H3T Bed Racks
#6
Thanks guys. The bed rack was custom built by 2 members of Expedition Portal in Prescott, AZ. It was originally made for a Sierra Expeditions Tacoma 5' short-bed (for the 2004 and older models), and is 62" long by 60" wide but just happened to fit the bed of the T perfectly with just some very minor modifications to the bed mounts themselves that were fabbed by a previous H3T owner friend of mine who then sold me the rack.
The rack bolts into the T's bed rail system/bed by way of 4 bolts, which go into 3/8" unistrut/superstrut spring nuts that I bought at Home Depot - they fit pefectly within the T's bed rail system (no drilling required).
The rack has a bed-bar mount (where you see the shovel mounted) that also has 2 threaded bolts/studs to mount a Hi-Lift jack. The bed-bar mount was fabricated by Fabwerx and also has 2 custom-made aluminum tube C clamp mounts adapted for the Quick-Fist straps to hold the shovel.
The bed rack is notched out to accommodate the weld points of the bed-bar to the bed rack's flat rails which sit on top of the T's bed caps. The bed rack is spaced rear of the cab with enough room to accommodate 2 jerry cans snug so that they don't move at all (or other equipment).
The rack bolts into the T's bed rail system/bed by way of 4 bolts, which go into 3/8" unistrut/superstrut spring nuts that I bought at Home Depot - they fit pefectly within the T's bed rail system (no drilling required).
The rack has a bed-bar mount (where you see the shovel mounted) that also has 2 threaded bolts/studs to mount a Hi-Lift jack. The bed-bar mount was fabricated by Fabwerx and also has 2 custom-made aluminum tube C clamp mounts adapted for the Quick-Fist straps to hold the shovel.
The bed rack is notched out to accommodate the weld points of the bed-bar to the bed rack's flat rails which sit on top of the T's bed caps. The bed rack is spaced rear of the cab with enough room to accommodate 2 jerry cans snug so that they don't move at all (or other equipment).
#7
I have the original drawings/specs of the rack if anyone ever wants to build their own. The next set of pics that I'll post will be of the roof-top tent mounted to the bed rack.
Last edited by Bigunit; 10-12-2012 at 11:26 PM.
#9
Thanks for posting the pics BU, love that rack, goes well with the Gobi Stealth. Is that the one that was mounted on the black H3T over on EXPO or TXH3T's red T pictured above? Drooled over both many a nite online lol.
I eventually plan on a similar design but mounted to my Diamond Back cover. One of those back burner mods lol (been simmering since first of '10 lol). Scrapped the idea in favor of a slanted tire mount set up on the bed cover similar to one seen on H1's but thankfully Thor Parts made a dozen or so rear bumpers with the tire swing gate a while back so was able to go that route. Hopefully before next summer I can go back to my original rack/tent plan with either a fold over RTT or a Maggiolina RTT.
I've been looking lately at VRV toy hauler trailers for my ATV and if I can ever find one at fair price (expensive but lite trailers) before next summer I might change up the design to mount another roof rack for additional storage when not using the trailer instead of for a tent mount and use the trailer for camping on ATV trips and in general. I could still mount one in the future if ever needed. I have ground tents but the ease of set up and transport would be less of a headache and quicker with a RTT. I just have a family of 4 to factor in on some trips and the larger big family line of RTT's are pretty big on the back of a T lol.
If I go with the toy hauler route and get a roof rack mount fabbed I will then probably go with one similar to your's but shorter with a smaller roof rack mounted on just the front part of the Diamond Back cover so I can still open the back and get a removable crossbar for the rear part of the cover so I can still mount a RTT if I need to in the future and just take it off when not needed. When camping I have the bed and Gobi rack pretty full and some additional rack storage area would be nice. We'll see where this idea goes by then lol.
Can't wait to see the finished pics with tent mounted!!!
I eventually plan on a similar design but mounted to my Diamond Back cover. One of those back burner mods lol (been simmering since first of '10 lol). Scrapped the idea in favor of a slanted tire mount set up on the bed cover similar to one seen on H1's but thankfully Thor Parts made a dozen or so rear bumpers with the tire swing gate a while back so was able to go that route. Hopefully before next summer I can go back to my original rack/tent plan with either a fold over RTT or a Maggiolina RTT.
I've been looking lately at VRV toy hauler trailers for my ATV and if I can ever find one at fair price (expensive but lite trailers) before next summer I might change up the design to mount another roof rack for additional storage when not using the trailer instead of for a tent mount and use the trailer for camping on ATV trips and in general. I could still mount one in the future if ever needed. I have ground tents but the ease of set up and transport would be less of a headache and quicker with a RTT. I just have a family of 4 to factor in on some trips and the larger big family line of RTT's are pretty big on the back of a T lol.
If I go with the toy hauler route and get a roof rack mount fabbed I will then probably go with one similar to your's but shorter with a smaller roof rack mounted on just the front part of the Diamond Back cover so I can still open the back and get a removable crossbar for the rear part of the cover so I can still mount a RTT if I need to in the future and just take it off when not needed. When camping I have the bed and Gobi rack pretty full and some additional rack storage area would be nice. We'll see where this idea goes by then lol.
Can't wait to see the finished pics with tent mounted!!!