What to do with the bed of the truck was probably the most difficult and time consuming aspect of the entire project. I went from getting a custom cap from a company out in California, to a 100% custom build tubed cage of my own design, to an aftermarket cage concept, to finally installing the KUSA Systems MCR onto the truck. What happened?

Initially I had high hopes for a company located in California to come through with a very cool cap that not only fit the build look but also gave the truck an enclosed area that I could secure. As the weeks ticked by it slowly became clear that there was not enough interest on their part to make something happen, and if I was to meet any self imposed deadline (To be done by and attend the CT. SWAT Challenge) I needed to go in a different direction.

The second plan was to make a custom cage of my own design which called for it to be mounted permanently by welding it straight to the trucks frame. This method would prove to be very difficult given the lack of structural steel to weld to and also having the composite bed. We approached the idea from many different angles as I was hell bent on having a custom piece that would be a real head turner. After struggling to find a way for some time, the towel of submission was thrown into the ring and I decided that something else would have to be done.

A few other truck caps and specialty rack designs were looked at over the next few weeks and a choice was finally made. I would go with one of the specialty racks instead of a cap because it this was the best platform to install the turret hatch. Unfortunately, and once again, that company also stopped answering emails or returning phone calls. At this point I had already contacted KUSA just to tell them that I really liked their product and that I wished I had seen them earlier in my project. It was time to contact them again!

I got a hold of a few after market truck cap companies and all seemed to be positive but each over time just did not pan out. After another period of time I decided to call KUSA again to check and see what my options with them would be. In speaking with them I learned that I would be unable to get the panels that you see in there social media posts but I would be able to get just the frame of the “MCR” if I wanted. Given the nature of what I was trying to do….that was music to my ears. It was determined that the company that I was trying to work with was not replying to emails or phone calls therefor was not worth much to me. Even if KUSA was to fall through with any arrangements made, I would still be content with severing ties with a company that was treating this project with such poor customer service.

After a few more emails followed up with one or two phone calls to clarify what I was looking for, we concluded that we were more than a good fit for what I was trying to do. It was decided that although the native panels that would typically go with the MCR frame were not be available at that time, it was the aluminum frame that I was most looking for. Then the build of my KUSA MCR began and I could not get it here quickly enough! The following images are those shared by KUSA during the manufacturing process:

It didn’t take too long and before I knew it I was driving to meet with KUSA at the half way point. We decided that this would be the most advantageous way to get the MCR to me and fitted to my truck. We waited to drill the holes that would be needed to mount the MCR to the 2012 long bed Tacoma so that everything would be perfect. Once at Wilson & Steely Custom Coachworks in Athol, Massachusetts the MCR was disassembled, prepped for the Monstaliner coating, finally coated and then re-assembled.

Now that the truck had the MCR installed I was free to travel once again. I was able to drive to Boston to deliver an order directly to the Boston Police Department (Thank you Boston PD!) and while I was in the area I also cold stopped at numerous other locations for product demonstrations. The truck has done it’s job ten times better than I had hoped, turning heads everywhere I go. It may not be the biggest truck or the fanciest Tacoma on the road today…………but the one thing that this truck does accomplish is getting people to ask questions and it does it amazingly well.

With that being said, there is still more to do! Lights? Gadgets? I cannot wait to see where this goes. And speaking of that, this years plans are to travel to the Ohio Tactical Officers Association Conference and the National Tactical Officers Association event in Florida to name just a few things planned. Maybe I’ll see some of you there!