Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Hi,

Looking to get welding and fabricate framework for an up coming canvas or pvc canopy to be mounted on a steel dropside tray. Can anyone who has attempted it before give me any ideas regarding guage of steel etc, any photos of exisiting canopies and or frames would be good to get an idea of things would also be of help. Then next thing to do is find a decent uphosltery shop in Sydney to do the material work.

Thanks.

I am in the canvas trade, but I am in Brisbane so cant really help you there...but what I can do is give you some tips in regards to the frame to get a better looking job.

In regards to the uprights on the frame, make them level with the gates.

Its hard to explain, but hopefully the pic will show you what I mean.



Basically you want the external measurements of the frame to match with the external measurements of the tray. this will allow the canvas manufacturer (if he is worth his salt) to get a better fitting, therefor better looking job.

The uprights at the front are basic (like pic) but the ones at the back will have to be made to come out at 45 degrees to match the tray.

Hope I havent confused you.

With the shape of the frame, you can go a flat roof, but I would reccomend an appex style...allowing water run-off when stationary.

If you do rounded corners coming from top to side, I strongly suggest getting a piece of thin sheet ali (or something similar) bent to suit, and run that from front to back. This will fill the corner out, and also make for a better fitting/looking job.




Hope that all made sence.

Thanks Gloomis.

All taken onboard, and some good ideas......What guage steel, and type of section should I be looking at. Also if I was to go to a place and get a frame welded and canopy fitted, what price would I be looking at (ballpark figure) for a standard jap cab chassis tray size......just basically want to work out if doing the frame myself, then gettign the canopy is worth doing or not. Whats just a canopy worth? THanks heaps. Understand if you don't want to give away your prices or gestimates.

Thanks

as far as material goes it depends on a few things like will you be putting racks of some kind into the design, or need to walk on the roof for 1 reason or another.

based on a simple design id be using SHS 25x2 with a reasonable but not aver the top bracing detail.

for a heavy duty application id use SHS 50x3or4mm as the main frame and smaller sections for bracing to keep weight down.

if your keen to build and weld it yourself and want rolled edges as suggested just take your measurements to a fab place and they can bend it for you. then the rest is up to you.