pray4surf

Picked up a smaller CampingLab RTT about a month ago and finally hooked up with a local fabricator who churned out this pretty cool rack to carry the tent.

Edit: 3/12/2014 - Pictures of old rack on the new owner's truck - which btw is back up for sale - This first picture reflects my initial displeasure with the RTT mounted at a lowered height - the lack of headroom in the annex / changing room...



I was inspired from other racks I found searching various forums.

1-1/2" .090 HREW tube for the basic rack structure
1"x2" 1/8"T box for the actual RTT to rack connection.
1-1/2"x2" 1/8"T angle for the bedrail connection.



I give a lot of props to the fabricator, Brian. I had heard good things about his work. He was more than willing to take my vision and make it happen. Brian has produced a lot of high quality parts for the CT crowd and is looking to start branching out into the off-road world. He has some more pics and commentary here:

http://www.customtacos.com/forum/sho...d.php?t=133361

Pic of the old rack on my truck





Rick

X-AWDriver

I like it.

Corey

iTrader: (1)

Very nice.
I would do the same too if I had a Tacoma, or mount it on a CanBack.
Both are good options.

I posted some cool custom rack setups for trucks in the roof top tent thread in the camping section.

I bet you will enjoy sleeping in that.

scuba

DAMN RICK !!!

Thats badass, To make it more badass its bolt on !!

Congrats on the setup sir !!

pray4surf

Thread resurrection - I'll see what I can do about the missing pics.

As much as I liked that first rack, I knew from during the build, I wanted to improve upon it. My first 'complaint' was the single hoop behind the cab. Originally, I wanted two hoops - at each end of the bed. IMO this makes the rack a bit more universal as I could strap longer objects to the rack - think a load of lumber from HD - or my surfboards.

Also, the established (fixed) height of the RTT bugged me - I liked having it set lower in the back for transporting / lower CoG / parking in the garage / etc.

I didn't care so much for the lack of headroom in the annex/changing room. Oh to be able to stand upright under the tent...

Ideally, I wanted to transport the RTT in a lowered position, then raise the RTT to use/deploy.

So a couple years ago, I sketched this out.



Fast forward to present time, and here you have it

Stowed for transporting

Been some minor modifications to the strapping down the RTT

Raised for use


Two gas charged struts are employed to assist in raising the RTT. While I was hoping to eliminate any intrusion into the cargo area of the bed, This is pretty minimalist. Without the struts, raising/lowering the RTT was a two-person job. With the struts, raising/lowering is easily done by myself.

Interested in a cheezy video?

http://s1303.photobucket.com/user/pr...1db30.mp4.html

Some of the build/fab pics

Rack and 'carrier' for the RTT



A few close-ups of the rotating bar and the lifting struts







Deployed



And when not in use, stows neatly against the garage rafters - takes about 15 minutes to remove or install



Up next is a awning/bimini top setup - been perusing the forums for DIY canback builds for inspiration

highonpottery

iTrader: (1)

very clever lift system. Great job!

pray4surf

Using the basic rack as a beginning point, I've fabbed a couple of bows


to support a small tarp. This will serve two purposes: provide a surrey/bimini-style cover and if I remove the velcro tabs on on side, I can pull the tarp over the other side and create a shade awning.

Present time - The two 1/2" emt hoops have been bent and attached to the rack. The tarp is being sewed. 14oz treated canvas. My first version started with a 6'x8' tarp (actual factory sewed dimensions 5'6" x 7'6"). Tarp material will wrap around the front/rear rack hoops and will use two-sided velcro straps to tension the fabric and secure the tarp to the rack. The sides are also secured to the rack side rails using velcro straps.

I hope to have all the sewing done this evening...