| Author |
Message |
Prevost83 (67.136.12.92)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 - 5:35 pm: | |
What gauge of material is easiest to work with when sheeting over existing windows. I have an older Prevost and am planning to cover up about half the windows on each side. I have heard either 16 or 18 gauge. Any suggestions? |
TWO DOGS (63.185.64.41)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 - 6:50 pm: | |
I suggest you do each window indivdually |
Ed Jewett (Kristinsgrandpa) (4.224.189.126)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 - 7:03 pm: | |
I think most people are using 18 ga. steel. Aluminum should be a lot thicker.
My coach has 19 ga. on it from the factory. I was going to use 20 ga. but was advised to use 18 ga. The thicker it is, the less likely it is to wrinkle.
Fast Fred has an article on doing it somewhere. Look in the archives,(keyword search)for a link to his site. I read it about a year ago and found it very enlightening.
Everyone I talked to advise me to use paint lok or paint grip sheet metal, so I ordered 6 sheets from the nearest supplier (100 mi roundtrip).
I heard somewhere that you might be able to get preformed/precut panels for the Prevost windows.
I never did check into it because I bought a Neoplan.
HTH Ed |
Ed Jewett (Kristinsgrandpa) (4.224.189.126)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 - 7:09 pm: | |
PS
I ordered mine in 10' sheets. It will cover two windows at a time. Less welding, fewer wrinkles, less body work, smoother siding.
Ed |
Jim Ashworth (Jimnh) (172.159.6.254)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 - 8:32 pm: | |
The Prevost is a little trickier to cover the windows than most shells. The side curves sharply at the top of the windows and then takes a 90 degree bend to mate with the roof tubing. Unless you have a heck of a sheet metal shop, you ain't gonna do it by yourself. Although it WILL cost more, you may be better off with replacement panels direct from Prevost.
Jim |
James Maxwell (Jmaxwell) (66.81.211.100)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 - 11:21 pm: | |
Last year, I and 3 friends re-skinned two sections on my Neoplan Jetliner, 1 14'-6" section per side. Like the Prevo, mine is curved at the top, only more so than the Prevo. I used 22 guage gal-alum flat stock roofing metal. The top is screwed into the bottom rail of the roof at the point where the windows merged into the roof. I had previously framed in the window area with contoured ribs, applied adhesive, and rolled the metal down, bracing it off to hold it in place against the wall of my bus port. I then riveted the front and back edging and the bottom where it met the sideskin of the bus. These areas are all covered with rain gutter at the roofline and body trim on the ends and bottom. The 22 guage proved to be stout and wrinkle free. My curve is abt. a 14" radius bow in 36" of material, so that alone lends some strength to it. Thus far, it is still anchored good and I have not encountered any road noise from it. So, u may want to consider something a little lighter than 16 or 18 guage if you have a curve to deal with and u use steel. |
Gary Stadler (Boogiethecat) (68.7.217.217)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, July 22, 2004 - 12:04 am: | |
If you use steel, use "paint Lok" galvanized sheet. you can paint it directly and it's very nice to work with. It's even quite weldable, much more than standard galvinized, because the zinc layer is extremely thin. |