Hat channel Supplier

[Roadie]

Thanks Bon, I have finally found a shop that is making me a sample. I'm having them made 20" which will be the height of my raise; on the inside of the C I intend to place 1'X1"X 1/8" square tubing which will extend past the splice top and bottom.

[Native]

Originally Posted by Roadie

Thanks Bon, I have finally found a shop that is making me a sample. I'm having them made 20" which will be the height of my raise; on the inside of the C I intend to place 1'X1"X 1/8" square tubing which will extend past the splice top and bottom.

I am pleased you found a shop to make your hat channel. Do you mind sharing the cost?

[Roadie]

I don't know the cost yet. When I do I will share.

[Native]

Originally Posted by Roadie

I don't know the cost yet. When I do I will share.

Excellent! I know others looking into the process will benefit from your experience.

[JackE]

Originally Posted by Bon Voyage

You may want to consider putting in “c” channel inside instead of hat channel (it’ll be easier for a shop to do and more could make it; have the back of the c facing out and flush with the bus hat channel. Then you can just rivet your sheet metal into the c. Had I seen that idea before my raise I probably would’ve done it that way.

I was thinking about something like this since I plan on using 4X10 sheets of metal to skin the sides. Your explanation has helped me decide on doing it this way. Thanks, I think it'll be quite easy this way. This will also lend to staggering the height of the cuts in the hat channel more easily than using a shorter piece of hat, or having to weld angle onto the insert to match the hat hole lines.

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by JackE

I was thinking about something like this since I plan on using 4X10 sheets of metal to skin the sides. Your explanation has helped me decide on doing it this way. Thanks, I think it'll be quite easy this way. This will also lend to staggering the height of the cuts in the hat channel more easily than using a shorter piece of hat, or having to weld angle onto the insert to match the hat hole lines.

a full c channel insert is SOLID.


If you turn the c channel the other way than I did you can just rivet right to it without needing the extra flanges.

[laegion]

PNW_Steve, I know this is an old thread. I'm in WW also...hopefully doing my roof raise in a few months. What shop did you have fab them? I really don't want to pay $24/piece...

[musigenesis]

Originally Posted by laegion

PNW_Steve, I know this is an old thread. I'm in WW also...hopefully doing my roof raise in a few months. What shop did you have fab them? I really don't want to pay $24/piece...

If I were doing a raise I would definitely just use square tube with shims as necessary and spot-welded flanges. The price at a steel scrap warehouse should be like 1/10 of what those custom fabricated extensions cost.

[Bus'n it]

I did exactly that but only because I didn't want to wait on hat channels. I then drilled the angle flanges to match the rivet hole pattern already there.

[Luke Davis]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

Their hat channel sucks and they may take months to get it to you with no communication.

Local is always best.

Hi there! As the owner of skoolie.com I can only assume you have us confused with another fabricator that has become know for taking forever to send parts with little to no communication. That is definitely not our company you are describing. We ALWAYS have hundreds of hat channels in stock for several different bus types and send email confirmation and tracking with our orders (which ship out every week).
Can I ask why you think they suck?

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by Luke Davis

Hi there! As the owner of skoolie.com I can only assume you have us confused with another fabricator that has become know for taking forever to send parts with little to no communication. That is definitely not our company you are describing. We ALWAYS have hundreds of hat channels in stock for several different bus types and send email confirmation and tracking with our orders (which ship out every week).
Can I ask why you think they suck?

Folks on here bought some, it took a long time for them to get, and wasn't really an ideal fit.

So I ordered some hat channel from skoolie.com. Channel itself is perfect but it came with their "inserts" already tacked into place. I did ask for the inserts but figured I wouldn't use them and figured they would come loose.

The problem is that the inserts prevent me from using square tube flush against the back to provide structure support. To do this I'd have to cut out and grind down the welds on every single one of my hat channels...

Now, skoolie.com says they do all their raises like this -- no additional support with "c" channel or square tube. Just the insert at the gaps. What's everyone's thoughts on this? Seems like it wouldn't provide nearly enough structural support.

http://https://www.skoolie.net/forum...nel-30119.html

[EastCoastCB]

https://ibb.co/bssW6CJ

[musigenesis]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

https://ibb.co/bssW6CJ

http://https://www.reddit.com/r/skoo...m_hat_channel/

A couple of your links here have an extra "http://" at the start.

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by musigenesis

A couple of your links here have an extra "http://" at the start.

Sorry- just getting my cup of coffee.

[DeMac]

The 26.75" square "Hatch to AC" patch, offered by skoolie.com would not have worked for our factory ehatch. Our hole was 3/4" off center to one side. (Not unique) The rib spacing is 27" on center.

ECCB provided us some 16g patches to seal up our roof. Both ehatches, passive vent, strobe, & eight flashers. He wouldn't take our money, either.

Using a 28" x 30" patch (with 14-3/16 sq hole) allowed me to cover the old ehatch mounting holes and place my rivets in the center of the hat channel. Also, having sixty-four tiny 5/64" pilot holes, (not twenty-eight 3/16" holes) allowed me to index & center-align the roof holes when drilling. Stepped up to 3/16" (#11) for the SS rivets. The rivets that ECCB helped me to size correctly and find a reliable, cheap supplier.

Luke,
Not trying to start trouble, thanks for hearing me out. If you want to improve the skoolie.com products, maybe ECCB could help with the design.

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by DeMac

The 26.75" square "Hatch to AC" patch, offered by skoolie.com would not have worked for our factory ehatch. Our hole was 3/4" off center to one side. (Not unique) Our the rib spacing is 27" on center.

ECCB provided us some patches to seal up our roof. Both ehatches, passive vent, strobe, & flashers. He wouldn't take our money, either.

Using a 28" x 30" patch (with 14-3/16 sq hole) allowed me to cover the old ehatch mounting holes and place my rivets in the center of the hat channel. Also, having sixty-four tiny 5/64" pilot holes, (not twenty-eight 3/16" holes) allowed me to index & center-align the roof holes when drilling. Stepped up to 3/16" (#11) for the SS rivets. The rivets that ECCB helped me to size correctly and find a reliable, cheap supplier.

Luke,
Not trying to start trouble, thanks for hearing me out. If you want to improve the skoolie.com products, maybe ECCB could help with the design.

I think the strength of adding a full-length custom c-insert then the "hat" is the way to go- but that's more $ for shipping and materials.
I don't like the smaller inserts tacked onto the ends of the hat.

[Philip James]

I know this is an Old Post but I hope I can help anyone else who needs metal parts for their skoolie. I have the sheet metal in stock and the machinery to make hat channels.

[o1marc]

Originally Posted by Philip James

I know this is an Old Post but I hope I can help anyone else who needs metal parts for their skoolie. I have the sheet metal in stock and the machinery to make hat channels.

Shipping pretty much kills hat channel kit shipping. Where are you located?
I have hat and C channel for sale in the classifieds.

[DeMac]

In another post he stated Niagra Falls, NY.

[o1marc]

Originally Posted by DeMac

In another post he stated Niagra Falls, NY.

If he wanted to participate in the community he would go to the UserCP and fill out his profile, instead of just coming to hawk his goods. Most sites make you pay to offer commercial services in posts.