I ordered a new truck back in august—-and theoretically it is supposed to be delivered at some point this week.
Truck cap place will not let me order the new cap for it untill I actually have the truck in my possesion.
2 questions.
–ladder rack on top of the cap——2 or 3 ladders travel up there EVERY day—-is that going to be a huge PITA every time the rear hatch is opened to load materials etc ?—-never thought about it–but seems like the rear hatch is going to bang into the ladder feet every time.
also–presently work out of a single side mounted tool box on which the doors opens DOWN providing nice shelves on which to oil air guns, root through my parachute bags for misc. fasteners etc. .–truck cap will have tool boxes on both sides—doors open UP. for a nominal additional amount– I can get shelves which drop down after the tool box doors are lifted——anybody do this and regret it——– have I overlooked something ?
thanks
Stephen
Edited 11/5/2007 6:41 am ET by Hazlett
Replies
Not only will it be a PITA, but your knees are going to hate it! What about getting a cap that has side access? As for the ladders on top of the cap, you can help the problem by getting a ladder rack from a company lke weatherguard that will let you swing the ladders out of the way. That will help some, but it will still a pain. Good luck.
24/7-------- i must be missing something.--why are my knees gonna hate it?
all my tools, air compressor etc. will be accessed from the side mounted tool boxes.----------- bed of the truck is mostly just for carrying plywood, shovels,brooms,shingle eaters and the occasional bundles of shingles----all of which are accessed from the tail gate. I doubt if I climb into the bed of the truck more than twice a week now.
seriously--what am i missing that is gonna cause me to climb in the back more often NOW?
thanks,
Stephen
That is a great set-up. I had one like it for about 10 years. If you have a ladder-vator make sure the platform is turned up.
side boxes work great, and have plenty of room for everything. Mine came from Leonard in Charlotte, NC.
I misread your first post, sorry. I thought that the side access was for the truck without the cap. Too early for me! If all you are going to do is get the incedental stuff it will be a great set-up.
As far as the ladder goes, the previous post has an excellent idea.
Side boxes on ARE have 125 lb capacity, that's what they told me about mine. HD roof racks hold 250. If you go to JLC online's photo gallery there are pics of my home brew rollout.
You didn't say what type of truck. If it's a full body pickup, there are a lot of cap and body choices. I don't use a cap but most of the guys I know that do, like side doors and rear doors rather than a hatch. Something like the one on the bottom of this page.
http://www.centurycaps.com/al_commercial.php
Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
Mine has the side tool boxes and the rear hatch.I'd much rather have the rear doors. As for side shelves, in my truck's case, it's too high for the tool boxes to have shelves that would be usable. I haul a 6x10 trailer, so the only stuff that goes in the side boxes is my mechanics tools and my misc stuff/fasteners.I thinking of getting rid of one of the side boxes and just using the door for access to the bed - any thoughts on doing that?Julian
hammer 1,
the rear doors are a good idea---would definitely solve the problem of the hatch constantly hitting the 3 ladders which " live" up top.
when i first started thinking about this cap 3 months ago--- I immediately discarded the rear door idea---because they eliminate the tail gate which i like to use as a work bench( great place for cutting shingle cap-my most detested activity)
thanks for nudging me about the rear doors-- i am gonna re-think those--- i suspect the loss of the tailgate/workbench---will be less bother than the constant annoyance of the hatch hitting the ladders.
stephen
Here they are:
http://www.truckracksetc.com/stainlesssteel-caprack.htmhttp://grantlogan.net/
It takes a big man to cry, but it takes a bigger man to laugh at that man. - J. Handey
If you went with the rear doors and constructed a pull out tray you would solve two problems, one, you'd have your work bench back, and two, it would make accessing items stored closer to the front much easier.
There was a tip with pictures in JLC that I found not to long ago that showed a fairly easy way to construct the pull out tray using fixed casters and 2x lumber. It looked pretty slick. If you're interested I can dig around my files to see if I can find it again.
For side access have you looked at ARE caps?
http://www.4are.com/product/dcu/
there's an option on that page to "Build Your DCU Top". For fun I played with it, looks like you can get everything you want in terms of the double doors and side doors that fold down.
Edited 11/5/2007 5:12 pm ET by CAGIV
Sept 2007 FHB in the tips & techniques describes something identical to that setup.
-D
that's probably what I was thinking of
I've seen more hatch doors broken by closing on a long 2x4 then by hitting a ladder on the rack. You'd better take the ball off the trailer hitch if you don't have a tailgate. Your shins will appreciate it and you'll be able to use the truck floor bed to work on. I like my tailgate, too. I suppose it wouldn't be too difficult to make a fold down, flip out or carry a portable bench of some kind. It's easier to shut and lock the doors than clear and lift a tailgate when security is needed.Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
Ohhh man!! Trailer hitch ball to the shins. How that brings back painfull memories!!!Live by the sword, die by the sword....choose your sword wisely.
I'd look at one of the ladder racks that mounts independantly of the cap. IE, the rack hooks to the bed rails before the cap goes on. The rack stands slightly proud of the cap. I've torn up the racks on the several toppers that I've had.
http://grantlogan.net/
It takes a big man to cry, but it takes a bigger man to laugh at that man. - J. Handey
When I got my aluminum cap, I lined the doors with rigid foam. This prevents your tools from denting the #### out of the doors. Also consider the mid support for the ladder rack,I didn't think about and wish I had.
Just make sure the brim doesn't obscure your vision. Maybe keep it turned around backwards.
I'm guessing you went for an ARE cap, aluminum with the side tool boxes. I had one on my last truck (F-350) tool boxes were too tall on a 350(I'm only 5'-9") I used them but they were uncomfortable plus anything you drop out of the boxes scratch the truck sides(doors opening up)
Ladder rack built in? Yep, had those two and the rear hatch hits the ladders like you are imagining.
I got sick of mine and sold it in the beacon...some guy from Allen Keith gave me $500 for it...I paid a grand from Truk Kap.
Keith
keith,
it will be an ARE cap.
thinking on getting the drop down shelves for the reason you mentioned--plus the shelf will prevent guys from leaning on the side of the truck with their toolbelts on while rooting through fastener boxes etc. shelf should also prevent denting the doors with tool inside.
stephen
funny thing???
i don't even care at all about the truck--it's just a tool to carry the cap( my rolling toolbox)
while i don't care about the truck- I am obssesing about the cap.
Stephen
I don't remember drop down doors being an option when I got mine. Mine opened up, and were aluminum skins over an aluminum frame. I glued 1/4" ply to the insides to keep tools from denting it. In the course of 4 years I backed into the garage/shop with the back door up once(folded the door good..$150 to replace) pulled out of the shop with the side doors up(one at a time of course) those cost me $125 each, tore the roof rack once (don't remember how, but I TIG'd that back together myself). Overall it was a very frustrating experience, and it made the truck darker on the inside and made me carry way more shid than I ever needed being to lazy to clean nightly.
They are also very hard on your knees climbing in and out of the back.
I've sworn off caps for the duration of my life.
I may consider a van someday...but a crew cab pick-up with a massive weatherguard cross box has made me more efficient...
Good luck....thought about bike racks for the cap? Keith
Keith,
the side doors open UP-----then there is a metal shelf which will drop down.
previously-untill a couple years ago I lived in a house with a nice garage that I could pull the fully poaded truck inside
now I live in a nicer house---but with a crappier garage( poor prioritizing I know---but the wife is happier)
so the truck will NEVER fit in the garage--- and I don't wanna unload stuff every night just to load it back up in the morning.--- it's mostly the same stuff
Truck arrived yesterday----gonna order the cap this morning-STILL haven't decided about the rear door.
Stephen