Ok so I have been contemplating a new project. What do you guys think of a slant back camper shell like on the H1s?

They have always been my favorite hummer b/c the slant back.

I have been thinking of getting a camper shell, but I dont really like the looks of them being a huge box, plus they decrease gas mileage b/c more drag on the rear end.

SO what I was thinking is building a slant back. Any ideas on what to skin it with? vinyl, sheet metal, etc. I would like to have a view to the rear, so maybe plexi glass or something.

If anyone is good a photoshop could you do somehting like that so I can get an idea?

 

I can't believe you brought this up. The girlfriend and I were talking last week about cutting my cap up to do this. We were thinkink about trying it this summer. I already got a fiberglass cap for 90 bucks. Wanna team up and swap some ideas about what to do with the concept?
-Luke

I won't lie I wasn't gonna tell anyone till it was done.

 

that would be something different to see. if you go through with it, take tons and tons of pics! we'd all like to see the progress im sure! good luck with it.

 

Can someone do a photoshop of this if they have the time? I'm curious to see what it'd look like on a Ranger.

 

ditto

 

I did it, to mine, and it looked retarded.. haha

 

Interesting..

First up, I don't think you'd see much of an improvement in gas mileage.

That said, how would it work? I've never seen such a H1 in person. I see there is a latch of some sort on the center of the back of the cap, under the window. Does that allow the cap to open up like a hatchback or something? If so I think that will be quite difficult to fabricate for a Ranger. Having the entire cap open would be difficult because of the weight involved (lotsa fiberglass there!). Building a door section that lifts out would probably be your best bet. And that'd be a lot of fabricating.

I bet it would also severely limit what you can see out the back via the rearview mirror. That slanted window can't be that easy to see out of. This'll make backing the truck up a real bear, worse than w/ a regular cap.

Of course any sort of cap will put a huge dent in what you can haul in the bed. A slanted back cap will only do this moreso..

 

sounds like a cool idea... i think i have seen something like this on an old dodge truck but it was made out of plywood

 

I don't need to see out the back. I learned to drive on an excursion and drive a dump truck all summer so I know how big my lil truck is. As for the amount of work, I know it will be a lot even moreso with my cap cuz itz not specifically designed for a ranger (s10 I think) so it needs some modifications anyway. But I got it for 90 bucks and itz water tight to get all my stuff home from college.

 

I dotn expect huge gains in mileage, it was jsut some thoughts in my head. I dont think the "hatchback" would be difficult to work with. A hinge adn latch would be simple. As far as view as long as you made a rear window large enough it wouldnt matter.

I am debating on what to use to build it. Fiberglass or a thin gauge steel. I was thinking building my frame for it out of round tube, for support. BUT I want to be able to remove it somewhat easily.

Would someone please do a photshop so I can see what it would look like on an ext cab?? Please!

 

I would do it out of fiberglass. lil esier to work with. Steel would be really hard to get matched up.

 

Well the thing is is that I am pretty comfy working with steel, never worked with glass.

 

another pic i found

 

any other opinions??

 

thats pimp...lol

 

IMO, it looks funky...

Here's my truck (crappy chop)

 

or you can get something like this:

http://www.snugtop.com/p_topgun.htm

i've seen these in person, and i still think they look silly

 

I like it!!!! the photoshop that is, the snugtop thing looks dumb. Itz too rounded.

 

yeah I thought about those, but I dont liek the round look adn I think I can make one for alot cheaper.

 

thansk for the photoshop, yes it looks different, taht is why i like it.

The only change is that from teh tailgate it will go up vertically about 6" before slanting back. This will provied a place for the latch.