New pop up camper? Topo Toppers

Where did you get the white pull down window blind?

 

Ithird brake light I am sure if enough of us mention it to them ..they will respond. I also mention this to them . ...got my install date ....

 

I am considering doing some flexible panels because redarc dc to dc charger I have can accept solar as well. The green LCD is a battery monitor to check remaining capacity.

 

It's a sink not a latrine!

 

It's a part of the window.

 

How long did it take you to get your install date from your 50% deposit? I’ve paid a deposit but haven’t had any correspondence back yet.

 

End of Sept deposit
Early oct.. First payment
Late Oct install date after calling for status update


Just call them up they are great people to work with

 

What kind of crossbars have any of you found that attach to their L track system? Don’t know why I’m having difficulties finding anything

 

Let me know if you find anything!

 

I asked them directly and they sent me these two links

Vantech Universal Pickup Topper J1000 Ladder roof Rack w/ 50" Bars Black

Vantech Universal Pickup Topper J1000 Ladder roof Rack w/ 50" Bars Black

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005PP7YIG

US Cargo Control L Track Double Lug Threaded Stud Fitting - Use with L Track Rails in Your Truck Or Trailer to Create Heavy-Duty Bolt Down Anchor Points - Working Load Limit of 1,833 Pounds - 10 Pack

$40 US Cargo Control L Track Threaded Bolt Double Stud Fitting, (10 Pack) 5500 Pounds Break Strength, Use with L Track Rails in Your Truck Or Trailer to Create Heavy-Duty Bolt Down Anchor Points

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07W922657

 

Yesterday was a good day. Even though my wife normally doesn't join me on my Taquito adventures, I brought her along. We left the house at 0530 and headed south, to Ventura. It was a smooth drive over the Grapevine and then we headed west, to the coast. We got to Ventura at 0800 and dropped the truck off, at Topo Toppers. Then we grabbed an Uber and headed to the Oxnard Harbor. I knew we were going to have time to kill, so I booked us on a wildlife cruise around the Channel Islands. Bright blue skies and 60 degrees with a light breeze, it was a perfect day to be on the Pacific Ocean. We saw tons of wildlife. Biggest highlight was a pod of 100 or so Bottlenose Dolphins and then a massive pod of about 1000 Common Dolphins. After that we had a nice lunch at a seafood restaurant. Then we hailed another Uber and headed back to Topo Toppers. When we arrived and I saw what had become of the little Taquito, I was floored! The wife gave exactly two shits, that's why I take the dog on adventures instead of her lol. Seriously though, I am very thankful to have a wife that never gives me grief when I take off on an adventure.

We spent the next hour going over the details of the topper and how to use and maintain it. Thomas and Katy, the owners of Topo Toppers, are great people and take their time to ensure everything is right. Their entire staff is extremely helpful and their workmanship is top notch!

The drive home in the Taquito wasn't as bad as I expected. She handled the weight well with minimal sway around turns and felt very planted. At speeds below 50, it felt like she had the same amount of power as before. There was very little wind noise while cruising on the highway at 65 MPH. The added drag was a factor and the truck needed to come out of overdrive for most inclines, nothing too bad. It pretty much drove like it did before the 5.29 gears and 33's. Then when it was time to climb back over the Grapevine, that's when shit got real. There was a nasty 20-30MPH headwind. Mix that with the 6% grade, the Taquito was not happy. I didn't want to push her too hard, so I started the climb at 60 MPH. That was a mistake, I should have started it at 65-70, to be more in the power. She held 55-60 almost all the way up the initial climb, but then the wind picked up more and she was only good for 45 MPH. Overall, I think she did well. Even with my last setup and no headwind, I would only be doing about 55 at the top of the grade. What was really surprising, there was very minimal buffeting in the headwind and when the road would turn and it became a crosswind, the truck always felt planted. The strong headwind was also the only time that the long overhang of the topper caused noticeable wind noise.

With all that out of the way, here are the specs:
Topo Toppers - Badlander
100W Solar panel on the roof
Delux MaxxFan on the roof
Upper and lower level lighting inside
Sliding windows on each side, with sliding screens for easy access inside the bed
3 heavy duty awning brackets on the passenger side
2 vertical and 1 horizontal L Track on the drivers side

 

Very happy for you looks like many fun times to come congratulations...

 

1 plumbing pipe foam insulation stuffed between bed and cab dust line ..tucked the ends into big bed gaps and filled void with spray foam

2 foil tape over holes on bed .mask off scratc&s from former hardshell camper

3 waterproof...ish...bed cubby filled with jb weld epoxy and plastic over to black ..sealed around edges bye using dap waterproof sealant

 

Weight?

 

I was very confused reading this until I got to the pictures of the truck. As they say, it's a good thing the 2.7's run forever because it'll take forever to get there. Looks like a fun rig!

 

Scary looking nozzle. I bet it cleans very well!

 

I'll be hitting a Cat scale and weighing it soon.

 

I just wanted to give a run down of the day and how the 4 banger handles it. Also to give people ideas of what of things to do while they are waiting for their topper to be installed. Yeah, above 60, she is sloooooooooow. Thanks to the 5.29 gears she still feels just fine below 60. I love this little truck! I downsized from a Tundra and have been on a mission to turn a reg cab into a truck that is more capable than stock off road and comfortable for my slightly overweight 6'5" self to camp in. Its been a long journey.

 

Great progress!

 

So I've got my deposit down for a Badlander, but I'm thinking I need to switch to the Mesa now due to some financial stuff that's come up. I'm super stoked on a Topotopper of either kind & love the additional window on the back end of the Mesa & how the slope of the roof will shed snow when using as a mobile ski chalet. The cost savings will allow more of a build out sooner too which is appealing. Are there any reasons I'd regret going down to a Mesa inside of the Badlander? I understand there's slightly less room in the bed area, but I don't think that'll be a deal breaker. Everyone's Mesa builds look incredible and have me so excited.