Maddening overlanding options.

[Racer_X]

<rant>
So I've finally given up on the market making what I want. What I want is a modular design that is flexible given the potential uses of the truck. To wit:

1. Ski Truck: requires locking, heavily water-resistant storage in the bed with a ski rack on top. Suitable for a party of 4 to take gear and suitcases as needed. Used November-March.

2. Dive Truck: locking storage in the bed, rack on top for extra gear, and vertical storage of the tanks. Suitable for a party of 4. Used May-August. Without the freedom panels of course. Wish I could leave the doors at home. <cough> JEEP MAKE HALF DOORS.

3. College Moving Truck: Roof rack, bed rack w/pod on top of a locking heavily water resistant bed cover. Used 2x a year. For 3 days each. For the privilege of spending lots of $$$ on the folks that choose my nursing home.

4. Overlanding rack for getting away from everybody but 2 dogs and 1 person that can deal with me for prolonged periods of time. Must have ability to bolt on rotopax, other gear. Must have (again) heavily water resistant bed storage someplace to keep gear dry. Don't need a RTT.

The truly maddening thing is that I've solved 1-3. A Diamondback, Thule/mopar gutter roof rack, and the tracks on the diamondback with a rack. Fit it to a thule pod for $200 in the bed and a basket on top, and I'm good. Ski mode is obvious, college mode works. Dive mode just needs a box for the tanks in front that overlaps with the diamondback center section. Removing the diamondback front panel or lay it flat and strap it down, done.

So why maddening? The overlanding options are really difficult right now. Maximus-3 - been in testing phase for over 6 months. Looks like tons of holes drilled in the bed for the ladders and rack itself, with little detail around a waterproof. Zroadz - almost good enough to engineer something waterproof around it BUT doesn't work with trail rails. Softopper/Datin rack - overkill. Don't need that much waterproof space and a rack that high. Xplor? The rack itself looks a tad clunky and that rebel offroad logo is too... obvious for my taste. But it's their design, their call on the logo. JCR is very close, but the the way the arms slant in give up too much storage and looks too clunky. Would have to engineer a lot around it to put in solid water resistant storage. However, it is reasonably priced. Fishbone? REALLY like this. Except it's just a 1/2 rack. <sigh>

So I'll speak to a fabricator to design a rack that I can bolt to my diamondback using grommets to keep the bolt holes watertight, then lay the tracks over them when I put the ski / travel rack in place. Maybe take a Zroadz and redesign it to sit flat on the diamondback. <sigh>

I knew I was getting a fixer-upper with the Jeep, and that was cool. I've loved my projects putting all the various things that Jenerally Emptied Every Pocket for my bankruptcy starter kit. I just wish we could solve for this one thing, and then the market would have a perfect set of modular solutions for a Transformer Truck.

</rant>

Thanks for reading

Move / Overland / Dive / Ski = "MODS"

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[Klutch]

I just got the Rebel Off Road XPLOR rack. Funny, I think it looks pretty spiffy and not really "clunky". If you don't like the logo on the back, just leave the plate that installs behind it black. It will be hardly noticeable.

Since I got the rack just last night, I haven't yet installed it. Maybe I'll feel differently once it's on my truck.

 

[Racer_X]

Appreciate your comments and your reading the rant. As a suggestion of what I mean, compare the pillars of the fishbone or the maximus-3 overland rack to the xplor. Note the maximus logo on the side compared to the large letters of the logo of the xlpor. Compare the location as well, off to one side (Maximus) versus the dead-center placement right over the tail on the xplor. The simple fishbone logo on the tackle rack is more understated as well.

I'm glad you're happy with your choice, and hopefully you'll use it for years. As it turns out, fishbone is saying that they are releasing a full height rack soon. I'll look forward to that, and possibly tweak it to mount on the diamondback that's coming on Tuesday.

 

[Klutch]

Appreciate your comments and your reading the rant. As a suggestion of what I mean, compare the pillars of the fishbone or the maximus-3 overland rack to the xplor. Note the maximus logo on the side compared to the large letters of the logo of the xlpor. Compare the location as well, off to one side (Maximus) versus the dead-center placement right over the tail on the xplor. The simple fishbone logo on the tackle rack is more understated as well.

I'm glad you're happy with your choice, and hopefully you'll use it for years. As it turns out, fishbone is saying that they are releasing a full height rack soon. I'll look forward to that, and possibly tweak it to mount on the diamondback that's coming on Tuesday.

I understand. You know, I was just thinking I could always mount the plate on the outside and cover the logo.

 

[BajaDrifter]

I just got the Rebel Off Road XPLOR rack. Funny, I think it looks pretty spiffy and not really "clunky". If you don't like the logo on the back, just leave the plate that installs behind it black. It will be hardly noticeable.

Since I got the rack just last night, I haven't yet installed it. Maybe I'll feel differently once it's on my truck.

I'm happy with it. It's a super solid build and very heavy duty. Good idea about using the black plate to cover up the trade mark. I happen to like it though. I picked up mine from their facility in Laguna Hills and I was thoroughly impressed with their operation and their own company jeeps.

On the last cross bar at the end of the truck bed, I was thinking of using either thumb screw bolts or pins to make it a little easier to remove in order to haul taller items. I'll be installing lighting soon as well. RTT ordered.

 

[Klutch]

I'm happy with it. It's a super solid build and very heavy duty. Good idea about using the black plate to cover up the trade mark. I happen to like it though. I picked up mine from their facility in Laguna Hills and I was thoroughly impressed with their operation and their own company jeeps.

On the last cross bar at the end of the truck bed, I was thinking of using either thumb screw bolts or pins to make it a little easier to remove in order to haul taller items. I'll be installing lighting soon as well. RTT ordered.

Hey, that looks great! Mine is the full-height rack. I decided I'm going to shoot on bed liner before I install the rack. So, not sure when that's going to happen.

What tent did you order? I have a Tepui Hybox. Picked it up at a local shop for 20% off.

 

[BajaDrifter]

Hey, that looks great! Mine is the full-height rack. I decided I'm going to shoot on bed liner before I install the rack. So, not sure when that's going to happen.

What tent did you order? I have a Tepui Hybox. Picked it up at a local shop for 20% off.

Tks. Ordered the 23zero 62 incher Breezeway. It will have about an inch overhang on the rear that I think I can live with for the extra room it gives me.

Hey, before shooting in the bed liner, you might consider taking out that rear bed plug if you don't already have a 120ac outlet there. I had to cut mine out in order to install 12v outlets and switches there because of the bedliner. They come in handy for rack lights or a 12v fridge.

 

[Klutch]

Tks. Ordered the 23zero 62 incher Breezeway. It will have about an inch overhang on the rear that I think I can live with for the extra room it gives me.

Hey, before shooting in the bed liner, you might consider taking out that rear bed plug if you don't already have a 120ac outlet there. I had to cut mine out in order to install 12v outlets and switches there because of the bedliner. They come in handy for rack lights or a 12v fridge.

Thanks for the tip about removing the bed plug. Good idea!

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