Tradesmen tricking out their mavericks

[Cubican]

Do you know if you’ll be able to get a delete kit for the entire seat or just the fold up bottom part? I may end up doing this as well

Not sure all I need is the bottom cushion out of the way, once I get the truck I’ll figure it out

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[XLTLUXA51]

Been thinking on it. Long way to go. Probably start with XL/AWD/2.0/4KTOW/+FX4. How much is "considerable"? At a quickly reached point will need a Ranger or larger. OR $$$$ and void warranties! To go with hybrid drive would take $$$$$!

My current plan is to get an aluminum trailer and deck it with cedar (save on weight and minimal degradation) and cary probably the worst would be 4-6 16’ pressure treated 6x6” or 60 2x4”@16’ but there are a lot of times where I need only 3 16’ 2x4 and would like to not have a trailer along for that ride. Also I would really like to do this without voiding the warranty.

 

[notfast]

Also if anyone has a good idea for moving a considerable amount of 16’ lumber on one I’m all ears.

Cut the lumber in half lengthwise, then use the Flex Bed system to haul your now-8-foot-long lumber in the 4.5' bed with the tailgate at an angle.

On a serious note, I'd get 16' delivered. Maybe if it was a couple sticks I would carry them on a soft rack with a goalpost in the trailer hitch. But carrying like, thirty 2x4x16's on a ladder rack gets pretty top-heavy, and just heavy in general.

Never mind tools, when are we going to see the first slide in camper for the Mav....

Same. I am interested in hauling a pop-up camper like the FWC Swift or the OEV Camp-M.

I am also waiting to see if ARE will make a DCU, Leer will make a DCC, or Tradesman Truck Tops will offer something. I am happy enough to see the commercial version of the Leer fiberglass topper for the Maverick, but I'd much prefer a DCU over a fiberglass topper.

 

[villageidiot]

Cut the lumber in half lengthwise, then use the Flex Bed system to haul your now-8-foot-long lumber in the 4.5' bed with the tailgate at an angle.

On a serious note, I'd get 16' delivered. Maybe if it was a couple sticks I would carry them on a soft rack with a goalpost in the trailer hitch. But carrying like, thirty 2x4x16's on a ladder rack gets pretty top-heavy, and just heavy in general.



Same. I am interested in hauling a pop-up camper like the FWC Swift or the OEV Camp-M.

I am also waiting to see if ARE will make a DCU, Leer will make a DCC, or Tradesman Truck Tops will offer something. I am happy enough to see the commercial version of the Leer fiberglass topper for the Maverick, but I'd much prefer a DCU over a fiberglass topper.

i have a beautiful tradesman truck tops camper from my ranger i took off after a month, and i can't sell it for NOTHIN. i paid $4300 for it all in, and I'm down to $900 and still no movement.

being a unibody, i don't think a fabricated aluminum camper will work on the maverick due to the curves up front by the cab. it would take a lot of work to make it happen.

 

[XLTLUXA51]

Cut the lumber in half lengthwise, then use the Flex Bed system to haul your now-8-foot-long lumber in the 4.5' bed with the tailgate at an angle.

On a serious note, I'd get 16' delivered. Maybe if it was a couple sticks I would carry them on a soft rack with a goalpost in the trailer hitch. But carrying like, thirty 2x4x16's on a ladder rack gets pretty top-heavy, and just heavy in general.



Same. I am interested in hauling a pop-up camper like the FWC Swift or the OEV Camp-M.

I am also waiting to see if ARE will make a DCU, Leer will make a DCC, or Tradesman Truck Tops will offer something. I am happy enough to see the commercial version of the Leer fiberglass topper for the Maverick, but I'd much prefer a DCU over a fiberglass topper.

I really want someone to make a truck cap for the maverick that’s sub $2k it doesn’t need to be nice I just don’t want a foot of snow in my bed in the mornings

 

[XLTLUXA51]

I really want someone to make a truck cap for the maverick that’s sub $2k it doesn’t need to be nice I just don’t want a foot of snow in my bed in the mornings

Also the delivery is definitely a good option in a lot of cases where available. Good point

 

[SgtLip]

My current plan is to get an aluminum trailer and deck it with cedar (save on weight and minimal degradation) and cary probably the worst would be 4-6 16’ pressure treated 6x6” or 60 2x4”@16’ but there are a lot of times where I need only 3 16’ 2x4 and would like to not have a trailer along for that ride. Also I would really like to do this without voiding the warranty.

I know, take Shorter jobs so you only need short 2x4x6's that way they will fit in your NEW Maverick.

Haha, I had to do it. Hope it works out.

 

[XLTLUXA51]

I know, take Shorter jobs so you only need short 2x4x6's that way they will fit in your NEW Maverick.

Haha, I had to do it. Hope it works out.

I’ll find some hobbits to work for

 

[MakinDoForNow]

My current plan is to get an aluminum trailer and deck it with cedar (save on weight and minimal degradation) and cary probably the worst would be 4-6 16’ pressure treated 6x6” or 60 2x4”@16’ but there are a lot of times where I need only 3 16’ 2x4 and would like to not have a trailer along for that ride. Also I would really like to do this without voiding the warranty.

Ok, not unworkable, I don't think. Are PT 6x6 the really wet rough sawn. If you have one handy let me know how many inches long it is and the weight it is. Find one that is the heaviest you think you will have. Same with worst case 2x4's. I will check other things. I will check trailer options also.

 

[notfast]

i have a beautiful tradesman truck tops camper from my ranger i took off after a month, and i can't sell it for NOTHIN. i paid $4300 for it all in, and I'm down to $900 and still no movement.

Yeah toppers are odd when it comes to sale and resale. New, they are stupid expensive. Used, they either can't be given away or get sold immediately.

being a unibody, i don't think a fabricated aluminum camper will work on the maverick due to the curves up front by the cab. it would take a lot of work to make it happen.

I'm sure they'll think of something. It's like when the "whale tail" tailgates started appearing. Folks were like, "You can't bend glass around those things; how are they gonna make toppers for those?"

Their answer was to cut shorter windows and bolt on a molded piece of plastic to the bottom of the window that perfectly matches the tailgate's contour.

I really want someone to make a truck cap for the maverick that’s sub $2k it doesn’t need to be nice I just don’t want a foot of snow in my bed in the mornings

That's another reason why I am a DCU fanboy. A base model DCU is about a thousand bucks. When I say "base model", it's basically an aluminum frame with an aluminum skin, no windows, and a flip-up rear door.

I have a DCU on my Frontier with a laundry list of options and it rang up to $3,300 new and weighs in at 190lbs.

This is my second DCU and first that I bought new. For my (hopeful) third DCU, I'd get fewer options now that I know that things like side windows and even the rear window are basically useless for me.

 

[XLTLUXA51]

Ok, not unworkable, I don't think. Are PT 6x6 the really wet rough sawn. If you have one handy let me know how many inches long it is and the weight it is. Find one that is the heaviest you think you will have. Same with worst case 2x4's. I will check other things. I will check trailer options also.

The heaviest a 6x6@ 16’ will weigh is around 230lbs tops. Thanks

 

[villageidiot]

Yeah toppers are odd when it comes to sale and resale. New, they are stupid expensive. Used, they either can't be given away or get sold immediately.

yep, ordered, waited 6 months for it to be built, went up, had it installed, sold the truck a month later and can't give away the damn camper. 30" above bed rails, double rear doors, side sliding windows, max-air roof vent, reinforced for off road, and carpeted between skin and frame. if it was for a tacoma i could have sold it a dozen times, but because it's for a supercab ranger, it sits.

 

[Cubican]

Probably a back seat delete something like

 

[notfast]

30" above bed rails, double rear doors, side sliding windows, max-air roof vent, reinforced for off road, and carpeted between skin and frame. if it was for a tacoma i could have sold it a dozen times, but because it's for a supercab ranger, it sits.

The more I read that, the more specialized it became. That is definitely a niche of a niche build you got.

I modded cars and trucks for about ten years. A big takeaway from that is that reselling sucks. Modded vehicles aren't really worth it to sell complete, and parting out takes next to forever and costs time, which I have less of these days. Heck, some custom parts can cost thousands but are worth only their value as scrap material to anyone other than the original owner.

I now have a "universal" and "less is more" mentality. Like, I chose a crew cab Nissan Frontier even though I never use the back seat. Crew cabs are easier to find and easier to sell for a better price.

As for mods, I either use universal parts, or parts that I can sell easily, or parts that are not so specialized that selling the truck with them wouldn't hurt its resale. Suspension and driveline stay stock.

The "less is more" mentality is what lures me to the Maverick. For my last two trucks, I went from one of the biggest standard pickup trucks you could get (F250 crew cab, 8' long bed) to the shortest one available for sale (Nissan Frontier SWB).

After realizing I don't just "make do" with the Frontier but realized it's "enough truck" without being "too much" truck, I figure I'd step it down one further notch to the Maverick. Don't get me wrong, Frontier is great and I have no intentions of changing until either a hybrid AWD Maverick hits the market or the mid cycle refresh happens.

 

[jeffdeq]

Never mind tools, when are we going to see the first slide in camper for the Mav....

That would be real interesting to see if one could be made that would be light enough to be loaded by hand by two people. The aerodynamics alone would kill the MPG’s. It will take creative thinking and designing to keep the total payload under 1500# and still allow for passengers and equipment. It would be cool to see some photo shopped ideas.
In the meantime, here is a website that might have a few good ideas for what is available.
https://trailandsummit.com/what-is-the-lightest-pop-up-truck-camper/

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