The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Panels 'N Burbs How strong is the roof on my panel truck?

Now, I've always thought stuff like this was cool.

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd45/HomeCrafter/CTP5.jpg

But, uh, wouldn't that be a bit of a huge load on the roof and sidewalls? Perhaps wagons were reinforced for these shenanigans? Like for Clark W. Griswald putting grandma up there?

no load on the roof at all - racks like that were mounted on the rain gutters, above the sidewall stiffeners and pillars [studs] - the gutter area has 3 interlocked layers: the roof stamping, the gutter itself, and the flanged side wall, making quite a sound "lam-beam top plate" .... wouldn't want to carry the whole GVW up there, but quite strong .... similar roof racks were very common in the day, originally wood cross bars then aluminum tubes, both with stamped metal clamp feet - sometimes they had suction cup feet that sat on the roof right at the curve with straps that secured to the gutter

when I hit the road with 2 friends in a 55 International panel, we used a pair of those racks supporting a sheet of 1/2" ply with a home made canvas cover over a whole bunch of our supplies and camping gear - climbed up the hood and over the windshield to accesses it, just need to tread carefully on the bendy sheet metal

Bill

Here are some of the racks that are available.

Those are sweet racks. They load the roof though, through the suction cup feet.
the load would be spread out mind you.... and right on the curve.

I do have an old gutter mount rack here, with the separate cross bars. Its a "Ranger-rack"! With the windows cut into the walls of my panel, I'd be afraid to get up there only supported in four places on the gutter. The pillars on my panel are wood, and the steel skin has almost no strength, as it has been collapsed sever times by the looks of it. The steel is stretched, and was just as happy to be an "innie" as an "outie" until I dinged (and filled) it back into sort of shape.

It would make camping pretty easy and awesome though. Just climb up the ladder to the loft! I guess the acid test would be to mount the rack, and put some plywood on it, and just step off the ladder...

I would think the wind resistance would be formidable!

Kurt

Here are pics of my sidewalls, and the Ranger-Rack! The darn thing is made from cast aluminum. I guess that's why it's never rusted!

Here's the inside, replete with wooden framing:

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd45/HomeCrafter/IMGP2199.jpg
And the driver's side
http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd45/HomeCrafter/IMGP2200.jpg

the gutter/perhaps future RV location!
http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd45/HomeCrafter/IMGP2201.jpg
looking up at the gutter
http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd45/HomeCrafter/IMGP2202.jpg

The rack bracket:
http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd45/HomeCrafter/IMGP2203.jpg

Hussah! The logo!
http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd45/HomeCrafter/IMGP2204.jpg


So, what do the inside walls, and gutter look like on a stock truck?

I wonder if there would be more resistance with the pointy-roof box at 50mph, or towing a tiny trailer? The roof-mount would sure cost less for the ferries. Dang island with no cheap way on/off.

Any body else have some old/vintage pictures featuring roof top gizmos?

Hmmm, guess gutters are stronger than I thought...


http://dougsvintagetrailers.com/1966_lite_cloud

http://dougsvintagetrailers.com/campotel

Check out the "Areo-Cabana"! Holy cow!
And the nash tent, I beleive it was nash that had the drop back seats, for uh, sleeping.
http://www.hardtuned.com/feature/htshorts/rooftent/rooftent.html


Well, after seeing two adults sitting on top of a volkswagen beetle, I think I might just need to build something for my roof. After all, I view my panel as nothing more than a very tall station wagon! I might look around for some more roof-rack mounts though. I see on the landrover sites, you can buy new ones, for like, $40 each mount! Yikes!

that's not much different than stock, the main 'laminated' strut across the top carries the weight, and is supported thru the divider post and the door posts front and back - I suspect the oil canning of your sidewalls was a result of the converter using too much heat to cut the window holes, like a torch or heavy use of an angle grinder .... and considering the brick wall aerodynamics of these trucks, I don't think a roof top load would affect things much

Bill

Mr.Lang,I sent you a pm .



Tim

Ironically, they still make expedition tents for roofs. I had one on my landrover, it looked something like this

http://www.4wheeloffroad.com/features/131_0801_2007_arb_australia_adventure/photo_12.html

Mr.Lang,here is a few pictures of my 1951 suburbans roof and side walls.
interior roof
ride side interior wall
left side interior wall


Tim

Neato pics Tim. The rear of the burb looks pretty sweet!

While I have your attention, about how much room do you have from that middle seat to the back doors? About five feet? Or four?

About 50"to 52" from the bottom of the seat frame area.You loose some area as you measure upwards because of the curvature of the barn doors and the seat.


Tim

Nice! Thanks for the info. I'm always looking to learn something new.