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Post by Traildog on Oct 6, 2018 11:28:44 GMT -5
Hey everyone,
This may be a bad idea, but i was wanting to convert my standard wildernest to a tip top. I just want some headroom in my truck. I have camped in mine a lot, and im getting tired of setting up and taking down, so im looking to simplify. I cant find pics of how the tip top is hinged, anyone have a pic of theirs or have attempted the conversion?
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Post by Evan on Oct 7, 2018 19:11:16 GMT -5
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Post by Traildog on Oct 7, 2018 23:06:37 GMT -5
Awesome! That's what i needed, thanks. Any ideas what the weight the shocks are?
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Post by richmc on Mar 19, 2019 13:11:04 GMT -5
Hey Traildog,
I believe the struts are capable of 100lbs. (each?)
I am also considering converting my traditional wilderness to a Tip Top. Just starting to do a little research on it now... Have you made any progress on yours?
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Post by Traildog on Mar 20, 2020 14:19:21 GMT -5
Cant seem to log in. Hope this is responding to my original post. Odd havent been on in a long time and happens to be a post on this. I have actually been waiting on my last trip to baja before i started the tip top conversion. I just took the tent and bars off, leaving the drivers side as a prop. Decided i wanted to try the side flip for awhile to see how i liked it 1st. Less work, more camping. So im currently pulling my hair out for mounting proper struts before attaching a clear tarp for my canvas. Im sick of getting wet in tents, and found the pvc with nylon weave completely waterproof and can be glued instead of sewn. Which means d rings and tie down points,etc, can be attached. Helpful for being able to automatically fold while closing, and vent flaps. I would say 100lbs shocks is where i would start with the original tip top style. The side flip prob x2 70lbs. But just now starting to convert.
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Post by Traildog on Oct 23, 2020 21:21:26 GMT -5
So I "finished?" the conversion a little bit back. I dont know how to post pics. And don't have links bc I dont have them posted anywhere else. If someone knows a way, ill bet somebody may be interested. I tipped to the side to keep things easy, about 26" high. Put shocks on, and a tent that is secure at the ends and overlaps at the side of the topper. Mostly just a prototype/template to have something made with zippers and screen. Works great, but definitely less room. I have the parts and tent if somebody needs a template, the tent is old and suffered a dry tear in baja. Springs are good. Let me know if anyone needs anything, im in durango, co. 321-312-five O six six
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Post by richmc on Nov 4, 2020 23:44:21 GMT -5
Hey Guys, I was speaking with @traildog last week via text and he sent over some pics of his conversion. I will attempt to get them loaded up here since he was having a little trouble getting them linked (hoping I don't have a similar problem...). Doesn't seem I can add them all to one post, so I will add the lot in succession here. I was planning to do a Tip-Top conversion myself, but kept running into the issue of how to attach the hinges to the front of the pop-top (like most wedge campers). There was no straightforward way that I could figure out - it seems that you'd have to do a bit of modification to have the right type of clearance to make it all work. Fortunately, Traildog took the path of least resistance and still came up with a way to increase the overhead room in the camper. This is actually a great setup for my usage, which includes chasing storms in the winters to snowboard. I log a lot of miles and hours on the road in the winter, and the worst part is having to crawl in and out of the back when camping at the end of a long day of riding. Plus its a lot easier to piss in a jug in the middle of the night without having to hunch over while on your knees because you can sit up, let alone stand. The fact that I am camping when it is generally windy and can snow quite heavily means a traditional WilderNest tent isn't ideal. This type of setup seems to avoid the downsides of a big tent in those conditions while still offering a bit more comfort. Since Traildog lives out West and doesn't have to deal with the bugs and rain like we do back East, he opted for a down-n-dirty, but effective use of a tarp for the tent portion for the time-being. I plan to pattern and develop a tent with a vent/window for mine. Was thinking of using Sunbrella material for this, but will research further. One thing I found ingenious was the use of Airline Track attached to the sides of the cap to be used as attachment points for Jerry Cans and such. Great Idea, Traildog! The use of the lift struts was obviously necessary to keep the roof secure at an angle. I'll probably source at least 100lb. struts since I tend to carry gear on the roof. Nice work, Traildog.    |
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Post by richmc on Nov 4, 2020 23:44:57 GMT -5
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Post by richmc on Nov 4, 2020 23:45:21 GMT -5
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Post by richmc on Nov 4, 2020 23:45:48 GMT -5
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Post by richmc on Nov 4, 2020 23:46:19 GMT -5
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Post by richmc on Nov 4, 2020 23:46:58 GMT -5
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Post by richmc on Nov 4, 2020 23:47:16 GMT -5
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Post by richmc on Nov 5, 2020 0:21:30 GMT -5
Did a little strip down and cleaning of the cap the other day to start prepping her for paint. She sat for too many years outside (before I picked it up and for a bit too long at my house too). A pressure washer to clear off the grime and a scrubbing with some bleach to kill the mold that started forming on the fiberglass and she almost looks good to go. Need to address a few spots for fiberglass repair, but it doesn't look like it will be too difficult to handle. An added benefit of eliminating such a big tent is all of the extra head-room you gain without the tent and all of the poles in the way. Here are some areas where the fiberglass needs to be repaired:    |
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Post by richmc on Nov 5, 2020 0:34:38 GMT -5
A bit of information I could use - if anyone has the time to check for me - is any ID info on the front slider window and the rear hatch window. I don't have the rear hatch for my Wilderness and the front slider window is pretty much destroyed, so I will have to replace that as well. I know a lot of truck cap windows are standard issue items, so I assume there are only a certain number of vendors that I could go to for those parts... Anyone have any model or serial numbers evident on their windows? Otherwise, would anyone be able to take some measurements and let me know dimensions of the back hatch window? I imagine I'll be hunting down the parts in a junkyard... Here are a few before/after photos from the cleaning the other day:   Attachments:
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