Framing. The Dewalt boxes fit perfectly and this makes storage really simple. I considered Goose Gear but I wanted to have more flexibility and to be able to unpack the truck for better bed access when needed.

Looks like a great place to keep recovery tracks/shovels/hilift, etc out of sight and mostly shielded from the elements. Too bad its a bit narrow for jerry cans...

 

[steffen707]

Looks like a great place to keep recovery tracks/shovels/hilift, etc out of sight and mostly shielded from the elements. Too bad its a bit narrow for jerry cans...

I'd be worried about the Shovel or hilift becoming spears in an accident.

A friend of mine died when a 2" ball hitch flew from the back of a van and struck the back of her head when she went into a snowy ditch.

Blunt force trauma. My 2cents.

 

[alpineovernappa]

I'd be worried about the Shovel or hilift becoming spears in an accident.

A friend of mine died when a 2" ball hitch flew from the back of a van and struck the back of her head when she went into a snowy ditch.

Blunt force trauma. My 2cents.

Oof- good point. Sorry to hear about your friend.

 

[steffen707]

Oof- good point. Sorry to hear about your friend.

Thanks.
i try to remind everybody about that. Happened 20 years ago, but i still try to limit any potential flying objects.

 

[oscarach]

For those with the Alu-Cab canopy, how well does it keep the dust out of the bed area?
I have read on other forums that due to not having a positive pressure vent and gaps at the tailgate that people have had top add extra material to close up, that it does a poor job of keeping out dust and fine sand.
But as these people were not using it on a Gladiator thought I would ask here.
I like the look of the Alu-Cab and the weight, but would mostly be using it in desert environments so large amounts of dust intrusion would be an issue.

 

[Rokon]

Cap seals up tight. The problem is the gaps about the tailgate when it is closed. There are ways to remedy that but I haven't tackled the issue yet. This will be an issue no matter what topper or cover you use.
I haven't seen a huge problem with it yet.

 

[tmac]

Looking for help. For those of you with the Alu-Cab Explorer Canopy. I am in process of ordering and wondering on recommendations or thoughts for load bar length? I will be putting the roofnest condor xl on top when I am out camping. Do I need the 1450mm length? 1450 is our of stock until September so they are asking if I want the 1250mm instead. Any experience or thoughts? I think the 1250 will be fine since that is longer than the rails on the roof top tent.

 

[teamblkdog]

The 1450mm load bars extend out past the width of the roofline by about 3" on both sides.

 

[steffen707]

Looking for help. For those of you with the Alu-Cab Explorer Canopy. I am in process of ordering and wondering on recommendations or thoughts for load bar length? I will be putting the roofnest condor xl on top when I am out camping. Do I need the 1450mm length? 1450 is our of stock until September so they are asking if I want the 1250mm instead. Any experience or thoughts? I think the 1250 will be fine since that is longer than the rails on the roof top tent.

Get the 1450s. You can always cut em down and they're only $50 more. My wife likes the extra length...... Hardy Har har

 

[oscarach]

How easy is the canopy to install with only 2 people to lift and maneuver it? One of those people is short. And how long did the install take?
Anything to watch out for during the install that's not covered in this thread already?

 

[Rokon]

Weight wise two could do it but I suggest four just to eliminate banging your truck up. It would be pretty awkward with two.
After it is set on the bed, about an hour fiddling with brackets and your done.

 

[oscarach]

Weight wise two could do it but I suggest four just to eliminate banging your truck up. It would be pretty awkward with two.
After it is set on the bed, about an hour fiddling with brackets and your done.

Thanks for the info, looks like I will need to plan a install party

 

[tmac]

so I hate to do this to you… But do you still have the tail light off? I popped mine off and I have more than one white wire, one with a grey stripe, orange stripe and pink stripe.I think you’re tapped into the grey stripe one but I was hoping to do my wiring on the vehicle side harness so if I ever needed to replace the tail lamp, I wouldn’t need to rewire all this.

That’s when it got confusing:
Pin1 is green on both sides (no problem)
Pin2 is orange on the vehicle side, but not connected on the taillight side.
Pin3 is not connected on the VEHICLE side, and hooked up to that white wire with a grey stripe on the taillight side. So in theory, I can’t connect to it without connecting it on the tail lamp side.

@coreoski I looked but didn’t see if you posted a final wiring? I also have the 20 JTR with blindspot monitoring. When I tested current when brake was pressed the green wire is live so going to use that to tap into - which wire did you use for ground? Black under green?

Also question for anyone who wired up the led lights - looks like the white with orange stripe is live with truck turned off. Did anyone use that wire on the driver side tail light to connect the LEDs?

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