idk somthing like that i guess but i think im gonna make it because i am terrible at explaining things with out showing you lol so i might make a thread we will see

 

have at it man! you can craft it up for sure. use electrical conduit for the frame and a big brown tarp if you wanna go super cheap! hehe. just remember anything you use, if you're going to leave it on, has to be UV resistant. even if you just treat it with a spray. UV from the sun will break plastics or vinyl stuff down really fast if not UV resistant.

 

those clips, i think they're called "common sense snaps" are THE BEST. don't use regular snaps if you're using canvas or something that can shrink a little. i fight with my snaps if i open it hot and close it cold.

 

Seems like too much work and a pita. I used to have a canback top for my truck and I used it to camp in once, then I just got a regular ground tent. It's a pita to have to take everything out of the truck every night when you are going to sleep in the back, then load it all back up in the morning. And plus, if it's really cold where you're camping, it's warmer to sleep on the ground.

And imo it would look ghetto.

 

i would make it look profecinal its not like im gonna use duct tape to put it together

 

if i could spell right that is :smile:

 

professional?

 

lol thanks i need to get better at spelling but that is what is for

 

no...profeshunal

I don't like the design. After owning a canopy on several trucks and sleeping in the back, a tent is much cheaper, easier, and warmer.

 

idk im definatly gonna make a bummper and stuff for it tho, i just kinda like the sporty look if it i guess the thing is i just hate how toppers look ldk i could make it out of steel and have a hatch back

 

it sounds like you really want that sloping back shape, like that hummer pictured above. there's nothing wrong with that!

if you don't mind drilling those snaps into top of the cab over the rear window, here's what i'd do:

get the piece of material you want to make it from. let's say for a rough draft version, you use a tarp. (you can remake in canvas once you perfect the design)
$40 super tarp:
on the cab edge of the tarp, gorilla glue a gasket to keep the rain out from the roof.
self adhesive foam gasket tape, like you weather seal windows with should work. but i wouldn't trust the adhesive. glue it.
$10? weatherproof foam gasket tape.

$5 common sense snaps at strategic areas on the top corners and lower sides of the cabs, and you have the front end done.


for the sides along the bed, you don't want to affix anything, so you can open one side of the other to air out. SO, we'll come back to the sides.

in the middle, an ideal set up would be installing a 4runner rollbar, which will keep the center from sagging and collecting rain, but you wouldn't have that flat slope that you seem to be going for. so keep this in mind. you may have to create an arch bar somewhere just forward of the middle of the bed. make sure it's forward enough to not interfere with any kind of window or zip entrance you want. a piece of flat aluminum or steel bar 1" x 80" should do it. attach on either side of the bed by placing something like a striker plate, perhaps doubled up for a deep enough slot to keep it from popping out. if the slot is deep enough you should be able to wedge the bar in, without having to permanently attach it, and have a nice arch you can put in place once you're inside the tent.
strike plates $20?

at the tailgate end, use whatever fasteners you think would pull it taught enough to make a nice straight diagonal line from cab to tailgate.

along the sides, i don't think you'd want to affix it, so you could open side flaps and air out. but you would want to be able to keep rain out of the bed completely, so here's what i'd do:
once you have the front and back ends well attached, the tarp will drape over the outside of the bed sides. draw a line on the outside of the tarp about 2-3 inches down from the bed lip. along this line, gorilla glue a strip magnet as long as the bed.
the purpose of gluing it to the outside, is so the rain rolls off the outside of the bed, but you can then bring the remainder of the tarp INSIDE the bed. tuck the remainder of the tarp under your air or foam mattress.
$10 flexible magnetic tape.


also, get yourself a full mattress size mosquito net. gorilla glue it along the front edge, along the diagonal crease lines that run from cab to tail. tuck this all under your mattress too. then you can open both tarp flaps, and have screen on all sides to keep out bugs.
$10 mosquito net


now i'll draw a diagram in paint, since i'm really bored, and your project sounds like fun.

 

what do you think about this method? that tarp i pictured (from northern tool) is pvc UV resistant waterproof bombproof etc. you can make that up, work out the bugs, use it a season, then take a stab at making one out of canvas that matches the color of your truck. that would look great. the catch though will be sewing it up. tarp is one big square. fabric comes in size they make it. but i think you can make what you originally described using the method i'm suggesting for like $100. no need for windows if you use the mosquito net on the inside, and you just fold up a side flap and clip it around the top center snap on the cab with a strong metal clip, like a binder clip from Staples. you can fold up both flaps, and have a nice breeze thru. no need for a hatch on the tail end, just climb in under neath the excess of tarp and net, and then pull the tailgate shut and attach the tail end magnet strip if its raining, or leave the tailgate down and just tuck the mosquito net under the tail end of the mattress. that's what i do.

hope this helps some!

 

dam you see where im comming from on this lol thats unbelivible feed-back but ya i like your idea of the mosqeto net the think is i would make the frame calapsible and have it so its not really attacked to the pick up like most toppers so when or if you get fed-up with it theres no holes or left over stuff but ya lol

 

maby just the frame being held on by somthing like these but get new bolts with an allan wreach end so you can keep the tool with the set up

 

i can understand not wanting to leave traces on the truck. my drawing includes drilling 7 holes around the truck, for the common sense snaps.

if you want to avoid that, you could try using bungee cords and strapping the tarp to the bottoms of the fenders.

but you seemed to want it pre-set up. to be able to drive with fabric on the top of the roof, at the back of the cab, how will you keep it from blowing away? it would have to be attached up there to keep the wind from getting under it. keep thinking it over. you'll come up with the solution you need.

but i hope my drawing gave you some new ideas.

i dig the mosquito net i have. i clip it to the bars inside my canback and tuck it under the airmattress i use. nothing gets in, and i can roll up or drop my side flaps as needed. i also can keep gear in the corners in that space left at the front/back of the wheel wells, cuz my air mattress is NOT the H-shape made to fit truck beds.

work it out man! camping in the truck beats on the ground if it rains, if you have to move out quick, bears, etc.

 

ok lol i gues 7 holes wuoldnt be that bad but ill probibly start yon it here in a month or so as soon as i get my bumper done in welding
but ya man thanks a bunch fo all the ideas and stuff i definatly let ya know when i start making it