| Author | Message | ||
| Jack Fids (Jack_fids)
Registered Member Username: Jack_fids Post Number: 54 Registered: 1-2009 Posted From: 69.171.160.120 Rating: N/A |
So a small opportunity appeared, some 20 foot lengths of 1.5 in X 3 in. Aluminum Channel stock happened into the hands of a friend who runs a scrap yard/recycle operation, this stock likely came from Raytheon Missile Div. during a production line modification....like NEW. At a dollar a pound to me the stock was about 30% of industrial retail. I was originally going to TIG-up a trailer frame out of this stuff.... but slowly the idea came that I would like to have an "Upper Deck" from which to gaze out over the landscape on my lawn chair whilst tending to the bar B que on lazy evenings. So I built a mitered 6 X 16 foot frame for a deck. And then I welded up some support legs & pads to mount the contraption to the roof of the 4106. I dint want to use wood for the deck itself, and I hated to waste the honeycomb alum. composite sheets that LearJet/Bombardier had sold me at 10 cent on the dollar because they dint have mfg./lot numbers on them, so I was in a quandry for deck material, lightweight & strong. Did you know that if you have a swimming pool AND you volunteer to REMOVE the diving board that your insurance company will give you a discount...? Diving boards starting appearing at the Yard in the spring. Diving Board = 28 lbs each 18 inches by 72 in. the weight of 96 Sq. Ft. of diving boards & framing equals the weight of the overhead baggage racks I removed.... it was a push! So the deck is framed, mounted & the handrail stanchion bases afixed. The stairway weighs 70 lbs & will roll up (rollers) top for storage in the knocked- down position (w/o handrails) along with all the handrails. Along the front I mounted the leading edge of a wing from a Lear to ease the frontal flow of air over the deck (downforce!) and there is a tube in it that extends out the side for the stairway to mount to, I used another buried tube towards the rear for the same purpose, which allows for the stairs to go up in either direction. I have 3 Magnesium arches that fit across the width of the deck that will support the rip-stop Nylon "roof", they overhang enough to give late day shade or rain protection. I haven't taken a photo of the handrail installed or with the arches up.... but the photos below will give you an idea of what I 'm doing.  | ||
| Jack Fids (Jack_fids)
Registered Member Username: Jack_fids Post Number: 55 Registered: 1-2009 Posted From: 69.171.160.120 Rating: N/A |
Here is a shot after the decking was installed along with the stanchion bases , side skirts, leading wing edge & stairs.  The device mounted in front of the deck is an R/V Swamp Cooler, great for hot dry desert air...not so much for the humid hot days tho! | ||
| Glenn Williams (Glenn)
Registered Member Username: Glenn Post Number: 269 Registered: 6-2006 Posted From: 216.163.57.219  Rating: N/A |
More pictures!!! Fascinating! Glenn | ||
| joe padberg (Joemc7ab)
Registered Member Username: Joemc7ab Post Number: 409 Registered: 6-2004 Posted From: 66.38.159.33 Rating: N/A |
Leave it to Busnuts to keep the creative juices flowing!!!!! | ||
| niles steckbauer (Niles500)
Registered Member Username: Niles500 Post Number: 967 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 173.78.39.41 Rating: N/A |
Diving board (strong, pliant and skidproof) idea is pure genius! | ||
| George Martinez (Foohorse)
Registered Member Username: Foohorse Post Number: 127 Registered: 1-2010 Posted From: 174.48.6.180  Rating: N/A |
Nicely done Jack. am I correct in assuming that this is very original? in my limited bus exposure I have not seen such a novel idea to increase the usable living area, not to mention the view. well done indeed. | ||
| john w. roan (Chessie4905)
Registered Member Username: Chessie4905 Post Number: 1891 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 71.58.71.157  Rating: N/A |
Install diving board on roof...back up to the pool....YEEHAAW | ||
| marvin pack (Gomer)
Registered Member Username: Gomer Post Number: 899 Registered: 3-2007 Posted From: 71.53.153.91  Rating: N/A |
Chessie! Take your medicine and lay down for a while, Maybe you will be ok in the morning?? Good thought tho! Not bad looking at all either. Good job | ||
| Jack Fids (Jack_fids)
Registered Member Username: Jack_fids Post Number: 56 Registered: 1-2009 Posted From: 69.171.160.131 Rating: N/A |
I posted a couple more photos on my Picasa page... http://picasaweb.google.com/jackfids Thanks for the kind words, I actually believe some of the encouraging words.... you're as good a bunch of liars as I hoped you would be! BTW... just in case you get to thinking dangerous thoughts like me, I fab'ed all of the leg & foot material I bought which means I have enough left-overs for another deck of the same size for a 4106/07/4905 etc. they'd actually work on any round cornered coach it's just that the curvature placement might cause the frame to be more or less than the six foot I accomplished...I even have the extra rubber footpads. I'll make you a great deal on them. | ||
| don goldsmith (Bottomacher)
Registered Member Username: Bottomacher Post Number: 272 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 68.223.70.93 Rating: N/A |
Wonder if RJ saw that Corvair van next to the 4106... | ||
| Dave Walker (Chrome_dome)
Registered Member Username: Chrome_dome Post Number: 24 Registered: 3-2010 Posted From: 67.174.144.159  Rating: N/A |
Nice job Jack. Nice Bus too. My rack on my truck is made out of that same size and type aluminum and is very strong stuff and a clean look. Where is the TV mount going to be and Soda Holder? Dave | ||
| Jack Fids (Jack_fids)
Registered Member Username: Jack_fids Post Number: 57 Registered: 1-2009 Posted From: 69.171.160.50 Rating: N/A |
#2505 has seen some better days I admit, and it shows it. During a winter run during it's "revenue" days, it was run into the ditch on the Entry side, which sprung the door & the first bay door. The evidence can be seen in the Entry Door skin. * YES George, it was an original idea, going back to a 1965 Dodge A-100 Van I bought in 1970, back then we loved sleeping under the stars & watching for Mereorites. * RJ does know about my Corvair problem, perhaps he's forgotten, years ago I used to post here as "OAE Palmer". So many people took the name to indicate that I was a Chiropractor that I decided to drop the handle, not wanting to impugn their good name and all like that. (roll-eyes here) "OAE Palmer" stood for- Old Antarctic Explorer- Palmer Station BTW & FWIW a Corvair Van with 500lbs. of cargo rides & drives just like a 4106.... Haven't owned any vehicle since 1976 that WASN'T a Corvair! The way the frame for the deck is mounted I have a hunch that it likely stiffened the the entire Coach a bit, fore to aft. This spring I'll have some "Rhino Coat" type pick-up bed liner sprayed on the deck ...although I have recently seen some "Astrp Turf" that is mighty rugged and THAT would make a really different surface on the roof of a Bus .....maybe I'll take up golf...who knows!  (secret message to Jorge- I am the one in the upper left corner in the vest) |