Hello, I'm new to this forum, but I have been on lots of toyota forums since I am a huge yota fan!
Well I have a 91 hilux surf 2lt, and have been toying with the idea of chopping the roof. I love the look of it, kindov the 4door hilux's from Australia, but I just stumbled upon a rig being sold up in NewBrunswik CAN, its a 87 pickup with a sweet metal (mesh) box!
It got me thinking, since the point of chopping the roof on a runner is to cut weight, get rid of stupid rear window etc... so why not take it one step further, chop it all off and make it even more useful with a nice box you can really abuse! here's the pic i made up on Paint FTW! and the pic of the original pickup i stole it off of

my question: would this be a rather simple project? (chop, build box, bolt on?)
any relating pics or advice appreciated

 

Sorry i have no advice, but here are a couple pics to give you some more ideas and show the real thing.











I havent seen any with a box on the back like you describe, so as far as i know, it would be an original idea.

 

Um how easy?

Depends. Easy if you can fab, not so easy if you've never used a welder.

 

Ooooo! Original idea eh?!
That would be cool!

Well I dont have any idea how to weld or fab yet...
but I'm a quick study and you have to start somewhere right!
I think my goal for this rig will be practicality, a bush/work truck and this looks like the toughest and lightest answer

I like the look of all those leaf spring/shock rear ends you posted! Is the point of these just more travel? Would it be a worthwhile project if I'm not doing any rock crawling?

 

heres my old 4runner i probably had over 40 hours in just the initial chop not counting the tube work and i had been welding and fabbing for over 4 years before i did it. This is definately not somthing I would even consider trying if I had never welded/ fabbed anything before if you screw this up you basically just ruined your rig



I grafted the back of a pickup cab to seal off the back

 

4rnnr33, i've followed your rig and you have done some very impressive work and transformed it quite a bit! I am very impressed!

And yes you are right it is safer if I start on something less important than my hilux, seeing as I am just starting out in this field
So I will put the hilux project on the back burner, but I will start fabing and welding to get ready for this project!
Thanks for the reality check, I tend to get carried away sometimes

Here are some pics of the Mazda B2000 me and my dad crated a while back, I learned to drive stick with that thing!

 

these are a few I found, its this idea i'm going for!
Basically turning my surf, back into a normal hilux!
I cant wait to have the skills to undertake this project!