"Bear" the 2021 Tundra Adventure Camper

Edit: A fairly recent picture





In the beginning ...

So I might as well post the start of this build even thought it is in the early stages. So the goal is to be able to remote camp beyond where sprinter vans can get if needed. Lots of items are on backorder as is the way of things these days. Starting with my Tundra, it is a 2021 Limited double cab 6.5' bed. This summer it will be ground tent camping and a rental camper or two until the topper comes in. The trick of this is trying to keep to the max payload and save 400lbs of that for tongue weight for towing (that's why the air bags). I'll probably try to add a bump stop then get the airbags out of the way for non trailering times.






1. Line X bed liner

2. Total Chaos bed stiffener

3. Toyota remote tailgate lock kit

4. OME BP-51, Dakar Leaf springs, SPC UCAs, OME greasable shackle kit, Firestone Air bags w/ Daystar airbag cradles



5. Toytec front bumper shims



Coming soon... Wheels and tires, rock sliders, skid plate, dash mount plate, tablet & mount for navigation, Garmin inReach mini & mount, Ham radio & mount, some security features, and at the end of summer AT Overland Atlas and I will be building that out probably deep into winter.

 

Looks awesome! Love the BP51 setup. Where did you get that bedside decal? That's really cool. I've heard of some issues with the BP51 design in the rears, not to rain on your parade but something to be aware of since i wouldn't want you to have those problems. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZSNYONRYxQ

 

Thanks, the shop I went to (Toytec lifts in Denver) ground the mount to give room so that does not happen as part of their standard BP-51 Tundra install. I was planning on doing it if they didn't. I will keep an eye on it to see if it needs more room, seems to be about 1/2" now. I like Nathan's videos and this leaky picture is from that video and the other my truck with mod. The decal is from Supdec Graphix.

 

Wow that's slick, the work was so clean i didn't even notice the mount was trimmed. That's a good shop! I have the regular OME 612 setup and i love it. I imagine those ride like a dream.

 

I have heard good things about your 612 setup. Because it was a brand new truck I was willing to pry my wallet open a little further this time.
The shop set the shocks up to be close to stock feel but it is noticeably more plush. I don't know where it will land in the end but knowing me I will be looking for a single all around setting but time will tell.

 

A couple more mods got completed today.

6. CBI Rock Sliders - I really like that they are a step and rock sliders all in one. That driver side last bolt was really tough on my year, not like the install video.


7. RCI Skid Plate (Full) - A plus about these is because they have a little play where you can slide them forward or backward a bit so I was able to slide them forward 1/2" to make up for the front bumper being pushed forward 1/2" and the 3 plastic tabs from the bumper lined right up like stock. I thought I would have to drill new holes.

 

Absolutely love your rig.

 

Thanks, it's starting to feel like it is coming together. I really need the tires and wheels to come in and balance everything out.

 

ABS guards - are they even needed I don't know but fairly cheap and easy insurance.


Baja Designs Squadron sport SAE - SAE is not that exciting but easier to use on road which will get way more use. Other lights I don't know yet. I don't see us wheeling in the middle of the night on purpose but some underbody rock/work/camp lights might be nice. I will try to add another picture next snow or fog.

 

Added some Bronze Icon Rebound 17" wheels and some BFG K02 315/70R17 tires.

 

So it has been a while and the topper has been on for a couple of months. I have plenty to do on the inside but I have just using it and solving needs as they arise. I will post up some more recent mods soon.

 

I did a 40% rear seat delete to put my refrigerator there but noticed some extra noise from the seat not being there so I decided to add some 80mil Kilmat and Noico Red 150mil. I just did the back panel but I have lots left over so I might do something else if we get another warm weekend. I will put the seat back tomorrow after I run a wire to the truck bed to power the refrigerator and see if I notice a difference.


80mil Kilmat


Noico Red 150mil



Meatal taped the seams



reinstalled the hanging insulation that is behind the tundra seats

 

Any issues with the BP51s now a year later?

 

I have only put about 3K on them but have not had any problems. The only problem that I am aware of is if you do not grind the frame mount at the top like in my picture it will hit when flexed hard and will cause leaking. Soon I will have my load complete as planned and the back should settle into the add a leaf a touch more. I’m a set it and forget it kind of guy so once my load is complete I will spend some time adjusting the shocks to match match my needs and hopefully not think about it after that.

 

I have added an awning but have not had the weather to need it yet, the heater on the other hand gets used a lot. I will say I wish I had waited to add the airbags because I just am not towing anything right now or in the near future. Though they don't seem to be causing any problems right now with only a couple of pounds in them just to keep their shape and not get damaged when they are my only bump stop at the moment. Before I added the weight to the back and the add-a-leaf it seemed like it was just too firm and always wondered if they were causing part of that problem. I never let all of the air out and strapped them up so I don't know if it is true or not. Anyway it is riding great now on and off road.

 

Love how this build is turning out. That camper is very nice.

 

Thanks, still a little more to do but its all working out pretty well for what we are doing. I realized that I am behind on pictures a few more mods, coming soon.

 

This Rago dash plate works well with ram mounts for electronics as needed. I don't keep that stuff in the truck so it normally looks like the first picture. I run a tablet with Gaia GPS and other apps that help with remote camp areas. It seems over the top but really handy and I wouldn't go back to paper maps unless needed. I will say asphalt and smoother dirt roads it is pretty stable but when the roads get bumpy it moves a little so I think I need to get the next size ram mount for just the tablet. If we were 4 wheeling hard I would just remove it and stow it away because it is a lot of stress on the plastic below the plate. We also have the in reach mini "Marine Bundle" (comes with 12v power cable) that charges there and has clear enough view of the sky. Good for emergency and simple text messages can be linked with phone when in an area without service. The last ram mount is for HAM radio (need to have a license to broadcast unless emergency). When I have more time there is plenty more to learn about HAM. GMRS radio (basically just a fee covers the family) would be easier and probably more useful in both off road areas and epic mountain passes to communicate with other people and 2 for spotting tech sections. Probably lots of other ways to navigate and communicate depending on everyones unique situation we just chose this for now. I just used a ditch light mount for the antenna, had to modify it a bit to fit but good enough.

 

While we are talking about electrical things this sPOD kit will control all truck and driving related items. I may just trigger some relays in the camper so I can control from the sPOD or switches in the camper for lights that are also useful when the truck is not running for camp uses but undecided on that because I like the 2 almost separate systems. The truck alternator does charge the camping battery when running and solar charges it when not when it can. Nothing else relies on the truck for camp mode. The switches were chosen but only the air compressor is wired up as of today. I went with the blue lights in the switches. SDHQ battery terminals help with the extra wires. My truck sits a lot and I think something in the sPOD possibly has a slight parasitic draw and left me with a dead battery this winter twice. I pulled the 2a fuse from the control board and it didn't happen again. I have a plan for diagnosing that at some point when I get around to it. If I find that it was not the sPOD I will edit this post, anyhow moving on.

 

Very, very nice! Subscribed

 

So phase 1 of my air system is done and when it warms up a bit here and I am not on my MTB I will add the air tank and probably another air coupler near the back of the truck. A pressure reducer for that one would be nice for bikes etc. but I know nothing about that yet.

 

I still have not gotten around to mounting up the air tank but I did add this Expedition One dual swing bumper. For now the 35" tire fits in the stock location but I have the mount to put it on one on the passenger swing but I like the more tucked in the way the water, propane, trash are now.

 

Really digging your rig!
How do you have the inside of the AT setup? Pictures if you can…
Family of four here and really like the Summit but feel like the Habitat would be better for my crew.

 

Thanks, it's getting there. I would agree with you about the space of the Habitat vs the Summit for family. Four wheel and Scout campers are really nice too but keeping the weight down seems impossible. Sometimes one of our kids comes with us on breaks from collage and has a big tent with deluxe air mattress for his personal space but our truck hauls all the food, water, bath/shower tent, luggable loo for #2 and Thetford for middle of the night for my wife and me in the truck for #1 only (pro tip - paper in little trash can and no #2 in the Thetford EVER! makes dumping and cleaning easy), paddle boards etc. Harder to move around because of his tent setup teardown time but when less mobile it works great.
Actually the stack of 80/20 showed up yesterday so I can start the build that matches how we are using it right now. We have been using it with just a 2 seater bench and bedrug that covers the sides and tailgate with other modular multi purpose items. I made a bench to match the angles of our reclining sofa as best as I could and had imagined a few configurations but after hauling bikes and inflatable paddle boards inside we realized less is more for us. We might make a video once it is done because simple with minimal movements and maximum security is behind my thought process. For a while each time we were heading out we were bringing different setups which made it clear that open area is very important for the way we camp and play. I really enjoy all of the variety in the way some people have gone all out with nicely finished indoor comfort and will try to integrate some of that into a partially modular setup. More to come with this but basically as of now 2/3 will be a reclined fixed bench seat for 2 with modular pieces that are used inside and outside and the last 1/3 will be one of 2 modular modes, 1 or 2 bikes or 2 inflatable SUP boards and bench expandable to a single wide bed. Goose Gear and AT Overland have some very nice solutions that could also work well with way less hassle and a little to a lot more money but we have learned a lot during this time about how we want to use it and will be evolving into what we think is the right build for our current needs.
More to come...