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Fiberglass topper ??'s *10/01* tool box idea please chime in

original balzer

original balzer

1/2 ton status
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Im determined to get the red diesel ready by easter 08 to go show up some jeeps. My question is has anyone ever wheeled with a fiberglass topper? As that would be utilized for camping in while there. Im thinking about building a sort of rack to go around the topper probably out of square tube. that should sturdy it up a bit but im not sure. Long beds flex alot at the frame and bed so I dont want to pop the bolts through or bust up the shell too much.
What do yall think. Oh Im kinda mocking it up in MSpaint heres a preview.

Balzer
 
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Looking at your pics, it almost looks like you want the rack to have plates with bolts through the bedsides?:confused: Maybe I'm looking at it wrong. That could definately work but, IDK, I wouldn't want to on mine.

What about sandwiching a quarter in thick plate strip between the tops of the bed rails and the fiberglass topper with tabs sticking out the sides to mount the rack to. You could make them upside down "L" shaped so the vertical portion went on the inside of the bedrails and the horizontal portion on the tops. You could also incorporate (about 4" long) tabs that slip into the stock stake holes and have bolts there where the factory has holes anyway. Setup like that, the rack wouldn't slide anywhere or spread under load. Overall, this design wouldn't do much to prevent flex but, it'd probably be pretty beefy and wouldn't require drilling holes in the truck or topper. It wouldn't add any rollover protection but, it would be a good utility rack.

Hope this idea helps ya a bit!:D
 
Both a full lenth plate sandwitched between the topper and bed and sorta gusset plate on the bedside. This line of thought was to possibly match the plate inside the bed and to the bed floor. wouldnt provide ALOT of rollover protection but would help.
The truck is a beater I dont care about the body much at all, and function over form is more important.

But Its just random thinking so far. I will probably just sandwitch the plate between. And the x supports may not get used either. Thats why Im brainstorming in MSpaint first.

Balzer
 
Not sure why you want the rack. My dad has run a fiberglass high top shell on all of his trucks for years while wheeling. From his old rusty high boy, to his current 04 Ram. Never had a problem with the flex of the bed causing any problems with the shell. It moves and flexes with the bed, and most of the newer ones have their own internal square tube framing to stiffen them up.
 
Gotcha! I just was thinking along the lines of no cutting or drilling of the body. To me, it looks like you have the right kind of ideas going on! Hmmm, if you don't mind a little cutting/drilling, what about actually making it an exocage that ties into the frame and thus povides roll protection?
 
The rack would serve several functions. As a rack of corse, to protect the shell from rocks and trees, possibly to stiffen the bed and topper, and a place to mount things such as jack and lights Maybe even a roll up canopy for camp. Just think redneck expedition vehicle.
I plan to wheel this with out regret so protection is formost to delicate parts. I wont worry about damage but the glass will bust not bend like the sheetmetal.

Balzer
 
So for this build Im shooting for BB-08 and want it to be mostly self contained. I will be useing the topper, cage/rack or not. As Ill need a semi comfy place to sleep and I like to rough it. Access to the back via the tail gate wont be a problem but will probably be filled with the spare and other stuff. Further inside/forward will probably be taken up by camp type stuff. This leaves ready access to hand tools ect. So I thought about under body boxes like for a flat bed........That wont work the tanks are on the side. What about above the feul fillers recessed into the bed........Now theres an idea.

So this is what I came up with, those boxes come in all shapes and sizes. So if I measure the area, and fit the biggest boxes I can it should be fine. Then some 1" angle inside the bed to support them. Or build/modify the boxes to go all the way to the floor. They could even house the filler neck just inside the door. Anyway heres a chop to sorta show what I mean. Tell me what you think.

Balzer
 
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only problem i see with that pic is your box is gonna stick out on top cause of the body lines. unless you made fillers for it
 
Only a bit shouldnt matter much, like I said Im int funtion over form. Actualy it may stick out a bit on bottom too as the bedsides are curved. Would sure make it handy to get to tools ect. could put OBA quick conects inside as well.

Balzer
 
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