Method to raise a fiberglass high-top.

[debit.servus]

For those with fiberglass high-tops which are still too low, an basic way to raise the high-top.

Fashion a metal strip, height depending on how much higher one wants their ceiling to be; strong enough to hold the fiberglass high top and able to be mounted to. The top of it acts as the new "lip" for the fiberglass high-top, the bottom sets into the van body. It might not look flush, but it's the most basic way to raise and existing high-top van.

This is on my "post-woodgasification if-I-have-money-skill-or-strong enough desire list", raising the bubble top by at least 6 inches so I can stand up with space over my head inside the van.

 

[Gary68]

or you can just buy a high top https://vanlivingforum.com/Thread-high-top-250-Stockton-ca?highlight=high+top
and install it

 

[TMG51]

Fashion a metal strip, height depending on how much higher one wants their ceiling to be; strong enough to hold the fiberglass high top and able to be mounted to.

So is this an instruction thread or a wish list thread? I'm not sure what metal strip you have in mind but this is certainly possible for anyone with a little bit of building skill. It's also a great method for people with truck caps. Just block up the top, then include some sort of fascia and insulation.

Also, you would always want to either have mating surfaces come together flush and sealed, or overlap from the top down such that the higher piece is outside the one below it. Think of how shingles or clapboards are layed. Water runs downhill. You'd never want your roof piece to set inside your van body.

 

[Mobilesport]

debit.servus ,,  Can you draw a picture of your idea? And post.
Thanks

 

[Mobilesport]

I assume your talking about building a spacer.
It would'nt be aerodynamic would it?

 

[SoulRaven]

I think if I was going to go to all of that trouble, I would prefer to build an all new hybrid foamie style top to my own specifications and aerodynamics.

 

[Mobilesport]

I think if I was going to go to all of that trouble, I would prefer to build an all new hybrid foamie style top to my own specifications and aerodynamics.

I've thought of that but i dont know what i would skin/coat it with.

 

[Konaexpress]

I think if I was going to go to all of that trouble, I would prefer to build an all new hybrid foamie style top to my own specifications and aerodynamics.

I've thought of that but i dont know what i would skin/coat it with.

Great ideas! Think I would skin it in fiberglass. 

John

 

[Mobilesport]

Great ideas! Think I would skin it in fiberglass. 

John

I've never atempted to fiberglass over foam before but i did atempt to build a small fiberglass top on top of my fiberlass top.
It was my first time using fiberglass and i layed it in a rectangle were my new top was going to be , after i had the part made that was the (Rigid piece) form of the roof , i was going to take that piece down off the roof and build the rest of it up in the garage , but i started thinking that 
it was going to be alot of work and alot of fiber glass to the point i was thinking that it would be easier to get a high top off of a minivan and then graph it in. I'm not saying graph it in to my vans roof but graph it in to a piece that you made to fit the contour of your vans roof .
I would have had a metal strip going around the bottom to give me something to screw into to mount it to the roof  ,  while in the interior of the back of my van i'd screw up through the vans roof then the screws go into the roof you made anchoring it down.
I used to spray foam in a factory so i know how easy it is to work with and 
very strong , I dont know how much work and fiberlass it would take to fiberglass over a small 10 ft by 3ft 3 inch roof

 

[SoulRaven]

While I know fiberglass is an option, for the sake of quick and easy, I feel like either a rubber roof type coating, or truck bed liner type coating might be sufficient.

Structural integrity could be maintained by an internal metal frame.

 

[Mobilesport]

While I know fiberglass is an option, for the sake of quick and easy, I feel like either a rubber roof type coating, or truck bed liner type coating might be sufficient.

Structural integrity could be maintained by an internal metal frame.

I use to shoot spray foam in a factory and i dont think you would need a metal frame , shoot about 1.5 thick and it would be very rigid .

 

[Konaexpress]

While I know fiberglass is an option, for the sake of quick and easy, I feel like either a rubber roof type coating, or truck bed liner type coating might be sufficient.

Structural integrity could be maintained by an internal metal frame.

I could be wrong as I did not fully understand what these guys on YouTube were doing but they said that they spray that plastic/rubber tool dip on cars for protection. I think the name of the video was something like "Tool dip you car" or something to that affect. Might this work?

John

 

[Mattkcc]

I've thought of that but i dont know what i would skin/coat it with.

You need to check out small boat building techniques. I would use marine grade epoxy to coat, stays somewhat flexible and doesn't get brittle. Epoxy must be painted for UV protection.

 

[Mobilesport]

I use to shoot spray foam in a factory and i dont think you would need a metal frame , shoot about 1.5 thick and it would be very rigid .

Good ideas about the bedliner and rubber roof coating

 

[SoulRaven]

I could be wrong as I did not fully understand what these guys on YouTube were doing but they said that they spray that plastic/rubber tool dip on cars for protection. I think the name of the video was something like "Tool dip you car" or something to that affect. Might this work?

John

I am not an expert on this, but I think it might work.  Basically anything that is waterproof and durable should work I think.

 

[Mobilesport]

You need to check out small boat building techniques. I would use marine grade epoxy to coat, stays somewhat flexible and doesn't get brittle. Epoxy must be painted for UV protection.

Are you sure the Marine grade epoxy wont eat into the foam?
I was suprised to find out that fiberglass resin wont eat into foam ,.
Come to find out thats how they make surfboards , they fibreglass over a piece of foam. I hope yore right because marine grade epoxy sounds like it would be easier to work with then fiberglass.

 

[Konaexpress]

Are you sure the Marine grade epoxy wont eat into the foam?
I was suprised to find out that fiberglass resin wont eat into foam ,.
Come to find out thats how they make surfboards , they fibreglass over a piece of foam. I hope yore right because marine grade epoxy sounds like it would be easier to work with then fiberglass.

Though I have not worked with it, fiberglass is just a big sheet of material. To cut cost, some use a cloth painters tarp and epoxy over it. Takes a few more coats from what I have read.

John

 

[SternWake]

POylester resins usually called fiberglass resins, eat many type of foam. Epoxy is safe on most every type of foam as it contains no solvents.

Polyester resin will eat 'styrofoam, Extruded, or is it expanded polystyrene.

I gave up making foam surfboards in the mid 90's. Cedar is now my medium, and epoxy is my exclusive resin.

As far as working with fiberglass I am going to copy and paste something I wrote in another post:


Nevermind, I can't find the thread and I am certainly not typing it over

 

[Mobilesport]

POylester resins usually called fiberglass resins, eat many type of foam.  Epoxy is safe on most every type of foam as it contains no solvents.

Polyester resin  will eat 'styrofoam, Extruded, or is it expanded polystyrene.

I gave up making foam surfboards in the mid 90's.  Cedar is now my medium, and epoxy is my exclusive resin.

As far as working with fiberglass I am going to copy and paste something I wrote in another post:


Nevermind, I can't find the thread and I am certainly not typing it over
Sternwake , how about a cedar hightop roof?

 

[Mobilesport]

Instead of spraying foam could you very simply buy some of 
those foam rigid panels and cut down to the size and the angle you 
want and then tape it all together with that chrome looking hvac tape.
You would have your roof very quick and simply but it would'nt be structually sound so
you coat it with the marine grade epoxy , Would Marine grade epoxy make it strong enough to withstand high winds?