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Old 01-31-2014, 02:10 AM   #1
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Removing Penthouse

How does SMB seal the tent to the roof? Mine was installed in 2013. It has long screws going through a piece of 1/2" plywood, then the vinyl material tucked underneath, then the metal roof. What's between the tan vinyl and the metal roof that forms the weather seal? Is it hard to separate? Will it tear/hurt the vinyl when it's pulled loose? Can it be reseated when the tent is re-attached and with what?

JC

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Old 01-31-2014, 06:23 AM   #2
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Re: Removing Penthouse

See my post, there are several links that will answer your question

viewtopic.php?t=12858
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Old 01-31-2014, 07:33 PM   #3
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Re: Removing Penthouse

Thanks.

All this helps; but I've learned that all 3 SMB sites use different methods to seal the tent to the roof and used different sealing methods over the years. Sooooo, it looks like I'll just have to dive in. and see what's there on my own. The guitar string thing is a good find, however.

What is the chromolly mod? I assume it's to stiffen the U-tubes. Are there pix of it's being done?

JC
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Old 02-01-2014, 05:50 PM   #4
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Re: Removing Penthouse

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=7520
viewtopic.php?f=13&t=12669
viewtopic.php?f=13&t=3856

specifically John Kalambach's post in the 3rd topic: viewtopic.php?p=32958#p32958
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Old 02-01-2014, 10:31 PM   #5
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Re: Removing Penthouse

I believe the chromoly mod goes something like this:


and...
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Old 02-08-2014, 07:42 PM   #6
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Re: Removing Penthouse

JCtex: The stuff that is used to seal the canvas to the roof is butyl tape. It comes on a roll a looks like a gooey strip of taffy (it's not really a "tape").

It is available from McMaster Carr.....you will need the 2 1/2" width tape.

http://www.mcmaster.com/#butyl-rubber-tape/=qm1a0z

You can use either chrome moly or mild (low carbon) steel DOM (drawn over mandrel/thin walled) tubing for adding strength. The Cro-mo is 3X the cash for twice the yield strength roughly. The tubing is readily available from McMaster Carr also although I sourced it locally (Industrial Metal Supply in Irvine, CA).

http://www.mcmaster.com/#standard-steel ... ng/=qm1dhs

You should also consider replacing the problematic pivot bolts with shoulder screws; I went up a size to 5/16" shoulder diameter, also readily available at McMaster Carr.

http://www.mcmaster.com/#shoulder-screws/=qm1d68
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Old 02-09-2014, 02:49 AM   #7
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Re: Removing Penthouse

Thanks, all. I appreciate all the help.

JC
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Old 03-01-2014, 12:27 PM   #8
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Re: Removing Penthouse

Hey guys.
My rear U tube is bent also. Is it possible to slide the new reinforcement bars into the U tubes while they are in the van if they are unbolted and the top is supported up? I'm not sure I have the time or a place to remove the entire top to do this. But I would like to get it fixed.
Any thoughts?
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Old 03-01-2014, 12:37 PM   #9
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Re: Removing Penthouse

If you support the top sufficiently, I don't see any reason why you couldn't take each cross-member out (one at a time) and straighten and reinforce. Well, the rear roof support doesn't constrain the top front-to-back so you could most likely fix the rear with the front x-member still in place with enough support. Removing the front x-member would be a bit trickier.

You may be able to just un-bolt the lower pivot on the cross-member for the repair while it's still attached to the roof as well.
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Old 03-01-2014, 12:46 PM   #10
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Re: Removing Penthouse

Thanks. That's kind of what I was thinking. I just wasn't sure if there was enough room inside the van to get the new bars lined up to slide in. I think I could probably support the top enough to keep it up and not sway around while the tubes are unbolted. It would be really nice if there was enough room to get the u tubes out of the van to do it??
I was able to straighen the bent one while in the van before. It bent again though and I don't think it can take too much more.
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