Spectre6000's Crazy Idea Thread #1: Paneling

[traffic61]

You know, when I first saw the thread title, I was afraid you were wanting to put fake wood paneling on the sides of your rig.

I like this idea a whole lot better. I say go for it.

 

[spectre6000]

I started removing interior this evening after work. I drive my 4Runner daily, so I can't get too deep unless I can follow through (which I don't have the ability to at the moment unless I were to pay a shop to do it). This is not mine, but a little reference for the project.

 

[ichambers]

awesome man, go for it! It will definitely be unique!

 

[steezemcqueen]

Meanwhile, the primary reason is the windows are effectively unused. Actually go out and sit in your drivers' seat. Look in the rearview mirror and you will not be able to see those windows. You obviously aren't using them on the drivers' side when changing lanes (you can't even use the one in the passenger door), and to use the one on the passenger side when changing lanes has you turned around more than you're ever going to turn around while actually driving. If your side view mirrors are even CLOSE to adjusted properly, you shouldn't have a blind spot even close to what you'd be able to see out there anyway. Passengers in the back seat aren't going to spend a lot of time turned around facing backwards either. If you have a dog in the back (as I often do), you MIGHT be concerned with the dog's ability to see out, but crack the back window and he/she will forget all about it. If you're camping, you sleep with your head at the back of the vehicle, AND you want to see out (versus keeping the sun down until you're ready for it) then I can see it being a negative.

I think you should cover the windows with something or paint them with plasti dip and then take the truck for a drive. I think you will be surprised at how much visibility you will lose. I mean i definitely could be wrong and maybe you don't use those windows but i definitely do and without them, i feel like there would be some pretty big blind spots. Just my opinion.

 

[Dezert4Runner]

I think if you do this you should make your panels so they could fold out like on some truck shells. Instead of it being a window that folds up, it would be a solid piece of metal/ fiberglass/ or whatever. Then it would be like a 3rd gen with a shell. You'd have access to cargo via the side fold up panels, and still have a rear roll down window.


Make it similar to this idea:

 

[Full_Throttle]

I think if you do this you should make your panels so they could fold out like on some truck shells. Instead of it being a window that folds up, it would be a solid piece of metal/ fiberglass/ or whatever. Then it would be like a 3rd gen with a shell. You'd have access to cargo via the side fold up panels, and still have a rear roll down window.


Make it similar to this idea:

now THIS idea I like!!!:thumb3:

 

[spectre6000]

As I think of my 4Runner more in terms of an expedition vehicle than a rock crawler, the idea of additional storage inside is far more appealing than access to stuff from the outside. I have plans for storage for things to be used outside the truck, but those things are mostly on the heavy side and best kept low to keep the CG low.

The space available for storage is not significant, and I imagine the primary use would be for lighter personal goods while traveling.

 

[1985taylor1925]

As I think of my 4Runner more in terms of an expedition vehicle than a rock crawler, the idea of additional storage inside is far more appealing than access to stuff from the outside. I have plans for storage for things to be used outside the truck, but those things are mostly on the heavy side and best kept low to keep the CG low.

The space available for storage is not significant, and I imagine the primary use would be for lighter personal goods while traveling.

So are you saying you are or are not going through with the panels?

 

[spectre6000]

Not at all! I'm totally planning to do this still. What I was saying was that being able to flip up panels to access tools from outside the truck is not of any interest to me because interior storage is a higher priority with an expedition vehicle.

The only thing keeping me from doing it this weekend is the fact that I'm in a temporary living situation (rental house while I get my bearings up here) with no garage and thus no facilities to undertake such a project. I have the tools, there's plenty of steel/welding supply places in and around Denver, I just don't have a piece of flat ground (the house I'm renting is situated on the only flat spot on the whole property, and it had to be carved out of the side of the mountain, everything else has a good 60 degree slope to it) with access to electricity and haven't been here long enough to know anyone well enough to bum some shop/garage space for a project like this. It'll have to wait until either that connection is made or we get things sorted out and get a house (which then might require building a shop).

 

[Bandit Runner]

Interesting idea, but I have a question. How does replacing the rear side glass windows with metal panels increase the cargo space inside? It seems that it would be exactly the same?

Just wondering.

 

[spectre6000]

The glass isn't just replaced, the entire window frame will be cut out and a panel welded in to make the side of the truck from the passenger doors back smooth (like a panel truck). The inside will be finished off with storage space. Expanded steel backing will be utilized to make modular storage possible with some cabinet doors of some sort (still scheming on that bit) to keep things contained while driving/wheeling.

If you look at the photo above with the interior removed, it will essentially be cut (on the inside) from where it creases over toward the glass (just above the interior panel fastening holes), and on the outside from where it's flush to the side of the truck. The outside will have a panel made to match the curvature of the side (which is curved in both the X and Y directions, making it a bit of a job), and that panel will be reinforced with some angle iron or something (curvature again being a challenge). The gap between the interior part of the body and the exterior part will be capped (however makes the most sense). The newly formed cavity will be lined with the expanded steel to give the panel depth and structure. The expanded steel allows for the use of bungees, readily available shelving hardware, etc. for storage capacity while camping/sleeping in the truck. Again, think old VW camper buses; they were teeny tiny (same wheel base as a Beetle only an inch or so wider) but had cubic miles of storage space cleverly integrated all over the place.

 

[WrexHAmm]

Your idea, while it is creative, sounds like you'll be pulling up to a job site and running in and out of your rig to get tools and various other items to fix the plumbing. (That's what comes to mind when I see shelves and cabinets in the back of an suv or van) Similar to a no panel van only in a 4runner. Wouldn't a 4 door Tacoma with a windowless topper be an easier solution?

Either way keep us posted on "Operation turn 4runner into Shed Project"

Best of luck!

 

[1985taylor1925]

So I would assume you never plan on selling the 4runner then?

 

[spectre6000]

I plan to drive this thing around the world. By the time I'm ready to sell, it'll have so many miles on it it won't matter what I've done. I'm not concerned with resale value so much as utility for my purposes. If I wanted an investment I'd be looking at real estate.

 

[spectre6000]

Like the tan one.

 

[CoMarc]

I like the idea. I also don't use those windows too often especially when I'm camping and I have the rear-end loaded with gear. I'm looking forward to seeing this project completed and seeing the truck in person! Good luck!

 

[JasetheDamager]

Hey Spectre, I've seen some of your posts on here and I like that you're approaching your rig from a different angle. As I've previously mentioned to other users, once rigs get built up, they tend to look very similar to one another. Sure they're still cool, but I'm glad you're going another direction.

You seem to know what you're doing, especially with the fabbing. Like you, I want to pull off something different which is why I've decided to fab my own armor. Just seems pointless to give away 2 grand and not learn anything in the process. I have a friend who was a machinist in the Marines and he's got access to a full shop where we can work.

Good luck with your project!

Remember to post pics when you get started.

 

[spectre6000]

Thanks. I need to find a friend like that here! In addition to my own garage/shop, I had access to a full restoration shop, an engine shop, and a dozen garages with a dozen compliments of different tools across my car club family before I moved up here. I don't even have a flat spot to work on up here right now, and I'm experiencing extreme withdrawal! It's making the creative juices flow that much faster though!

I've got an even cooler idea cooking, but it's actually marketable and has patent potential so I'm keeping it under wraps until I get it fully figured out.