Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Join Truck Conversion Today
Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 01-26-2018, 10:19 AM   #1
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: M
Posts: 16
Default "Ratcheting" Rooftop on a box truck?

Hey!

A while back I asked on here if it was feasible to raise the roof of a box truck. I've made it back to really wanting to move into full-time RVing in a camper conversion and, again, I'm considering a box truck pretty heavily.

I have been looking for inspiration in more radical tiny home designs and things of that sort, and recently had an idea that is maybe more practical than a straight-up roof raise. In my last thread, I mentioned that I really like the idea of a "loft" where I can sleep in a cab-over attic, and so I wanted to rasie the roof of a box truck with a cab-over attic...

Now, I'm wondering if, instead, I could create some sort of ratcheting rooftop that can be raised when I'm parked and lowered when it's time to hit the road. Similar to what I've seen in a lot of camper vans.

The execution I thought of was some sort of ratcheting mechanism with posts that can double as posts for stability and channels for my wiring and whatever accessories go along with roof-mounted fixtures. Has anyone done this? Any ideas on how I could execute on it?

Thanks!
__________________

scapegoatwax is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-26-2018, 11:40 AM   #2
Senior Member
 
solo318's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 127
Default

Firstly I would caution you that the roof is what holds the sides of the box together. If you take the roof of it will be flimsy like wet cardboard. Depending on your choice of truck a movers "high cube" would give you the most interior height.
__________________

solo318 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-26-2018, 11:43 AM   #3
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: M
Posts: 16
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by solo318 View Post
Firstly I would caution you that the roof is what holds the sides of the box together. If you take the roof of it will be flimsy like wet cardboard. Depending on your choice of truck a movers "high cube" would give you the most interior height.
Is it reasonable for me to reinforce the structure of the box with something like 2X4 framing? That would be useful for building out the interior, too.
scapegoatwax is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-26-2018, 11:47 AM   #4
Senior Member
 
solo318's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 127
Default

It depends on the box. the more structure you add up high the worse the truck drives. An frp box would be a stiffer box to start out, but harder to work with moving forward. The aluminum boxes use really crappy (light) z posts and they expect that the inside of the walls (plywood) will actually hold things together.
solo318 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-26-2018, 11:53 AM   #5
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: M
Posts: 16
Default

The idea here is to stick close to the "stock" height of the box while I'm driving, but be able to extend the roof up to a more comfortable/luxurious height while I'm parked and camping. Driving around at the ~10' to ~11' stock height on the road and extending to a ~14'+ roof while camping.

My hope is that--besides adding weight by building a camper inside of the box--I wouldn't affect how the truck drives much at all. Hopefully when I'm driving I wouldn't have more than a few inches of added height.
scapegoatwax is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-28-2018, 05:05 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 527
Default

It's been done in a travel trailer. here is a video:


Agree with above poster, the structure of a van body depends on the walls, floor and roof working together as a unit and get real flimsy real fast when you start cutting out large chunks. And screwing together 2x4's would not be the answer, more like framing and bracing any cutouts with tubular steel framework.
hot rod is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:44 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
×