JTdiRtyD ever changing build, trip reports, and BS thread

[capncking]

For sure, I cut my own rear seat delete and it's not nearly as clean as his

Awesome! I’ll pm you my email

I actually have it out of the truck right now so I can see if I can get some measurements that will help out.

The ticket is using cardboard to make a template of the platform first. Much easier to just cut another one if you screw it up.

thks!
I appreciate it

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[BlueScapegoat]

Awesome! I’ll pm you my email

I typed that weird, I meant "for sure" it'd be cool if JTdiRtyD shared his plans. Mine isn't as nice as his and I don't have plans for mine.

 

[JTdiRtyD]

Measured the truck the other day, the rear most edge of the Rebel rack/enclosure sits at 72" right now. My tent has an advertised height of 10" (not sure if that includes the mounting rails or not). My garage door is a 7ft door, so 84", but really only about 82-83", so unless I get a little bit of squat out of these rear springs I'm not sure if shes going to fit in the garage, and it's not looking good for upsizing to 37's right now lol. I'm hoping that the tent and some gear in the back will net me enough rear squat, but after reading some other threads of guys with AEV HD springs and seeing minimal squat with the loads they have I'm not optimistic.

With that said, I canceled my 4x4 Colorado tent purchase. Still no solid answer on shipment times, and after seeing a big negative shift in customer service from them and reading threads and posts from others, knowing two of their best (IMO) quit in the past month or so, and talking with friends who work closely with them I'm just not comfortable or confident that they are still the company everyone grew to like. So I'm looking at either Sterling Adventure Company or TopOak now. Leaning more towards TopOak based on price and reviews about great customer service, but Sterling is a Utah based family owned company with good reviews, just not many reviews as they are a small company.

Should have some updates soon regarding the house battery system install, and some basic measurements for the rear seat platform.

 

[capncking]

Measured the truck the other day, the rear most edge of the Rebel rack/enclosure sits at 72" right now. My tent has an advertised height of 10" (not sure if that includes the mounting rails or not). My garage door is a 7ft door, so 84", but really only about 82-83", so unless I get a little bit of squat out of these rear springs I'm not sure if shes going to fit in the garage, and it's not looking good for upsizing to 37's right now lol. I'm hoping that the tent and some gear in the back will net me enough rear squat, but after reading some other threads of guys with AEV HD springs and seeing minimal squat with the loads they have I'm not optimistic.

With that said, I canceled my 4x4 Colorado tent purchase. Still no solid answer on shipment times, and after seeing a big negative shift in customer service from them and reading threads and posts from others, knowing two of their best (IMO) quit in the past month or so, and talking with friends who work closely with them I'm just not comfortable or confident that they are still the company everyone grew to like. So I'm looking at either Sterling Adventure Company or TopOak now. Leaning more towards TopOak based on price and reviews about great customer service, but Sterling is a Utah based family owned company with good reviews, just not many reviews as they are a small company.

Should have some updates soon regarding the house battery system install, and some basic measurements for the rear seat platform.

Thanks for the update!

 

[JTdiRtyD]

Updates!

First and foremost, I ordered a TopOak Vision RTT with annex and so far it's on schedule to be delivered this weds. Finally! Still haven't received a refund or a call from 4x4 Colorado, I'll be contacting the bank today. Dealing with 4x4 Colorado has been a joke and I do not recommend doing business with them.

Finally got the house battery system 95% installed. I still need to build the electrical panel that will go in the bed, waiting on a bus bar to finish that. Everything ended up taking more space than I anticipated and I don't like seeing the cabling (even though its under the rear platform, so I'll eventually redo it all and hide the components, I just need to find a way to do so with everything still accessible.

100ah lithium battery, 20a Renogy DC-DC charger with monitor, Anderson plugs to make removal easy. Simple fuse panel in the cab for the 12 outlets and fridge. Electrical panel in the bed will have an Auxbeam for controlling everything else.

I 3d printed panels for the battery monitor and 12v outlets that replace the bus bar panels on the rear wall. They pop into place well enough but still felt like they aren't quite right, so I'm curious if they stay in place on the trail.

I also ran an extension for the Wolfbox camera down to a plug on the bumper so I can plug in my trailer camera. The Wolfbox wire is tiny and takes some finesse to strip and solder without breaking it. Unfortunately my dumb ass forgot to record what wire went to which pin, so I have to pull it back out, strip the heat shrink off and figure it out.

 

[redline61]

Love the build so far. I hope your panels work out as that makes for such a clean install!

 

[SRFRAT67]

First and foremost, I ordered a TopOak Vision RTT with annex

Great build and you're going to like the Top Oak, I have the same tent and I was very surprised with the quality for the price point. The only thing I don't like is the clear windows that they provide are paper thin, can't see them lasting but could probably use them as a template to make some better ones. Other than that, very impressed. Here is a link to some pictures of the tent after I mounted it.

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...tics-no-gun-talk.23705/page-2374#post-1558455

 

[JTdiRtyD]

Guys, I can't **cking win with roof top tents.

Topoak arrived today...

 

[SRFRAT67]

Damm- that sucks, sorry to see that. It's a toss up with these freight companies. Hopefully Top Oak makes you whole with no issues. I had a minor issue with mine, it was missing the support poles for the rain flys and they were on it, had them shipped right out to me.

 

[Splenda]

LTL freight or standard UPS/FedEx? Everything i get through LTL is screwed up.

 

[JTdiRtyD]

Damm- that sucks, sorry to see that. It's a toss up with these freight companies. Hopefully Top Oak makes you whole with no issues. I had a minor issue with mine, it was missing the support poles for the rain flys and they were on it, had them shipped right out to me.

I have no doubts they'll make it right, it just sucks having to wait yet again after all the BS I've dealt with trying to get a tent. I was hoping to have a tent for Overland of America in a few weeks so I didnt have to drag the camper.

TBH it would be easy enough to patch. I've got the aluminum at home. Will see how it plays out, if anything I'll ask for some money back and patch it.

LTL freight or standard UPS/FedEx? Everything i get through LTL is screwed up.

CEVA

 

[JTdiRtyD]

I emailed Topoak and pitched the idea of patching the damage myself. They emailed me back and thanked me for thinking of a solution that was a benefit for both parties. They offered $300 compensation and to send me structural adhesive to use when patching, and would honor the full warranty on all parts. I had told them I hadn't unboxed any farther than when I found the damage, so when I get home from work I'll finish unboxing and inspect everything, and if all looks good I'll accept.

It'll be too easy to send a flat file to my local steel shop and have a panel cut out of .040 or .063 alum sheet. Can even use white painted and it will help cut down on heat from the sun as well.

 

[RudeJeepin]

I emailed Topoak and pitched the idea of patching the damage myself. They emailed me back and thanked me for thinking of a solution that was a benefit for both parties. They offered $300 compensation and to send me structural adhesive to use when patching, and would honor the full warranty on all parts. I had told them I hadn't unboxed any farther than when I found the damage, so when I get home from work I'll finish unboxing and inspect everything, and if all looks good I'll accept.

It'll be too easy to send a flat file to my local steel shop and have a panel cut out of .040 or .063 alum sheet. Can even use white painted and it will help cut down on heat from the sun as well.

If you patch it, and since your thinking of printing it white, I'd suggest using something like this product.

We have an enclosed cargo trailer I've built out as a toyhauler/camper. I painted the roof with it and it really made a difference in the interior heat build up from the sun.
It is pretty thick and might take 2 coats to look good. But a gallon should be plenty. I used a gallon on my 7x12 trailer and had some left over.

Your JTRD is coming along nicely.

 

[JTdiRtyD]

If you patch it, and since your thinking of printing it white, I'd suggest using something like this product.

We have an enclosed cargo trailer I've built out as a toyhauler/camper. I painted the roof with it and it really made a difference in the interior heat build up from the sun.
It is pretty thick and might take 2 coats to look good. But a gallon should be plenty. I used a gallon on my 7x12 trailer and had some left over.

Your JTRD is coming along nicely.

Thanks. I'll look into the enviro-white, but this afternoon I was thinking of getting some vinyl wrap printed with our podcast logo, that way when the tent is open it's showing. Not sure if thats too loud and "look at me!", but its a thought. If I don't I like this coating idea for sure.

 

[RudeJeepin]

Thanks. I'll look into the enviro-white, but this afternoon I was thinking of getting some vinyl wrap printed with our podcast logo, that way when the tent is open it's showing. Not sure if thats too loud and "look at me!", but its a thought. If I don't I like this coating idea for sure.

The vinyl sounds like a good idea too. Heck, if you believe in your podcast and want others to find it, then why not. Obviously you should be prepared for others to come up to you and ask questions.
Henry's has a few different coating meant for different things. I'm sure there are other brands also.

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