Hi Paul:
You are absolutely correct that -- as I started to hint at -- the strength of
a structure such as these window pillars is almost entirely in the cross
section of the pieces (rather than in the wall thickness). To maintain the
original strength while doubling the length of these window pillars would
probably require them to be... oh, just shade-tree eye-balling in my
mind... four times the size; 8" x 6" instead of 2" x 1 1/2" -- not counting
the "hat brims". (Wild guess just to make a point.)
So your idea of copying the original "hat" profile in "one hat size larger"
is definitely a good step in the right direction.
But I don't know how I would go about it. Much easier for me to just walk
into Blue Collar Supply and fill a shopping list with standard items that
slip inside the original pillars. So I need to reclaim strength some other
way. This will be by welding in cross bracing. Fore-and-aft, I'll simply put
in diagonals in several window openings -- which will be skinned over
anyway. That will make each of those pillars... oh... without going out in
the rain to measure... effectively about 25 inches wide. Across the bus,
I can put bracing in the walls and other bulkheads, such as the bath room
walls and the wall that separates the living area from the "garage". Up
front -- where I'll be sitting when I tip it over!
-- will be the
toughest. But there will be something there. Stay tuned to this station.
There will be photos. This little Kodak C310 cost $99,99 and that included
the hose to connect it to the 'puter! And it is easy enough to use that
even I figured it out!
At Ye' Olde Trucking Company where I (sometimes) work we have quite
a selection of crunched equipment in the back yard. When I was hiring
the drivers, I REALLY hated it when "one of my kids" did it! We are up to
around 200 trucks now, and we tip them over... seems like about once
a month.
I think it is something internal in the driver's gut. I sometimes ride with
other drivers, and many of them seem to have no sense of balance.
They fly thru curves like they're in a sports car, and don't seem to notice that
the truck is leaning onto the #$%^&* door handle. Didn't they look up and
gauge how tall that thing was when they climbed in?!
All right. That seemed a bit off topic, but it wasn't really. Making a skoolie
two feet taller is serious business. I'm not going to go on about all the
people who tip their little station wagons over these days.
[scroll proofed]
looking good! 
Linear Mode
