Heres the next problem that needs to be solved. I have lightweight stuff, and heavier stuff, that doesn't fit in the canopy. These are 20 footers, lightweight rect. tube 1x2 x .120 & .065. You may notice they're 'bowed' over the cab by the tension. I didn't much like driving with stuff attached this way. Any one problem, and it's gone. The straps were fine, minimal tension, and nothing to cut them, but I'm doing something better next time. I prefer situations where there are two (or 3) points of fixture and each one can do the job on its own. I made it to my destination, but should have used 2 straps at the front, at least.
There are over-the-canopy racks but these don't work on an F150 because the canopy overlaps the bed a couple inches down. So to get structure out the side, you have to cut about 2 inch notch in the canopy lower edge. Also my canopy windows swing out (up).
There are racks that bolt to the canopy top, using the canopy structure. The "A.R.E." canopy is fairly strong - I think there's a 3/4" sheet of plywood molded into the top. Not sure what can be done over the cab.
Still gathering ideas,,,, My current thought is to make an internal steel skeleton and bolt stuff to the top that bears out thru the internal structure. I'm trying to avoid permanent-mounted stuff on top because I'm a cheap bugger wrt to gas mileage. My V8 only gets 14.5mpg (not be using the special calculators that other fellas have
).
Plus once you start bolting stuff on the outside its a slippery slope and there's no end. Been there before and trying to avoid it with the new truck. I only have 6,000 miles, is there some odometer number where you say "aw what the heck" and open the floodgates?
