another hi top question

[kwest]

I searched the forums and didn't see an answer,
But i am about to be looking for a van. My girlfriend and i are living in a 34ft RV, but since she is no longer my gf, I'm looking for something much smaller.

I am 6ft tall and would love a hi top for the headroom. But can you attach a roof rack? I have a kayak and would love to but solar up as well. It's thus possible?

I know the kayak will make stealth impossible, but I'm more concerned with mpg and comfort. I don't need much interior space, i own very little. But traveling to parks is my interest.


I'm open to any and all opinions.

Thanks, Kyle

Spelling is a mess typed on my phone, I'll edit later

 

[stude53]

Kyle,<br><br>What are dimensions for your Kayak? I believe you could arrange a platform just above your high top using a metal framework attached to the metal sides of your van, similar to the ones that stand and attach in the bed of a pickup truck ...&nbsp;that form a raised roof rack the height of the cab. How much you could put up there&nbsp; (kayak plus solar panels) are a function of dimensions of the items.<br><br>Bob<br><br><a href="/file?id=1453639" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">rack.gif</span></a>

 

[kwest]

thanks, bob. The roof rack may be the ticket. <br><br>My kayak is 12' by around 31". That should leave me half the roof for solar.....roughly. i dont plan to use a whole lot of power but I'm going to be boondocking most of the time so power is number 1, the kayak can go if need be. I need to really look at my power usage over the weekend and figure out what I would like for solar.&nbsp;<br><br>I'm still not sold on the high top. I plan to use nature to entertain me and have the van for sleeping and eating, but theres always things like weather that can keep you indoors for a few days

 

[wrcsixeight]

I've put roof racks on my fiberglass roof but later removed them. &nbsp;Used Two 1 1/2" U bolts holding each Thule foot to the roof with large thick washers inside and out to spread the load. The U bolts make for good attachment points for tie downs, inside and out. I Used to carry surfboards stacked super high up there, but got tired of advertising "Surfer", and frankly it was difficult to get them up there and remove them in a timely manner. &nbsp;Also UV Damage and heat is a factor.<br><br>Also, without anything attached to the racks I lost ~1/2 MPG highway. So I removed them. &nbsp;Now I have 200 watts of solar up there. &nbsp;With a couple load spreaders, I have carried sheets of plywood on top of those panels, both the framed 130 watt Kyocera panel and the flexible Unisolar 68 watt.<br><br>I gutted the &nbsp;interior of my roof of my conversion van and only added 1/2 inch of insulation so as to not limit roof storage.<br><br>I keep 2 surfboards up there 9'7" and a six eight with the fins on, hulls down. &nbsp;Always inside with me, always up and out of the way, and always stealth.<br><br>A bunch of clothes also get stored up there. &nbsp;Couldn't do it without the raised roof.<br><br>Here is a Pic of my Roof before I adhered the additional Unisolar 68 watt flexible panel next to the framed KYC 130tm.<br><br>These 3 sheets of 1 1/4 thick 4x8 sheets of plywood, 4 sheets of 3/4" plywood and 1 sheet of 1/2 plywood are 1/2 inch above my 130 watt Solar panel. &nbsp;I loaded all this myself without assistance.<br><br>I since have carried almost as much plywood up there with the Unisolar installed with some modifications to the supports. &nbsp;Which are just 4x4's shaped to the curve of the roof with a no slip drawer liner stapled to them.<br><br>The racheting Tie downs are attached to Stainless Steel Pad Eyes, held to the fiberglass with stainless #12 bolts with large stainless washers inside.<br><br>

<br><br>I briefly hit 55mph with this much weight and wind resistance up there. &nbsp;I would probably use an additional longer tie downs, down to the undercarrige if the job site was further from the Lumber store.<br><br>My Kyocera solar panel mounts are pretty beefy made of plywood, some Ipe, and aluminum to hold the panel down and allow it to tilt 90 degrees toward either side of the Van. &nbsp;These are fiberglassed down to the fiberglass roof.<br><br>I was going for the side view roof rack look.<br>The following photo was taken before I finished painting the mounts, back in October of '07:<br><br>

<br><br>Here is the panel tilted:<br>

<br><br><br><br>Do not fear the fiberglass raised roof. &nbsp;Fear roof gutter rust instead.<br><br><br><br>

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

Also, someone on here mentioned inflatable kayaks, so that could be one option <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">

 

[wrcsixeight]

I don't know much about kayaking. &nbsp;I thought the newer ones were a lot smaller than 12 feet and had a lot of bottom curve for maneuverability, but I guess those are for more turbulent waters. &nbsp;I'd probably like a longer flatter one for paddling efficiency<br><br>I've seen a few out in the &nbsp;ocean riding waves, but most riders seem to just get pushed sideways toward shore

 

[kwest]

The inflatable kayaks are cool, but a little pricey.

And there are tons of styles and lengths, mine can be used for two people or I've. It's a sit on top kayak so it's more comfortable and for flat water. I have the extra space so i can bring my dog with me. I may look into an inflatable one, Pack up small.

 

[Les H]

Hi Kwest, not sure if i said welcome or not, so here it is, Hi and welcome. As to the raised roof, I am 6' tall also, and my bus has a roof that is raised 14" above standard. I LOVE being able to stand and change my pants, cook, wipe the hiney, etc. The bus is 5'10" inside, so i hafta hunch a bit, but far better than crawling around on my knees. I do have a roof rack and ladder from an old rv mounted on it, as well as solar and a roof vent. outside height is just over 8' with nothing on my rack. I also have a kayak, a 9'6""swifty", though i have not yet put it up top. I have stuck it inside several times. I am not a full timer though, if i were, im sure i would get some cross bars for the rack and put it up there. As it is, i dont park in parking garages or go through drive thru's, so my only real worry is low branches, which have scraped the roof and panels before, but no damage so far. Now, just to clarify, my roof is STEEL, with 1 1/4" square sreel tube reinforcing, but you can definatly do the same with fiberglass if you reinforce it cross wise from the inside. ( and then insulate and cover with your choice of ceiling material). Good luck with it!

 

[Van Tripper]

When comes to batteries and solar check out, http://handybobsolar.wordpress.com/the-rv-battery-charging-puzzle-2/

 

[kwest]

Thanks everyone for the advice.<br><br>Les: I had a full size skoolie I was working on a few years ago. Sold it about 3/4 through the conversion. Had to move for work and&nbsp;didn't&nbsp;have the funds or time to finish it.<br><br>I actually really like short buses and ambulances for converting. Built tough, easy to get a lower&nbsp;mileage&nbsp;diesel, and the size makes them nice to convert.&nbsp;<br><br>There's a 20' bus for sale in my area. 7.3 idi motor, 12' behind the driver seat, and under 100k for mileage. May call the guy when I get my rv on craigslist. Hopefully after selling my rv and buying the bus, i could have around 2k to put right into the bus, I would be living in it starting day 1, so Insulation, power, heat, would be the first concerns. I have no problem sleeping on the floor until I get a lay out.&nbsp;<br><br>The guy who posted the bus said it get 16-18 mpg, does that sound correct? I'll very happy if it is but I thought it might get less. MPG is important because I plan to travel often beginning in the fall. I could also do a WVO conversion on it as well.

 

[kwest]

Vantripper: Handybob has alot of good solar info in there, Im going to have to read that a few more times to figure out how to set up my setup correctly.&nbsp;

 

[Les H]

kwest , my bus is a gm gas 350 v8 with low gearing. 13.5 mpg on the highway @62 mph is the best ive gotten. I just had a major tune up and oil change, so it may go up slightly. A friend has a 95 20' airport transporter with the fiberglass body and 7.3 turbo diesel. He claims to get 17-18 mpg ( rotton no good @#%&!!!) and others say about the same, so it is possible.