Snow load

[Ocsmb]

Originally Posted by YelapaPapa

To secure loads in my truck bed I have used something like this. I imagine it would work on a PH top as well: Ratcheting Truck Cargo Bar, adjustable from 40" to 70".

http://www.discountramps.com/truck-cargo-bar.htm

The link is just one I picked at random, you could also probably find them at some Auto Parts stores. (And now I'm thinking I should get one too for my SMB!)

I like that idea. No weight rating on it though.

[macmcintire]

I use the cargo ratchet to lift up my non-electric penthouse if it is to stiff for me to lift it myself. I just need it to get the penthouse lift started for the first four or five inches. Then it goes up easily.

I never thought of using the ratchet to hold the penthouse in place. I will try it next time I go camping.

[yvrr]

We installed these supports that we got from SMB and use them primarily when we are snow camping or have a load on top. I don't know if they still make them...call them.





They clip to the ceiling so are out of the way when you don't need them which is nice.

[Ocsmb]

^ discontinued sadly

[macmcintire]

Too bad they were discontinued. One would think there would be a lot of people willing to buy these now. I know I would.

[etbadger]

We use cargo load bars that we shortened to fit between the ceiling and the ledge at the front and rear of the penthouse bed, one at each end.

We were also at City of Rocks when our roof collapsed, it was a bit windy and snowing, but no accumulation. We have an electric roof, one of the bolts holding the support arms in the track snapped, and it came down fast and hard (a door was open). Ever since, we put in the supports the moment the roof goes up, even though we have reinforced the bolts (larger, higher-grade, now in double-shear, no threads in the shear planes).

The supports also significantly reduce the swaying of the penthouse in side-winds.

-e

[macmcintire]

yvrr:

What is the length of the SMB roof supports in your rig?

[LenS]

We made ours out of 3/4" electrical conduit, with plastic caps on the ends and carefully wrapped in black duct tape. I think white cups screwed to the top are required for buffeting winds that could otherwise cause the supports to come loose and fall over.

We put them up every time we raise the top. The length of the supports was picked to just wedge into the corners and keep the canvas taunt.

We just lay them down for storage when the top is lowered. Total cost was probably less then $10.

[Tapatio]

My 2011 penthouse has supports that drop down from the braces where the X forms. Very easy to deploy and extremely sturdy. It looks like they could be used on previous versions. I don't know if SMB would retrofit them though.

[schluchtenflitzer]

@Tapatio i like this solution very much. Nice, comfortable and elegant. But as a bolt crack the top will also go down i think.