Question about overhangs and weight

[Woltz]

So I'm going with a truck and I will need a cap for it to make it livable. Because there are some events I want to go to as soon as I get the truck I'll have a normal cap for the truck, but eventually I want to make a cap using wood. I'm curious if the cap, once finished, will be to much weight for the truck. The design I was going to use is the one in this photo. The first picture with the black truck is the design of the frame I wanted to use. It would be a wooden frame, with plywood over it, some black roofing film to waterproof it, then some wood paneling to make it look pretty over that. I'd like this over hang but I'm worried that during travels from Michigan to Chicago, that it might be a problem. Any advice on that?

 

[Every Road Leads Home]

It depends on what truck you end up with really. Different trucks can hold different amounts of weight. My 1/2 ton silverado is rated to hold about 1500 lbs. If you're building a camper shell for it, it would have to be well under 1500 lbs if using a Silverado for example because you also have to take in account the weight of yourself and any other passengers, gear, water, etc. There are also axle weights, and you can't put all 1500 lbs over the rear axle, so there's that as well.

If you buy a 3/4 or 1 ton truck it will be able to hold a considerable amount more weight. When you are looking at trucks you are interested in, make sure you look up their weight ratings to make sure they can handle the weight before purchasing it.

 

[ArtW]

bowing wood like the PCV in the picture would be.....interesting
is there a site where they have details on building that thing?

 

[Every Road Leads Home]

I'd make laminated trusses if I were trying to build a cap like that. 6 strips 1/8" each or might even go a bit thinner. Make a form of the radius you need and then bend each strip into it gluing and clamping them as you go. When you are done, you'll have a 3/4" solid piece of wood in the shape you need. Lots of Youtube videos on making curved laminated wood pieces for a number of projects, but the methods are all similar no matter what you're making.

We used to do this a lot at the cabinet shop I used to work at. It's not very difficult if you have a bit of time and patience. And a little experience and know how with power tools.

 

[ArtW]

I keep looking at that thing wondering what the downside would be, aside from maybe tarp destruction from high wind / frame removal (if not fastened down properly)
I had a similar idea involving a ladder rack

 

[Woltz]

bowing wood like the PCV in the picture would be.....interesting
is there a site where they have details on building that thing?

Nope, it would be completely off the books.

 

[skyl4rk]

Build the frame out of PVC pipe as shown, zip tie coroplast sheets to the frame, cover the seams and zip tie holes with duct tape.

To get fancy, cut sheets of foam board to fit between the ribs, and then zip tie another layer of coroplast sheeting on the inside of the frame to hold the insulation in place.

You might get some ideas here:

 

[ArtW]

Link no worky
Coroplast, where one would get that right now I have no idea

 

[ATrucker2]

Bowing wood...may I suggest Glen L wooden boatbuilding.

 

[Woltz]

I'm not using coroplast, I don't want the entire contents of the back of the truck to be lootable with a cheap pocket knife.

Also I'm not paying someone a lot of money for something I can do myself. No doubt it would be well into the thousands for something like this.

 

[ATrucker2]

Glen L sells books and wholesale building supplies for diy/amateur boatbuilding. Great tips and techniques on bowing wood, making stringers and such but they dont do it for anyone.

 

[Woltz]

Glen L sells books and wholesale building supplies for diy/amateur boatbuilding. Great tips and techniques on bowing wood, making stringers and such but they dont do it for anyone.

I'll take a look see but unsure what I'll end up doing still. The image was a concept. But it might become real.

 

[Woltz]

I'd make laminated trusses if I were trying to build a cap like that.  6 strips 1/8" each or might even go a bit thinner.  Make a form of the radius you need and then bend each strip into it gluing and clamping them as you go.  When you are done, you'll have a 3/4" solid piece of wood in the shape you need.  Lots of Youtube videos on making curved laminated wood pieces for a number of projects, but the methods are all similar no matter what you're making.  

We used to do this a lot at the cabinet shop I used to work at.  It's not very difficult if you have a bit of time and patience. And a little experience and know how with power tools.

Looking at these forms you're talking about. I have no where big enough to store or make the form needed for something like this.