Roof Raise

[lewirj]

Somehow I managed to get the brackets welded up, everything chopped, raised and pretty solid in one day...alone. I didn't get all of the mullions installed (due to figuring out future window sizes) but it is surprisingly solid with a half dozen 1 1/4" mullions and four 3/4" all threads in their brackets.

[Twigg]

Looks like that went up nicely.

Like the brackets. Simple and effective.

[Jshaul]

Originally Posted by lewirj

Somehow I managed to get the brackets welded up, everything chopped, raised and pretty solid in one day...alone. I didn't get all of the mullions installed (due to figuring out future window sizes) but it is surprisingly solid with a half dozen 1 1/4" mullions and four 3/4" all threads in their brackets.

I applaud your industry and skill. I'd be proud to do this in a week.

I'm a bit confused - how will this all be welded up with a new skin?

[Twigg]

Originally Posted by Jshaul

I applaud your industry and skill. I'd be proud to do this in a week.

I'm a bit confused - how will this all be welded up with a new skin?

There are several ways.

Use square tube that fits the hat channel and weld it in with a decent overlap above and below the remains of the original.

Or ... have new sections of hat channel fabricated to fit the profile of the old, and weld it in.

Skins are simply screwed or riveted to the ribs just as they were originally. They can be cut to allow the original windows to be re-fitted, or cut to take RV windows. That might involve welding in new frames, but it's more time-consuming than complicated.

[lewirj]

In the hat channels I am welding in 1 1/4" x 1/8" square tubing. I will be putting 18 gauge sheet metal on the outside using steel rivets. I'll probably fiberglass the "step" in the roof.

[EastCoastCB]

Another Roof Raise Club member!! yay!!!!

[lewirj]

Thanks. The brackets with the all thread had me a little worried but they worked out pretty smooth. I got the idea from a couple of guys on Youtube.

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by lewirj

Thanks. The brackets with the all thread had me a little worried but they worked out pretty smooth. I got the idea from a couple of guys on Youtube.

We used all-thread too!

[lewirj]

When do I get my straight jacket with the club logo on it?

[lewirj]

"We used all-thread too!"


That's heavy duty!

[EastCoastCB]

Keep up the work, and the pics!!

[cadillackid]

awesome!!! love seeing these raised roofs!!.. the sky is no longer the limit on these conversions!!

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by cadillackid

awesome!!! love seeing these raised roofs!!.. the sky is no longer the limit on these conversions!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYcqToQzzGY

[lmetts]

Originally Posted by cadillackid

awesome!!! love seeing these raised roofs!!.. the sky is no longer the limit on these conversions!!

But 13'6" unfortunately is. Otherwise I'd build a custom double decker bus. Damn bridges. I am about to bring my bus home, a 40' thomas mvp re pusher. It'll have a full roof raise. I don't want a transition. I am thinking 13 ft tall, or the right height to match standard width sheet metal.

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by lmetts

But 13'6" unfortunately is. Otherwise I'd build a custom double decker bus. Damn bridges. I am about to bring my bus home, a 40' thomas mvp re pusher. It'll have a full roof raise. I don't want a transition. I am thinking 13 ft tall, or the right height to match standard width sheet metal.

Transition would be real tough on a Thomas, anyhow.

[Miles O Roads]

Looks good. Nice were starting to get good weather to finally start working outside.

[lewirj]

I decided to keep a similar profile on the transition from raised roof to original roof. Rather than going straight down I decided to use the area for storage so I extended the upper roof forward attempting to match the lower profile.
Most of it is sheet metal and the corners are fiberglass molded in place, removed and butyl taped back in place then primed.