Raising the roof

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PancakeBill

PancakeBill

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 9, 2005
Posts
7,196
Location
Benson , AZ.
Literally. Out truck camper over cab bed area is a little short. Can't quite sit up. DW asked if I could raise the roof. Downside of being a pretty capable DIYer, too much faith in abilities. Now I can see who it could be done, wouldn't require a lot. remove the roof for about 5', taper up and back down. Follow original angle from front cap up about 6 inches, level than back down towards where the vent is in galley area.

It is the corrugated steel siding, and TPO covered roof. Probably just redo the roof at same time, it is 22 year old at this point.

Almost talking myself into it. Thoughts?
 
You can do whatever you can afford, time, trouble and money. Would agree that at 22 years there's no value to destroy. Maybe while you're at it think of something you can do to put some sizzle on the steak in the form of structure or accessories that can be added while you're "in there". Skylight, drop down TV, solar panel array, more/different lighting, ducting, -? 6" doesn't sound like a lot of additional headroom for the amount of work. If you're going to go there, go all-in. Sit inside and think about what it would look like finished, then work backwards from there.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM
 
Maybe it's time for a new camper? How about a Class C that still drives like a truck but has the luxury of an attached camper. You can still tow your car and you can even keep your truck. Now, wouldn't the wife blow a bubble if you told her, instead of doing all that work, you were just getting a new camper?
 
I would stop at this point and consider finding another camper. Did someone put a real thick mattress in it? Thats a consideration, a thinner mattress, and yes you can find one that is comfortable that is only 4-5 inches thick.

Other alternative is to find another DW :devilish:

Charles
 
Not really much needs adding. Right now, no AC, and living in AZ, well there is a lot of season could use it, but could do that any time. I know what you mean though, and adding too much to the project would likely make it too much.
 
A possible concern is that the added height raises the center of gravity. Truck campers already make the rig very top-heavy, so even a small increment could get serious. Just something to beware of as the project is planned.
 
It would sure increase the wind load from the side, but there would not be much weight added, maybe 20 to 30 pounds, granted that would raise it, but not by much. Right now it is more a mental exercise than a planned project.

Other ideas, don't want a class C, as stated, don't want a new wife.

Yhe biggest consideration would be finding a place to attempt such a project, I don't have a tall garage, would have to rent some space with power. With planning ahead and getting materials in place it wouldn't take that long to do.

In my head, the project would start by removing existing roof, front to back. In the front add the new profile sides, replace the trusses side to side, add insulation, foam board not the f/g fluff. Then reskin and recover and seal. I think I would also add extra 14x14 vent to move fan to and then add the AC.

Still just a mind game.
 
Gary RV_Wizard said:
A possible concern is that the added height raises the center of gravity. Truck campers already make the rig very top-heavy, so even a small increment could get serious. Just something to beware of as the project is planned.
Click to expand...
Another thing to look at is the final height. It can’t be over 13’ I think. That’s to the top of the AC.
 
If it were close to max height, I likely would have headroom in the bed. Only would be adding about 6 inthes or so, at about 10' now. Good point though.

There is a state ark in NJ we used to go to, from the office to the campsites there was an underpass at about 11'. So the office would ask height, if over 11' they had a different route. I had a truck camper, about 10' or so, head been there a number of times the young person at the desk asked me how hight the camper was, so I straightfaced said 23'. Expecting a laugh and no, really, but got well OK, we have to send you in a different way. I don't usually expect gullible, but so often find it.
 
If you have ever seen a car show where the chop the top of a car, they always brace the body first to temporarily replace the structural rigidity provided by the roof. Not sure if the premise applies to an RV, but throwing it out there for consideration.
 
tlmgcamp said:
If you have ever seen a car show where the chop the top of a car, they always brace the body first to temporarily replace the structural rigidity provided by the roof. Not sure if the premise applies to an RV, but throwing it out there for consideration.
Click to expand...
Definitely. cross bracing to hold square.

Pop top like I had in my Westy. Actually if I were to go that route it would rise at the back, more where additional head room is wanted.

First off, I would need an enclosed area to do this. HOA type rules would not allow in my area, and while I might be able to do this in our storage area, there is no power.
 
PancakeBill said:
Definitely. cross bracing to hold square.

Pop top like I had in my Westy. Actually if I were to go that route it would rise at the back, more where additional head room is wanted.

First off, I would need an enclosed area to do this. HOA type rules would not allow in my area, and while I might be able to do this in our storage area, there is no power.
Click to expand...
Just to clarify...whatever you do also needs to maintain any structural rigidity currently provided by however the roof structure is currently tied into the roof structure
 
I did this on an enclosed trailer. SxS didn't fit, so raised the back half of the roof 12". Was very easy in my case, 1x1 square steel tube and some 0.020" aluminum to skin it. Hardest part has been getting edge trim shipped in without it getting bent by the shipper. Since camper is wood framed, you can prebuild the wall pieces and set them in place. based on how I've seen them built at the factory, it shouldn't be hard to replicate their quality... Selling and buying are such a pain, I would rather put that pain in modifying what I already have.
 
This was my thought as well, but don’t have the room at the house to work on it. If I could rent a tall work space for a month I may try it.

And yes, I have seen inside the skin so agree with construction assessment.
 
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