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 08-21-2019, 05:29 PM   #1
Bus Nut
 
Join Date: May 2018
Location: the Missouri Ozarks
Posts: 258
Year: 1997
Coachwork: BlueBird
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: 466e
Rated Cap: its Yuge
Deck Framing - square tubing vs angle iron

Looking to build a rectangular steel frame with cross supports to use to hold up a wooden deck on the top of my bus. Originally i was thinking 1.5" 1/8 tubing to screw the boards to since it is stronger than angle iron, but wondered if i would have rust issues with all the holes i put in it to attach the deck.

Anybody out there have experience with this?

Thanks,
dave

MambaJack is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-21-2019, 05:43 PM   #2
Bus Geek
 
Jolly Roger bus 223's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Swansboro,NC
Posts: 3,124
Year: 86
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Ford B700
Engine: 8.2
Rated Cap: 60 bodies
i would reccomend 12guage uni strut because it is already galvanized has bolt holes already in it and tons of manufacturing support for brackets, bases and all kinds of things to build whatever you want.
anything black steel even heavily painted originally is going to need repainted every few years or rust stains will be a problem.
check out HILTI unistrut systems and everything they offer to go with it and if you like the idea of it then go to your local commercial electric supply, plumbing/piping supply house for the cheapest option or find your closest fastenal or grainger supply but they will be getting closer to hilti prices.
it is also called
kendorf strut
super strut
and many other names depending on your trade.
good luck
Jolly Roger bus 223 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-21-2019, 06:02 PM   #3
Bus Geek
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Eastern WA
Posts: 6,402
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American RE (A3RE)
Engine: Cummins ISC (8.3)
Rated Cap: 72
Something to consider....

Some insurance companies will not issue a policy if you have a roof deck.

I had planned on building a deck until I found out that my insurance does not allow it.

Same issue with wood stoves.
PNW_Steve is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-23-2019, 02:06 PM   #4
Bus Nut
 
Join Date: May 2018
Location: the Missouri Ozarks
Posts: 258
Year: 1997
Coachwork: BlueBird
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: 466e
Rated Cap: its Yuge
Thanks, these are both helpful to know, but am curious if anybody out there has knowledge on what the pros/cons would be of tubing vs angle?
MambaJack is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-23-2019, 02:13 PM   #5
Bus Geek
 
o1marc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Dawsonville, Ga.
Posts: 10,482
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Genesis
Chassis: International
Engine: DT466/3060
Rated Cap: 77
Quote:
Originally Posted by MambaJack View Post
Thanks, these are both helpful to know, but am curious if anybody out there has knowledge on what the pros/cons would be of tubing vs angle?
Tubing will be stronger and have more surfaces to mount to. Spray it with a rust preventer to avoid rust.
I would do a base square tube frame for support , then add angle on top to drop my boards into the frame.
o1marc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-23-2019, 02:31 PM   #6
Bus Geek
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: West Ohio
Posts: 3,829
I'd use angle, you have no way to paint the interior of tubing, and drilling holes into it will expose the inside to moisture and rust. The strength difference between tubing and angle is moot in a situation like this. Whatever you use, be sure it is sufficiently attached to the bus framing.
Booyah45828 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-16-2020, 01:55 PM   #7
Mini-Skoolie
 
HazeltheMooseWagon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Central Arkansas
Posts: 27
Year: 1996
Coachwork: International AmTran
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: International DT466
Rated Cap: 65 passenger - 27,500 GVW
This may be a little late for this post but I plan on using light gauge galvanized square tubing for my room deck frame. It will be attached to unistrut that is bolted through the roof bows. Also, if you choose to use mild steel tubing, I have had good results from drilling a small hole in the bottom side of the tubing and pouring in about a quart of boiled linseed oil and rolling it around to completely coat the inside. I got the idea from a sail boat forum for corrosion protection at sea of inside tubing.
HazeltheMooseWagon 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 12:41 PM.


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