Boler roof strength? - Fiberglass RV
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Old 02-08-2017, 05:52 PM   #1
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Name: Becky
Trailer: ECO 1973
Oklahoma
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Boler roof strength?

I have a 1973 Boler. How much weight can the roof support? Would love to get a roof mounted air conditioner.

Thanks for your help Bk
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Old 02-08-2017, 06:00 PM   #2
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Name: Wendy Lee
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Hi Becky,

I can only answer your question this way. When one orders a Scamp with rooftop air, there are extra supports added at the time of manufacture. Otherwise, the FG shell itself would cave under the weight.
.
We have very smart people here; someone might be able to advise you further, but what a lot of folks do is add a small, room type AC in the back window, or in bottom of tall closet. I also admit I don't know if a boler is similar exactly to a Scamp inside.

My Scamp was prepped for AC at factory, but I personally don't feel the need for it. I do respect and appreciate that others do, especially in warmer locales.

Best wishes,
Wendy
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Old 02-08-2017, 06:15 PM   #3
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Thank you for this information. I wonder is my old Boler could be retro fit with added roof support?
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Old 02-08-2017, 06:17 PM   #4
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That I do not know Becky, but others will. Stand by!
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Old 02-08-2017, 06:46 PM   #5
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The simple answer is the roof is only 1/8" thick fibreglass and not strong enough to support much of anything. Just adding roof supports will not be enough as the walls are the same construction. To carry any weight on the roof support has to be carried across the roof and right down to the floor.
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Old 02-08-2017, 07:06 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BeckyK View Post
I have a 1973 Boler. How much weight can the roof support? Would love to get a roof mounted air conditioner.

Thanks for your help Bk
Well I've power polished the roof of my 74 boler and when I set the polisher down to add more polish the roof settles a bit under the weight of the polisher.
I doubt the ac unit would stay up there long without serious rework of the hull.
fred
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Old 02-08-2017, 07:23 PM   #7
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Thank you for clarifying this for Becky gentlemen. Your response Ian made me think of my own question. When Scamp prepped the roof on my 13 Scamp, do they glass in wood supports then, across the roof and down the side walls of the camper? I've always wondered how they do it.

Cheers,
Wendy
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Old 02-08-2017, 07:47 PM   #8
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Boler roof strength?

All Scamp does to prep for a roof AC is to add a layer of fiberglass cloth around the AC install area. There is no additional wood or other structure added. It used to be an option (with or with the AC unit). It's now standard on all builds. Smart!

They will also retrofit a roof AC to a unit without the fiberglass reinforcement. They install two wood braces on either side of the AC unit running crossways between the trolley roof risers.
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Old 02-08-2017, 07:50 PM   #9
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Thank you for writing Job as I did not know these things. No plans for it, just curious.
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Old 02-08-2017, 07:51 PM   #10
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Jon. I'm sorry!
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Old 02-08-2017, 08:01 PM   #11
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Name: Becky
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Wonderful information. I'm thinking it's a NO on a roof mounted AC. I have a window unit not very pretty😮.
Than you to all who replied. Becky
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Old 02-08-2017, 08:24 PM   #12
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Originally Posted by Jon in AZ View Post
All Scamp does to prep for a roof AC is to add a layer of fiberglass cloth around the AC install area. There is no additional wood or other structure added. It used to be an option (with or with the AC unit). It's now standard on all builds. Smart! ...
Just to confirm what Jon said (in case you don't know that he is always right ), this is a quote from Kent Eveland:
What we do is support the roof with heavier fiberglass. All roof airs are basically made to go through a framed roof. Since no Scamp trailers have a framed roof, we build the glass up heavier with a core mat product.


Also know that since there is no frame, you have to be careful when attaching the air distribution box on the ceiling lest the screws go through the thin roof and create a hard to detect leak. Ask me how I know unless it is as obvious as it should be.

IMHO a roof A/C on a egg camper that is not designed for one is a NO GO.
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Old 02-09-2017, 07:01 AM   #13
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As I read Jon's post and now yours Gordon, my thoughts were "this doesn't give me warm and fuzzies." But as I mentioned earlier, I live in NY with short humid summers. The fantastic fan set to extract air keeps me comfy in the trailer. Although my trailer is prepped for AC, I'll never get it.
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Old 02-09-2017, 08:21 AM   #14
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No need to apologize, Wendy, and no, Gordon, I am not always right...

I actually made the same assumption you did, Wendy, some time back- that there was wood reinforcement glassed into the roof- and Floyd set me straight.

I think I get Scamp's logic, though. Glass mat adds strength with less weight, and it won't rot if there's ever a leak.
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Old 02-09-2017, 12:19 PM   #15
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Name: Bill
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My 80 Boler has roof AC
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Old 02-09-2017, 12:30 PM   #16
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My 80 Boler has roof AC
Has there been any support added to the roof from the inside?
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Old 02-09-2017, 12:33 PM   #17
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I am not sure I bought the Boler that way. Whoever did it did a good job.
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Old 02-09-2017, 12:43 PM   #18
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Interesting air conditioner. I thought someone had taken the guts out and screwed a lid down over the top. I've never seen A/C that is that flat. What brand and model is the A/C Bill?
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Old 02-09-2017, 01:08 PM   #19
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I don't know the model number but the brand is PLA COOL
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Old 02-09-2017, 03:06 PM   #20
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I knew they made some swamp coolers but didn't know they made a/c's
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