Rdiddy's Betty White Build

Ordered the Topoak Galaxy 1.0 Roof Top Tent with a $200 off coupon last week for an early Black Friday sale for $1099 plus $299 shipping. Ordered the brackets they offer to mount an awning to the tent. The brackets shipped from China via DHL and arrived super quick. Ordered Nov 19, got the brackets on the 25th. The tent arrived via CEVA logistics- I could have got it as early as the 26th, but held off scheduling the delivery until the 29th. It arrived unscathed and in new condition in a wood crate. I was able to get my neighbors to help and we lifted it onto the Kuat Ibex rack with no issues. The hardware brackets fit the Kuat Ibex bars very well.

I've already pulled out the 2" foam mattress it came with and swapped in a Lost Horizon 4" inflating air/foam mattress. It's about 1" too long, and requires the air to be let out most of the way to close, but its much more comfortable.

So far, initial impressions are very good. Quality and finish seems 9/10. It's heavy-ish at 175lbs. My neighbor that helped me has had a RTT and been around others, and he was impressed, and said I was joking when I said how much it cost.

It's easy and quick to deploy, as expected. I plan to sort out some lighting solutions for underneath - maybe a rear chase light, Kingpin Solutions light (slightly overrated, but on sale right now), or some 12V strips so I can see what I'm doing underneath.

 

Some pics of the tent in action on its first trip

 

Worked on relocating a pair of rear led work lights from below the bumper, to the top of the tent. Created a custom harness and found some sweet t-slot cover moulding that hides the wires. Ran it down to near the spare, and using a DT 2 pin connector. The Sylvania LED lights were something I had. Runs off the Auxbeam in the cab.

 

Installed the Sumosprings

$303 SSR-610-47 | SumoSprings Rear for Toyota Tundra, Toyota Tacoma, Nissan Frontier, Nissan Titan

SSR-610-47 rear bump stops. I think it will help with the trailer towing, and the extra weight of the RTT and gear. I ended up using the stock U bolts, and torquing back down to 74ft-lbs. All said, it was 20 minute or less install since I didn't have to jack up the truck given the slight lift I have.

Also, was hearing my blower fan motor starting to make noise at all speeds, like a bad bearing. I had picked up a Nilight branded aftermarket blower fan for super cheap (free 99) and was able to install that yesterday. It isn't 100% the same feel as OEM, so I might still replace it with the Landcruiser upgrade one. Not bad to replace, 3 8mm screws and < 15 minutes.

In other news, my RetraxONE XR has started to jam up and not retract. Filed a warranty claim, will see what happens next.

 

RetraxONE issue solved! There was a 1/2" Threaded PVC cap in there. Not sure how or when it fell it, but was able to extract it through the hole in the side of the tonneau storage bin. This did require lifting the whole RTT and Rack off with the help of my neighbors garage hoist.



That same day, I cut the wires for the rear work lights on the RTT so we could seperate it from the truck. Wired in a waterproof connector for easier seperation in the future.

 

Got a free set of these, meant for a Tacoma, going to see how well they work out in the Tundra. The concern is that the bottom "foot" doesnt touch the side of the bed.

 

Installed a Nilight under hood light. The kit is fine, but the wiring isn't long enough to reach the middle of the hood. If it falls off or stops working, I won't be that upset since it was <$20. Puts off enough light to get some work done, and has an override on/off.

 

Rear seat molle panel arrived. Finally a place to store the med kit and fire extinguisher. The lower straps actually fit around the seat and were able to be tucked away.

 

Installed the Auxbeam AS-R60 yesterday. Spent time removing the old original BA-60? model I've had for the last 3 years. Additionally, installed (Swapped out, thanks DT connectors!) the Auxbeam X-Pro lights for these Color Play that have DRL/turn signal wires as well. Wired the amber light to my grille/running lights.

 

Overland Vehicle Systems Car Shower install

Using a pair of Topoak brackets to mount the OVS shower. Put it on the passenger side, towards the front so its next to the ladder. Not sure its optimal because the zipper is in the back corner (closest to rear tire and ladder), might push it forward a few more inches and move the ladder rearward a few inches. Wish the zipper was placed elsewhere...

 

Careful with the shower cover……
I’ve taken my arb awning thru thick brush on trails and it’s unscathed, the ovs shower cover ripped almost completely off on a low hanging tree on my way to work one day, I need my mom to reinforce it and sew back together.

 

Replaced the factory LED fogs with Auxbeam XP-Pro combo spot/flood LEDs (B0CJFF5PV5). I had these lights laying around after upgrading the ditch lights. These are using the Auxbeam bracket (B09YXPJQBY). There's a lot of excess wiring using the adapter they included (DT to the 2pin factory plug), will have to zip tie it up neatly. Also need to replace the fog light bezels (ordered), as one tab was broken, and the other has a crack in it- causing them to fit very loosely.


There were no instructions, so it took a minute to figure out the brackets but I got it sorted out.


original OEM LED with yellow lamin-x

 

Installed the Kuat Ibex Front Molle Panel.
WOW, it provides a significant amount of rigidity to the system!
Wanted to be able to attach a few items- right now, just testing it w/ the 5# propane I've had laying around.

I realized quickly, that when I assembled the Ibex hoops, I put the tall (full height) extensions in upside down- as in the t-slot opening/entrance is on the bottom when it should be on the top. There was no way that I would manage to get that swapped out correctly w/out completely tearing down the rig. I managed to install the molle panel, and it sits about 1-1.5" higher than it ought to. You'll notice it looks like it's sitting slightly high. I also had to adjust the rack's top crossbars as they were not at the right spacing - found out when the angle of the molle panel didn't line up with the rack t slot angles. Sorted all that out and it's very secure. Having a Tundra w/ the roll down rear window makes this install much easier, and does not require removing/loosening or sliding the Ibex rack backwards to have the working space behind the cab rear window.

 

Thanks for the heads up- I have an OVS awning on the other side now for a year and not had any trouble. Will make sure I don't scrape it on anything!

 

Ditch lights and headlights (factory LED)



the Auxbeam XP-Pro installed as fog lights and headlights (factory LED)


Fogs + ditch lights and headlights (factory LED)


Lightbar + fogs + ditch lights and headlights (factory LED)

 

Installed the VLEDS tail conversion kit, WOW it lights up the cul-de-sac.
Install was very quick. maybe 20 minutes from unboxing to operational.

I ordered this kit https://www.vleds.com/2.5g-tundra-vt-v6-extreme-tail-light-conversion.html with 5000K reverse bulb color. "V6 Extreme".

The ends up being these parts
1x 2.5G_TUN_V6_VT_PARTS 2004525
2x V6_BULB_921_S-R 2004171 red short bulb
2x V6_BULB_EXT_WA_5K 2004613 5K white/amber switchback bulb
2x V6_BULB_R 2003597 red bulb
2x V6_CNTRL_EXT_WA 2004898 switchback controller


unboxed, and bulbs conncted to VLEDS wire harness.


left side done, you can see BOTh top and bottom light up as running lights, and both light up as brake lights.
right side is stock.


REVERSE is bright, so bright.
this switchback is also the turn signal in Orange/Amber now and it too is very bright.

Might end up removing that tailgate brake light bar...

 

Removed stock "rope hook" and replaced it with these MZS one from Amazon https://amzn.to/43d5UoP