My Dodge Truck Project (Cummins Inside)

[Tomeal]

I saw this truck cap (or camper shell or canopy or whatever we've decided to call them) on marketplace last week and had a hard time resisting the $100 price tag. The seller had 3 guys there to help lift it on which was awesome. It is older so it isn't perfect but the paint is nice, there's no cracks in it and all the windows open and close the way they should. The gas shocks for the rear window are like new. The tag and emblems say it's made by Continental. I've never heard of them but seems to be no different than the Leer I had for my old F-150.
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After I got home I loosened the clamps and adjusted it so that it was sitting even and square. I had to adjust the rear window a bit to even up the gaps and get it to open and close nicely. The latch was stuck so I bought a new one at the parts store. I'm not a fan of the exposed exterior screws but we all know it's only there to keep honest people honest. The lock could probably could be picked faster than you could take the screws out. Anyway it latches and unlatches properly now.
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It didn't have a 3rd brake light so I ordered one from fleabay. I got it wired up but I don't have one of the controller-dongle-things to prevent it from flashing with the turn signals so for now it flashes with the left turn signal. The dome light was already in it. It has it's own switch so for now I tapped it into the parking lights. Eventually I might feed constant power to it and add a prop switch so that it turns on when the rear window is opened.
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I like the subtle grandpa look that the cap and running boards combination gives off.

Just went back and looked again, you need a cow tipper on the front!

 

[ck80]

Poor impulse control?

I've missed sleeping in the back of a truck and this was the only homebrew solution I could come up with?


I kid, I kid. No real reason in particular. Just a different look. I would've kept the cap that was originally on it if it hadn't been such a piece of crap. It needed more work than it was worth. This was an all fiberglass low top that was already the right color so I decided to grab it just for the sake of having, but I think I'm gonna roll with it for a while.

You should put in a custom side rack for your pee bottles. One side for emptys, fine side for filled and ready to toss when you get to a PADOT maintained road

 

[joesregalproject]

Brick through the window doesn't care about your new lock.

It looks good on there. That hole in the back corner probably wants a 12' CB antenna. A winch bumper for the front should be on the short list too.

Fun fact; When I was in high-school I worked at Bac-Pac / Six-Pac / Slick-Pac and installed those rear windows for four hours a day.

Exactly, fancy/expensive locks don't make sense, especially in this application. I think the cap suits the truck well. I like the low top/cab height caps because I can still get it in the garage. It's smooth on top as well, so it doesn't hold dirt, makes it easier to clean. I can't tell what the hole on the back corner was for. There is an identical one on the opposite side. 102" CB whip with a ball mount would look the part.

Based on my limited experience with truck caps I would imagine that wasn't a really fun job. Adjusting the window in this one was PITA.

You should put in a custom side rack for your pee bottles. One side for emptys, fine side for filled and ready to toss when you get to a PADOT maintained road

Thats a fancy idea. Did you just come up with that?

Speaking of PennDOT roads, check out what pagrunt and his boys did to the road in front of my house. Turned a main road into a gravel pit. Probably dumped 5" of gravel. F*ckers...

 

[ck80]

Exactly, fancy/expensive locks don't make sense, especially in this application. I think the cap suits the truck well. I like the low top/cab height caps because I can still get it in the garage. It's smooth on top as well, so it doesn't hold dirt, makes it easier to clean. I can't tell what the hole on the back corner was for. There is an identical one on the opposite side. 102" CB whip with a ball mount would look the part.

Based on my limited experience with truck caps I would imagine that wasn't a really fun job. Adjusting the window in this one was PITA.


Thats a fancy idea. Did you just come up with that?

Speaking of PennDOT roads, check out what pagrunt and his boys did to the road in front of my house. Turned a main road into a gravel pit. Probably dumped 5" of gravel. F*ckers...
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It's the latest step in their recruitment efforts. You take a job with them and you get to help put pavement back down near your house. Otherwise..... gravel

 

[DRIVEN]

Based on my limited experience with truck caps I would imagine that wasn't a really fun job. Adjusting the window in this one was PITA.

It actually wasn't that bad of a job when you're 17. Minimum wage with decent cash bonuses for hitting production goals. Most of my coworkers were 30 year old burnouts. The painter and the guy who sprayed the glue for the interior carpet were always mellow and hilarious. Ventilation was either horrible or perfect, depending on your mood.

 

[pagrunt]

Exactly, fancy/expensive locks don't make sense, especially in this application. I think the cap suits the truck well. I like the low top/cab height caps because I can still get it in the garage. It's smooth on top as well, so it doesn't hold dirt, makes it easier to clean. I can't tell what the hole on the back corner was for. There is an identical one on the opposite side. 102" CB whip with a ball mount would look the part.

Based on my limited experience with truck caps I would imagine that wasn't a really fun job. Adjusting the window in this one was PITA.


Thats a fancy idea. Did you just come up with that?

Speaking of PennDOT roads, check out what pagrunt and his boys did to the road in front of my house. Turned a main road into a gravel pit. Probably dumped 5" of gravel. F*ckers...
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I only put stones on the road when it's mixed with the salt. But like I said, job security having to clean up all that extra chip stone around the storm grates when it rains.

 

[81cutlass]

Good find on the 'topper'

Added another one for ya 😉

 

[Ugly1]

The only major pain with that style cap is the snow and ice. It does look sweet though! Can throw some of those 3/4”round led’s in the step for accents ,or not. Nice looking rig!

 

[joesregalproject]

The only major pain with that style cap is the snow and ice. It does look sweet though! Can throw some of those 3/4”round led’s in the step for accents ,or not. Nice looking rig!

Thanks. The snow can be a pain but I didn't drive this thing too much last winter, I don't expect to drive it a whole lot this winter either. Takes too long to warm up.

You're talking about chicken lights! That's big rig style!

 

[ck80]

Thanks. The snow can be a pain but I didn't drive this thing too much last winter, I don't expect to drive it a whole lot this winter either. Takes too long to warm up.

You're talking about chicken lights! That's big rig style!

I think your next upgrade has to be some sweet faux gator skin door panels like this guy did to his 12 valve....