Unique sun roof

[JDSquared]

I just watched a YouTube video last night where they took an old truck camper shell, cut a hole in their roof and attached the shell over the kitchen living room area.

It's a new video too. Looks like they just did it this month. I've seen pictures on here of that vw bus on top which seems like too much. and now all of a sudden I want to cut a big hole in my roof for a camper shell.

They cut right through the ribs though. I'm guessing you can header those off same way I've done putting a skylight in a house. Still wondering, it seems like everything would want to fall into the center. I've got time though. Going to keep watching their videos and see how this holds up.

 

[JDSquared]

https://youtu.be/jcOeAFHly5I


I guess I should have shared the link.

 

[SolomonEagle]

I think one rib could safely be removed, in most cases, without the need for much reinforcement. If too many are removed though something would have to be done

 

[musigenesis]

I guess I should have shared the link.

I'm not sure I've ever seen a video with people so close to injury that didn't involve drinking or weaponry. Did you see the guy tiptoeing along the edge of the roof with his hand on the truck cap for balance? Not doing anything they do might be a good idea on principal.

One person here proposed this same basic idea, only using an overturned aluminum flatboat instead of a truck cap.

 

[plfking]

Look at 'ol trunt's pop-up for inspiration.....it's been done for a while and I don't recall him having any problems with it. Framing the opening before cutting any ribs or the roof skin would be paramount. I considered an 8" turtletop for a long time during my planning stages, and viewed all those VW bus add-ons as proof-of-concept.

 

[JDSquared]

I'm not sure I've ever seen a video with people so close to injury that didn't involve drinking or weaponry. Did you see the guy tiptoeing along the edge of the roof with his hand on the truck cap for balance? Not doing anything they do might be a good idea on principal.



One person here proposed this same basic idea, only using an overturned aluminum flatboat instead of a truck cap.

Yeah I was glad when the dad showed up lol. I'm his age and he seems like he had some common sense.

I didn't so much care about them getting hurt but I kept thinking that was my RV I would not want to be next to them.

 

[ol trunt]

Since plfking brought it up I'll jump in with a few pics of my translucent pop up on my bus--easier for me to just post the pics than have anyone try to locate them on the forum. I was lucky in that the roof on my bus was built with a pair of removable panels all boxed out in steel and "ready" to go. The actual replacement panel is made of 1/8" steel plate and two layers of polycarbonate sheeting. The sheeting looks in cross section like the cross section of a cardboard box and is very strong and yet somewhat flexible. The sheeting was affixed to the steel frame with 3M double stick tape as recommended by the plastic's mfg. I've always been a fan of "mock-ups" to test ideas so I'll begin with a pic of a paint stir stick mock up of the hinge and linear actuator design I came up with.Once the pop top was installed I stole the VW style tent idea and finished things off.

We've used the bus for nearly 5 years now as late as this just passed Thanksgiving and have had no problems with any aspect of the setup.
Jack

.

.

.

.

.

.

 

[musigenesis]

Since plfking brought it up I'll jump in with a few pics of my translucent pop up on my bus

This really is a fantastic mod. Thanks for the pics, I've never gotten such a clear idea of how your popup works before.

 

[JDSquared]

Thanks for the pictures. That's a really great mod as well

 

[banman]

I think one rib could safely be removed, in most cases, without the need for much reinforcement. If too many are removed though something would have to be done

They cut the hole in such a way as to make a 4" flange all around the opening.
That's not as strong as the ribs but that's not nothing -- and then the structure of the camper shell against the flange will act as a lightweight header.

It just means you can't dance on the roof where the hole is cut...

Or if you slide your bus into a phone pole the body won't be quite as strong where the ribs were cut...

 

[banman]

SNIP...

I didn't so much care about them getting hurt but I kept thinking that was my RV I would not want to be next to them.

Right?!
I'd be pissed...
(but that's why I don't own new shiny sh!t -- my BP's high enough already...)

 

[Dead pirate]

Holy cow ol trunt. That's sweet. I'm gonna look for an old vdub pop top now.