Posted this on another site and didn't get much feedback, so thought I would ask the GNs.
I plan to add a canopy to my Colorado and had already bought an awning to fit on to the roofrack.
However . . . it has been pointed out that the flexing between the cab and canopy would probably make this a bad idea and eventually break the awning frame (which I had not thought about).
Am I doomed to go awning-less (given the problem of different roofracks on cab and canopy)?
Maybe a tarp, a couple of tent poles and some cable ties to hold the tarp on the roofrack is a possible solution?
Comments welcome,
Cheers, Tony
elliemike said
09:27 AM Oct 7, 2011
Is there that much flexing !
I would not of thought this was that bad in a chassis type vehicle.
I am thinking of getting the Isuzu Dmax (same as the Colorado) interesting to hear the comments on this thread.
villatranquilla said
12:15 PM Oct 7, 2011
we had a canopy and roof bars fitted to our Navara twincab - there is a steel frame inside the canopy which supports the external bars. I have also seen an external frame that sits on the tub sides and is over a canopy supporting a tradies type roof rack - either system would preveny 'flex'. Hope this helps
PeterD said
09:16 PM Oct 8, 2011
There is no problem adding a tack to the top of a twin cab ute. Just make up your mind where the best end is to fit it. Fit it on either the cab or the canopy, do not mount it on both.
If you are are carrying much of a load then fit it on the cab so the weight is between the axles. If you are carrying something long then fit it onto the canopy and cantilever the front bar over the cab.
Tony, in your case mount it on the canopy. construct a perimeter frame to carry the front bar over the cab. There will be no interaction from two capsules flexing against each other.
justcruisin01 said
09:51 PM Oct 8, 2011
Definitly dont fit any thing that connects the canopy & the roof of the vehicle together.
You just have to drive over a speed hump at a angle & watch the movement between the two, its not just the twisting length wise also the distance between the cab & canopy is always changing, even going down the highway.
Have a look at a tradies wagon that has carry racks from the tray extended over the cab roof to the front bumper / bull bar. the ones that have been fixed in a solid mount all break. They need to sit in a mounting socket to allow movement.
Wombat 280 said
08:35 PM Oct 9, 2011
Peter definitely has got the best solution to the flexing problem. Have seen canoes and kayaks with stress fractures after been mounted on dual cabs and travel on gravel roads never gave much thought to the speed humps but sounds logical
Bros said
03:06 PM Oct 10, 2011
I used to carry a boat on a dual cab and I only mounted it on the canopy roof because of flexing which is normal. The front of the boat was about 30 mm from the cab roof. I went over a heavy dip at to high a speed and the front of the boat just marked the roof of the cab. The canopy supports were all steel so this didn't flex nor the boat. Carry heavy weights on either the cab or the canopy but not both. All vehicles flex.
justcruisin01 said
03:35 PM Oct 10, 2011
Same applies to carring a boat on a foll rack, must be strapped on not clamped via a bolt arrangment . As all vehicles flex this is passed on through the boat & will crack it as well.
Is there that much flexing !
I would not of thought this was that bad in a chassis type vehicle.
I am thinking of getting the Isuzu Dmax (same as the Colorado) interesting to hear the comments on this thread.
If you are are carrying much of a load then fit it on the cab so the weight is between the axles. If you are carrying something long then fit it onto the canopy and cantilever the front bar over the cab.
Tony, in your case mount it on the canopy. construct a perimeter frame to carry the front bar over the cab. There will be no interaction from two capsules flexing against each other.
Definitly dont fit any thing that connects the canopy & the roof of the vehicle together.
You just have to drive over a speed hump at a angle & watch the movement between the two, its not just the twisting length wise also the distance between the cab & canopy is always changing, even going down the highway.
Have a look at a tradies wagon that has carry racks from the tray extended over the cab roof to the front bumper / bull bar. the ones that have been fixed in a solid mount all break. They need to sit in a mounting socket to allow movement.
Same applies to carring a boat on a foll rack, must be strapped on not clamped via a bolt arrangment . As all vehicles flex this is passed on through the boat & will crack it as well.