Filling holes in penthouse pop-top

Ocsmb · 10-25-2012, 07:31 PM

Looking for ideas and/or products to use on how to patch and color match ('02 smb Ford white) the holes on the side of the pop top left by the old aluminess roof rack mounting bolts.

Thanks for looking.

Ultrasport12 · 10-25-2012, 11:02 PM

I assume that since they must be through bolted you would use a bolt and nut. With that said I would use a carriage bolt and paint them white before installing them. I would also use clear sealer without a lot extra.Or you could use a rubber o ring and just snug them down with little or no sealer.

...Jamie

AndrewST · 10-26-2012, 12:39 AM

Doesn't the next roof rack have the same bolt down pattern?

Could aluminess make it match?

Ocsmb · 10-26-2012, 04:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ultrasport12

I assume that since they must be through bolted you would use a bolt and nut. With that said I would use a carriage bolt and paint them white before installing them. I would also use clear sealer without a lot extra.Or you could use a rubber o ring and just snug them down with little or no sealer.

...Jamie

Great idea. Never thought about that. thanks.

Ocsmb · 10-26-2012, 04:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndrewST

Doesn't the next roof rack have the same bolt down pattern?

Could aluminess make it match?

It doesn't. The RB and EB have different roof rack leg spacing. They could line up the first 4 legs (each 28" apart), but the last and 5th leg would be a shorter distance (18" from the 4th leg).

Not sure if having unevenly spaced legs would be more an eyesore than using painted carriage bolts to cover up the old holes like Jamie suggested.

What to do? I'm neurotic and it drives my wife crazy.

**BroncoHauler** · 10-26-2012, 05:40 AM

How about making some lemonade with those lemons? Do you want/need some general area lighting on your penthouse top? You could make some LED light mounts to match up with those holes.

Herb

witoke · 10-26-2012, 08:17 AM

I had to change my side mounts to top mounts and did just what was suggested: carriage bolts and a little silicone. As a precaution to prevent abrasion of the canvas, I also added soft plastic caps to the inner threaded portions, stuck on with a blob of silicone. Not being too anal I never bothered to paint the heads but if you did they would hardly be noticeable.

**daveb** · 10-26-2012, 10:29 AM

If you do add bolts just make sure you put those cap/bolt covers over them on the inside. If you don't you'll end up with a hole in your canvas top! I almost had that happen when one came off on my PH...luckily I caught it in time.

If you plan to re-coat your top in the near future, now would be the time to do it. When SMB pulled my old failing solara panels, they sealed the holes and the new spray on linning covered the holes up... you can't see em at all. I didn't look closely at your top last week so I don't know if yours is gel-coat or Rhino type linning. Not having to wax the top is great especially not having to do it through a rack.

Dave

Ocsmb · 10-26-2012, 10:49 AM

Thanks guys. Gonna do the carriage bolt idea. Top is gel coat and eventually I'll do the rhino lining. Also planning on putting the work lights on the rack itself, good tip though Herb.

**daveb** · 10-26-2012, 11:35 AM

So you can't do it now? SMB charged me 650 to do the job a few years back...that was before the top rack was put on. If they had to pull the solar, the lighting, and the rack, I'm sure it would have been much more expensive. If your van is there just waiting for the rack to be installed you might call Peter to see the cost difference. It might be like getting the top coated for a huge discount...maybe free