Checker PLating for Surfs ?

[tristanjay]

Howdy all, Is it possible to get hold of checker plating shaped for surfs ? or will I have to make it bespoke ?

Im thinking about putting it on the roof when I find some rails to put on. Will it strengthen the roof enough to be able to stand on ? Or just add totally unnecessary weight ? Otherwise Ill just buy something stick on to protect the roof like rubber matting type stuff.

[Webbo]

Why would you want to stand on your roof ? For cosmetic purposes ally plate would be best, but to make it strong to stand on you would need mild steel or stainless and as you said it would add a lot of weight to your truck..

[tristanjay]

Why would you want to stand on your roof ? For cosmetic purposes ally plate would be best, but to make it strong to stand on you would need mild steel or stainless and as you said it would add a lot of weight to your truck..

I have a very heavy 17' canoe and kayak that will regularly get slug up there and rather than buy roof bars to go between the rails I just thought it would be easier in the long run and offer better protection for the roof. I think it would look nice too. Really its a whimsical thing to be able to stand on it, Id just like the choice.

Found this site that does varying thickness and size at competitive price and got me tempted. Id much prefer pre-made for surf stuff but Ill make it fit if needs be.

http://www.aluminiumwarehouse.co.uk/...174/index.html

[biosurf]

I have fitted a piece of ply as per http://www.elphick-pooley.co.uk/htm/...r.htm#roofrack
It can take two people standing on it easily and the previous owner had aroof tent, fuel containers and lots of other gubbins on it.
I looked into metal plate instead but the weight and price ends up being pretty high.

Best plan to my mind would be to fit an ally roof rack either properly by strengthening the roof and attaching through the roof or improperly (my own preference) by using roof rails of the attached or clamped variety and attaching the ally rack to the rails.


disclaimer:
The wood on the roof idea looks pretty crappy.
Functional though

[tristanjay]

Deffo food for thought there Bio. Your link just goes to ask jeeves BTW.

It had crossed my mind to go for the roof tent type attachment with the bars, but Im not lovin the bars that grab your door frames, and the weight of some heavy ply will be similar to some thin alloy plating.

Im going for the rails off a pug or another 4x4 and strengthen the roof. I may have to think it through a bit more.

[Growler]

Your link just goes to ask jeeves BTW.

Link has been double Http'd remove one of them and it works like This

[tristanjay]

Cheers Growler, Ive seen that beast when searching through here. It ruins the aesthetic though and I do love the shape of the surf. Also thinking about aerodynamics as Im on a budget and It would nibble at the economy - maybe as much as the extra weight. Im going have to do some maths.
What ever happens Ill deffo keep all posted. Many thanks for the advice so far all, ideas and feedback is better than bouncing them off your own skull.

[PDR]

Surely 5 bar chequer plate would at as a rasp and scratch your kayak to hell?
A sheet of ply or plain aluminium would be better.

[Apache]

Drill your roof and fit a proper rack. You need to drill it to fit rails anyway, you may as well go the whole hog.

Mount to the strengthening hoops in the roof and you can stand on it happily. I weigh over (cough) 15 stone and have clambered all over the rack on my roof with no issues (for the roof, not me!)

[biosurf]

I weigh over (cough) 15 stone and have clambered all over the rack on my roof with no issues (for the roof, not me!)

Though please do note that Apache's Surf now looks like this

[tristanjay]

Surely 5 bar chequer plate would at as a rasp and scratch your kayak to hell?
A sheet of ply or plain aluminium would be better.

The canoe and kayak are plastic nylon mix so Im not overly concerned. Theyre scratched to buggery anyhow, granite and shale riverbeds have seen to that.

I was originally thinking 1 or 2 bar plating but I still take your point. Anything else that goes up will be rasped.

[tristanjay]

Drill your roof and fit a proper rack. You need to drill it to fit rails anyway, you may as well go the whole hog.

Mount to the strengthening hoops in the roof and you can stand on it happily. I weigh over (cough) 15 stone and have clambered all over the rack on my roof with no issues (for the roof, not me!)

Do you have a pic ? Im 13 and a bit stone and counting down to 12 and half ideally .
Are there more benefits to bars as opposed to rails ?

Biosurf, I could never do that to my surf, Im going to reupholster the inside at some point but the work im doing is to prepare it for moving house down to London then (the plan is ) a year later hoik ourselves over to the south west coast to make a family. So tow bar and roof carrying ability first. And Ill sort out the laquer on the bonnet and waxoil underneath. As they are relatively cheap to do. Ill toy with the idea of a lift and bigger tyres once Im in London.

[biosurf]

Do you have a pic ? Im 13 and a bit stone and counting down to 12 and half ideally

A few months of sitting on a sofa late at night drinking beer and posting nonsense on this very forum will put paid to that.

[tristanjay]

A few months of sitting on a sofa late at night drinking beer and posting nonsense on this very forum will put paid to that.

Im trying to reverse the very effects of too much armchair surfing on another forum Im on. Daft really as its an exploring forum

[Paul1566]

This guy didn't need a roof rack......