To do List - 2007 4x4 TRD DC super white

While everyone is asleep from T Giving overload, I decided to work on prioritizing and structuring my to do list. It feels extravagant but I see what all you guys do and think that with no car payment this is really not that extravagent since not buying a new car......That way I can just keep it here as upgrades roll along

Plans are to use it as a kayak hauler, pine straw and other garden supplies hauler, and for other road trips (retiring in about a year) and continue to use for original intent as vehicle for search and rescue. (I am a K9 handler so that will be one picture I will upload since you guys like pix) -
Figure maybe 4-5 more years as a dog handler then I will just volunteer to do computers and mapping at base and hide for other dogs during training.

Our next dog will be something small that can ride on our kayaks with us and in the cab. maybe a Boykin. Getting too old for 70-80# dogs. Dogs are in back after my experience with hauling in SUV and the filth and hair.

These are the upgrades planned over time - will do photos as they are completed / to do over time. #9 needs to be complete by summer.

1. Line-x bed and top of wooden drawers / Done but resolving issue
2. Yakima Overhaul HD racks / Done
3. Head unit with basic back up camera - Looking at Alpine may just get Best Buy to install / Done
4. reinstall home made truck drawers and come up with rain deflectors to channel rain away from the beds/ install tie downs in stake pockets and holes from rail system (moving my rails to the wooden deck beds)
5. Touch up paint and Outside detail with headlight restoration
6. VLED back up rear lights / JDM Astar
7. Interior detail
8. Husky mats and window rain deflectors
9. Insulated Dog box covers.
10. Bilstein 4600 shocks front and back

• Dogs ride in back in Owens welded boxes - old set up was under camper shell and I took A/C from cab into plenum connected to holes cut in back of boxes with radiator fans and would move air back there in summer.
• I am going to move one fan to rear window and make box cover so we can remove and use the truck as a truck.
• Also need to step down voltage to the fan and figure out easy to remove connection. Need the A/C in the summers here.
• This will be challenging project as I want it to look good, be securely anchored, and be easy to remove. They are working dogs.
• Also would like to be able to hose them out after training and searches. That is a limitation of current set up.

1. Seat covers
2. Possible front and side cameras to head unit (I think there is a switcher that can combine inputs into one box and prioritize feed to head unit?)
3. Aux wiring to back for window fan for dogs and battery isolator for backup battery (maybe/maybe not for the battery )
   
   EDITED 121819

 

*Just woke up from my 2nd Triptophan slumber*

Nice truck! Looks like you have quite the list! You'll enjoy the Line-X & Husky liners....great purchase.

 

Cool project, and good looking pups. Will be following along.

 

Step "0" was my first ever car touch up for the area where the camper sat and wore off paint. I did that so I could get the caps back on for the Yakima rack but have the tailgate to also touch up. It is NOT perfect but time was working against me as well as weather and I learned a lot. Most of this will be under the plastic rail cap and I was very aggressive about removing the surface rust.





I will have the luxury of time for this next paint project where the door wore off the paint. The duct tape on the top of the tailgate is to keep out rain for now. I don't want water getting down into the latch mechanism.



Tomorrow is (1) line-x drop off and I am not planning on "over the rails but figure why not leave off the caps until I get it back. I also took off the bed rails and put cheap screws in the rail holes. Going with a light grey color. He said not to do white as no matter what, white will eventually fade yellow.

Later in the week we (2) install the yakima racks and on Dec 11th (3) the new head unit and back up / front cameras go in.

For the drawers, (4) which are wooden boxes that will be topped with line-x trying to figure out what to put between the drawer bases and the linex. I realize water will get into the bed now that it is uncovered and don't want them setting in water even if right on top of the "ribs". .... Maybe some PVC lattice trim.....not sure. Will ask the linex guy...I also want to color match the sections of the drawer system that are visible and not covered in line-x. I will say this. The added weight of the drawers damps out the harmonic I can get on concrete roads at a certain speed.

 

Looks great and well planned! How did you restore the paint on the bed? It looks very good.

 

The bed was under a camper shell and the drawers I had pretty much protected the paint but there are a lot of scratches.... but now it is in the shopt getting line-x - the rails just a lot of sanding, priming then touch up for the bad areas.

 

Progress. The drawer bases are back and I shot the picture in the dark before rain because I need to repaint the bottoms and the weather is not cooperating (they are in the garage right now). We had line-x on the tops and I wish I had just had them do the whole thing. New drawer fronts are also line-xed to match. The two boxes bolt together in the front and the "wings" over the wheels are supported with braces - When the drawers are closed the front is just flush with the overhang of the top so wil run some weatherstripping there. Also will secure the bases to the truck with turnbuckles and get good recessed drawer handles for the new drawer fronts. Have had the drawers for about 7 years and they have served me very well, but they have been under a camper shell that is now gone.

Also - am moving the bed track system to the boxes / and coming up with something flexible to seal the gaps between the truck walls and the box top (because water, pine needles, leaves, dog hair, etc gets down in that space) - I think I will be in better shape if I can divert the water to some drain holes drilled in the box tops

___________

Yakima racks in place
Cameras and new Head unit in place
New reverse light bulbs should be here today but not sure I need them now with the new camera!
Tie downs need to go in the holes from the bed rail system
Looking for good tie downs for stake pockets
Need to order touch up paint and get started on that during the Holidays.
Also getting those dog boxes back in and properly secured - for the winter is easy as my fan system and insulated skin to cover do not need to be in place until spring..



Suggestions welcome for best paint for weather exposure for the bottoms of the bases.

Drlling holes in truck bed? I woud like to consider drilling more drain holes front and back for drainage but the existing set up may be adequate - as long as I park on a slight incline either way.

 

Two steps forward, one step back. I noticed a spot on my line-x that looked worn through (you could see a black primer coat under it). Took it back asking if that was a sign of things to come and he did not even hesitiate.

He said they needed to respray it and not to worry about abusing it between now and then.

Since it is a custom color and they are stacked up, it will be after the new year. That will slow me down a bit for finalizing my bed upgrade but gives me great comfort in the fact that they stand behind their product.

 

Who's doing the work Granny?

You say those drawers are wood?

 

The shop is line-x of Greenville. They seem like good folks with good reviews.

The drawers are wood. I have had them for about 7 years built by a friend. They had been under a camper shell. Time will tell if they survive being in an open bed.

I will chronicle the improvements I am making to make sure they don't deteriorate and the design which gives me full bed coverage with openings for access to the tie downs and a small gap to the side of the walls.

I think someone else posted - it is about 3 sheets 3/4" exterior plywood for the build. Gives a weight of about 200# for the whole assembly.

Were I building for full blown exterior use I would have used Marine plywood - our search team jon boat has a platform made for working dogs out of that stuff that has beein in place with full weather expsoure since 2006 and no deterioration.

Now that I am getting the bed redone, I may consider covering the drawer bases entirely in line-x but not sure it is really needed. As is they have been recoated with 2 coats of acrylic enamel porch paint on sides and bottom and the top has the coat of line-x they put on. The drawers are friction side. I used nylon tape to make sliding easier.