Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 02-13-2019, 02:11 PM   #1
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 108
raising fiberglass roof, have you done this?

I have a 1999 Ford e450 23' fiberglass bodied bus, am wanting to raise the roof, I can build roof raise out of plywood and fiberglass over like a plywood boat, but am interested in what you have done? and what you learned from doing it?

Bluespoet is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-13-2019, 03:34 PM   #2
Bus Geek
 
Tango's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 8,462
Year: 1946
Coachwork: Chevrolet/Wayne
Chassis: 1- 1/2 ton
Engine: Cummins 4BT
Rated Cap: 15
How is the existing upper frame/structure put together?
Tango is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-13-2019, 05:58 PM   #3
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 108
fiberglass
Bluespoet is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-13-2019, 09:32 PM   #4
Bus Geek
 
ol trunt's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: So Cal
Posts: 3,227
Year: 1935
Coachwork: Superior
Chassis: Chevy
Engine: 317 ci/tid / Isuzu
Need more info. Is it fiberglass sandwiched over foam? Does it have a steel or wood or no frame? Where do you want to start the roof rise? A little more info for us and a bunch of homework for you before we can be of much help.
Jack
ol trunt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-13-2019, 09:46 PM   #5
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 108
It is just a fiberglass shell made out of fiberglass. This is why I asked for people with experience to respond, but I am always glad to have ideas, but fiberglass can have, but doesn't need framework, just like with many fiberglass boats.
Bluespoet is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-15-2019, 09:51 AM   #6
Bus Nut
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Cuyahoga Falls Ohio
Posts: 592
Year: 1997
Coachwork: Startrans
Chassis: Ford e-350 single wheel
Engine: 5.4 litre
Rated Cap: 12
My shuttle bus has 1" steel frame work with fiberglass over it. So I can't help you much. Are you sure it doesn't have structural support under that fiberglass?
leadsled01 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-15-2019, 09:00 PM   #7
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 108
there is no visable steel framework and I have gotten into the walls quite a bit to insulate.
Bluespoet is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-16-2019, 01:06 PM   #8
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Bar Harbor Maine
Posts: 67
Year: 2005
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: Vision
Engine: C7 caterpillar Allison automatic heavy foot
Rated Cap: 72
temporarily frame on the inside with 2 x 4 or whatever then lay upon Abitibi sheets with 7 coats of mold release wax turtle wax will work do a couple extra coats lay up your hard glass panels youll want a matt 1808 anyway id think when it kicks pop them off and touch the edges up with the grinder but i build boats so i dont really know what youre up against without seeing it! tack them in place temporarily then grind your edges back and tab it all together and then remove the framing patch anything left probably want to tab in some support its a longer span or you could core bond some core in there glass over that for a boxed structure it would be really strong then! fare it out paint it and your done some framing though for tack strips maybe might not be bad?
Smokey's pipe dream is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-30-2020, 09:03 AM   #9
Almost There
 
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 85
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Girardian Handicapped Commercial
Chassis: E-450
Engine: Ford 7.3L
Rated Cap: 9,000
How’s this project going?
mc11237 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:12 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.