Caper Shell Rack

[RollinWOT]

Yeah, it turns out that it was the original shell that came with the truck, but now they're reunited and ready for retirement from they're industrial use life. Now it's just easy offroading, DD-ing, and mountain trips.

 

[RollinWOT]

Ok so now for the list of mods. 1) Carpet the interior for reduced echoes and insulation 2) Make a rack for some recovery gear, tools, and spare tires 3) Find some sort of way to keep visibility while keeping prying eyes out. Now for carpeting the interior, I just want to put some automotive carpeting in the shell and I don't know how to mount it. There are no mounting points so can I just glue it in or will industrial velcro work. Also for the visibility thing, is there any sort of 1-way film like a tint I can put on the windows? Thanks for your help guys!

 

[strvger]

i did my cab using the sticky back carpet squares sold at home depot/menards/lowes. cheap at $20/box of 20 12inch square carpet tiles. to make sure they stuck, i used permatex trim/carpet adhesive spray. sprayed both the back of the carpet squares and the metal they were going on. worked great, imho. they are on very tight and even on the underside of the roof, no sags or anything.
as for tint, you can get the diy kits on ebay. i have done that and it came out not too bad really. or, you can pay a shop to do it for you.
have fun with your new project and don't forget to get pics!

 

[RollinWOT]

Well I'm not too worried about doing tint, but it's the carpeting I'm worried about. In the height of summer in AZ it can get to easily 112*F with 1% humidity, so I'm worried that the glue or adhesive that I use might melt. Is there any way I can use some sort of stuff to make sure it sticks PERMENANTLY, because the last thing I want is a droopy ceiling. Thanks for your input strvger!

 

[Grey_04]

check your local carpet supplier and ask if the cement they use to glue it down on floors would maybe work for your cap?
I've ripped enough carpet up after it's glued down with that shit that i know it really sucks to get it back up after it dries

 

[RollinWOT]

I'll give it a shot but I know that when they put carpet down the roughen up the surface of the concrete before they put flue down, but this is just bare painted aluminum. Maybe I can scuff it up and put some glue down and hope it sticks? I'll talk to one of my friends, he's in the aftermarket stereo/interior biz, so he should know.

 

[Grey_04]

maybe spray some bed liner in a can on it for a adhesion promoter.....(scratching my head thinking)

 

[strvger]

well, it only gets in the 90's here a few times each summer, but it it gets way hotter inside my truck for sure. when i do go to town or work, i keep the windows closed and crack the rear slider open just a little. my topper is so close to the cab, no one could get anything in there to get the doors open. but the cab still gets plenty hot for sure! probably into the 140's inside. the sticky back on the carpet squares combined with the Permatex spray adhesive has worked very well. also, it's easy and not too messy.
i'd do the carpeting first so any glue/adhesive that may drip onto the bed floor while you're putting it on will be covered up with bed liner or whatever you're going to be putting down on it.

 

[RollinWOT]

Sounds like a good idea. Are the carpet squares able to be cut to length? I ask because there are aluminum trusses that run down the sides of the interior about every 4-6" and if I could cut them to fit around the trusses that would be perfect for what I want to do.

 

[Grey_04]

you should be able to cut the carpet with a carpenter's utility knife. but be prepared to replace the blades as they dull quick on the carpet.
that's what i use when i do installs for my carpentry bussness

 

[RollinWOT]

I know first hand. I had to cut up all the carpet in my hpuse for replacement. I did find an excellent replacement for the carpenters knife though. Cold Steel AK-47, first gen. I've had it for a couple years of HARD work and it hasn't got as much as a nick in the blade and it's still as razor sharp as it was from day one. I'll just use that.

 

[RollinWOT]

Well, I just rekeyed all the doors in the shell so no punk kid steals my tools and gear. I also added a bit of...food for thought for smart car owners

 

[RollinWOT]

Ok I just insulated the hull of the camper shell where it was practical to keep rain out, keep warm/cool air in, and have a nice quiet place to sleep. I used some industrial grade Aluminum tape. Not the prettiest of choices, but hey it works and it's gonna get carpeted over anyway. I get to try out the insuating factor this weekend. Going camping on Mt. Lemmon on Saturday, woo!

 

[Sultan]

Hey I have a canopy that needs to get deleted. Where did you get the parts? Thx

 

[RollinWOT]

What do you mean by deleted?