Strength of Fibreglass top on a 4Runner

[+dj_hansen+]

End of uni trip - Check!
Parents luggage pod and roof racks - check!
FRP Top on 4Runner - problem.

Obviously its not that strong... but can i get the luggage pod on their with body boards, and other light gear in there? and whats the likelyhood of it ripping off at 100 km/hr on the Sth Gippsland Freeway. The roof racks mount onto the gutter above the windows... load will be shared 50/50 between the metal body and the FRP Top.

Anyone got any experience?

[dumbdunce]

they are pretty strong, but you don't want to put heaps of gear up there. mount through the fiberglass with some steel plates to spread the load - say 200mm square (round off the corners) by about 1/8" (3mm) thick, on both sides of where you drill through the roof. you might need to modify the shape of the plates to suite the shape of the roof if it is ribbed etc. should be good for up to 40kg ish.

alternatively, is there a roll bar across the back of them? you can bolt down through the roof onto the roll bar, so the load is on the bar instead of the fiberglass. stronger than a gutter mount that way

cheers

Brian

[+dj_hansen+]

The roof bars i have mount onto the gutter frame, which looks like to be made of metal as apposed to fibreglass. Have considered getting a couple of strips of steel that sit in the gutter so that the weight is spread accross the entire gutter, rather than 12cm of it.

[Bluey]

you can bolt down through the roof onto the roll bar, so the load is on the bar instead of the fiberglass. stronger than a gutter mount that way

hey dumbdunce, was thinking of doing something like this on my 73. have no idea how big the tube should be, and how would you get frp top off with this on? welded or bolted? sealing around hole would be problematic too (i think)



Cheers
Lance

[+dj_hansen+]

The rollbar in the back of mine would be about 60mm at a guess. No idea on wall thickness sorry.

[dumbdunce]

you can bolt down through the roof onto the roll bar, so the load is on the bar instead of the fiberglass. stronger than a gutter mount that way

hey dumbdunce, was thinking of doing something like this on my 73. have no idea how big the tube should be, and how would you get frp top off with this on? welded or bolted? sealing around hole would be problematic too (i think)



Cheers
Lance

sealing the holes isn't too hard, just need some big washers where your bolts go up through the roof, and plenty of silicone. if you bolt it together so that it can be taken apart again then getting the top onand off shouldn't be a problem.