'07 Tacoma Fire Extinguisher Mount

[slosurfer]

I made a fire extinguisher mount using a Quick Fist Nozzle Clamp (http://www.sierraexpeditions.com/index.php/action/item/id/387/prevaction/category/previd/3/prevstart/0/) that utilizes the rail system in the bed. No holes or modifications to the truck itself, plus it can be moved to wherever it fits best on the rail system.

List of what I used:
1- Quick Fist Nozzle Clamp
1- 1/4" bolt
2- 1/4" draw bolt washers
1- 1/4" nut
1- spring
1- piece of steel with its width being slightly smaller than the opening of the rail system and its length being the same as the base of the quick fist
1- some kind of adhesive to glue the fist and steel together (this is not needed but it does make it easier deal with if they are attached)

Using the template provided, I used a 1/4" drill bit to drill a center hole in the steel and two partial holes that some nubs on the clamp fit in and keep the clamp from twisting. I then used some construction adhesive to glue the steel and clamp together.

I could not find any t-slot bolts locally so I came up with using the draw bolt nuts to hold it in the slot. The spring helps to keep tension on everything helping to keep everything where you want it, and makes it easier to turn the bolt so that it locks it in and then you can tighten the nut down. It also helps everything when you want to remove or slide it down, you just loosen the nut, twist the bolt, and remove. I may change this out for a good t-slot bolt if I find a good one locally.
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/IMG_5999.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/IMG_6000.jpg

Mounted:
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/IMG_6001.jpg

Side view showing how the steel fits in the rail:
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/IMG_6002.jpg

With fire extinguisher:
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/IMG_5984.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/IMG_5985.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/IMG_5988.jpg

So far, it has very little movement, a little back and forth when hitting bumps, but no twisting at all. I made sure that I have the fire extinguisher low enough that it won't hit the shell window. The June Lake trip should make for a good testing period.

[slosurfer]

Just got back from the June Lake camping trip and the mount held up with little to no movement of the fire extinguisher. I ran Laurel Lakes trail (very rocky and bumpy) and a bunch of dirt roads, along with one of the roughest paved roads that I have been on in a while (the road from 120 to Tamarack Flat Campground in Yosemite). It was nice having the piece of mind that it was in an easy to reach place and secured well. If I didn't have the shell on, I wouldn't have any problem putting it up on the front rail driver's side.

[Ric]

nicely done

[91_4x4runner]

Good job, looks pro.

Almost scared me at first though. I went to the "Recent Forum Topics" on the side of the main page and it only showed "'07 Tacoma Fire". :P

[slosurfer]

The recent fire extinguisher thread reminded me to update this thing. :D

The one thing that always worried me about this setup, was how it would take a hard hit (either from offroading or otherwise). I was worried that it would move too much and the top might hit the shell window and bust it.

Well...., as most know the tacoma took a pretty hard hit directly to the bed from an early 90's fullsize chevy. I had a bag of snowchains, a heavy bag of hand tools, and various other stuff in the back. The hit was hard enough to send all that stuff flying all over the place back there, but the fire mount was solid as can be. I'm sure it moved some, but no marks on the window or the truck bed. :thumbup:

Anyways, just wanted to update it as I was thinking about it the other day when the adjuster was here looking at stuff.

[rynosurf]

I used the bolts in the cover plate over the storage/AC outlet to mount some small quick fists for an axe. It sounds like you don't need it but if you want to secure your extinguisher a little more you might be able to add another large quick fist there to hold the bottom in place.

[slosurfer]

Hey that's a good idea for the axe. I'm always one for using existing bolts when you can. :)

Yeah, it doesn't need any more support. That quick fist I used was actually designed for fire extinguishers for fire trucks. It is beefier/stiffer than any of the other quikfists. The truck was in an accident and the fire extinguisher didn't hit the window or the bed.