What gauge roof metal/roof ribs?

jofred99 · 02-09-2021, 08:26 AM

My first choice to bolt a solar roof rack thru the outer metal skin into my roof ribs using rivnuts.

- How thick is the roof metal? I'm thinking that it is about 16 ga.

- How thick is the metal on my roof rib? Does 11 ga. sound about right?

From what I can see it will require 1/2" rivnuts due to the thickness that is there.

My second choice is to drill thru the skin and use a piece of angle iron on the inside to distribute the load across the thin metal skin. Probably easier, but going thru the ribs looks to be stronger. Also, the second choice may lead to distortion of the metal skin due to flexing.

EastCoastCB · 02-09-2021, 09:06 AM

20 ga. is what the roof and ceiling are made of. The ribs are 14ga.

DeMac · 02-10-2021, 10:00 AM

Maybe just the newer IC Corp buses use 16g outside? Do you think they mean only the floors? My interior ceiling is thin, like the interior walls. ECCB does know his steel.

EastCoastCB · 02-10-2021, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeMac

Maybe just the newer IC Corp buses use 16g outside? Do you think they mean only the floors? My interior ceiling is thin, like the interior walls. ECCB does know his steel.

later model ic buses are 16ga.

musigenesis · 02-10-2021, 01:40 PM

I was about to go measure my ribs but I realized they're completely buried now. I think ECCB is right about the ribs - on my bus the outer skin and ceiling are 20 ga and the floor is bent 16 ga. but I'm pretty sure the ribs are a thicker material than 1/16".

EastCoastCB · 02-10-2021, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by musigenesis

I was about to go measure my ribs but I realized they're completely buried now. I think ECCB is right about the ribs - on my bus the outer skin and ceiling are 20 ga and the floor is bent 16 ga. but I'm pretty sure the ribs are a thicker material than 1/16".

the ribs on my old IC and my thomas are 14/15.

TheatricalKate · 05-20-2021, 02:22 PM

Does a 2007 International count as a new bus in the 16g range? Sadly, a worker at the shop I bought from accidentally threw out the manual... Thanks!

EastCoastCB · 05-20-2021, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheatricalKate

Does a 2007 International count as a new bus in the 16g range? Sadly, a worker at the shop I bought from accidentally threw out the manual... Thanks!

Yes. But if you're just patching over stuff 18 is plenty strong and a whole lot easier to work with.

TheatricalKate · 05-20-2021, 07:27 PM

Much appreciated!

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