So here's the thing. I work at a ski shop so can get Thule/Yakima boxes. But they are either too tall, too long, or too wide. What I am looking for is a specific-sized weatherproof box to carry a large pop-up shelter on the roof rack (safari-style rack).
Here are my requirements:
- grassroots budget (so, no crazy custom overland stuff)
- between 50 and 60" long
- preferably square profile 12" x 12", or ballpark those dimensions rectangle
- can open to top, side, or the end, doesn't matter
- weatherproof
- relatively lightweight (preferably an ABS material or something, rather than steel)
- don't worry about attachment, I'll figure that out.
I'm trying to think "out of the box" (no pun intended) on this.
Things I've considered:
- altering some kind of truck box
- some kind of large-diameter PVC pipe with threaded caps on the ends (though finding one that big would not be easy)
- off the shelf "made for" solutions...
4x8 sheet of 1/4" black hdpe at Menards is $130, 1/10" is $75. I have been led to believe that with two pieces of angle iron and a propane torch it's relatively easy to put a 90* fold in the stuff, and it is supposed to be one of the plastics that can be welded.
You can also find plastic corrugated culvert pretty much anywhere, and it's considerably lighter and less expensive than PVC.
Don't rule out wood too. Something built like a strip canoe and covered in layers of spar seal or polyurethane is pretty awesome pretty much anywhere.
Along the same line, a frame covered in canvas can be sealed up well enough for an airplane wing, it would certainly hold up to some rain and bug guts.
They make hard cases for standard 10'x10' EZ Up tents.
Link but I am not seeing written prices rather they want you to contact them for a quote. I saw similar on Amazon for $399.00.
Another, Amazon $300
Soft side canvas cartop Carrier is my go to, can of silicone water stop and bungee cords,done.
16" diameter schedule 40 PVC with a clean-out fitting at each end.
The stuff is HEAVY though.
Link for some specs
OHSCrifle wrote:
16" diameter schedule 40 PVC with a clean-out fitting at each end.
The stuff is HEAVY though.
Link for some specs
yeah, that's what I figured. Since this is on the roof, I'd prefer to keep the weight down, hence why I didn't already get PVC.
TRoglodyte wrote:
Soft side canvas cartop Carrier is my go to, can of silicone water stop and bungee cords,done.
yeah, I've had those but they are pretty inconvenient to deal with. The EZup already has a canvas cas, but it's kind of torn up at this point.
oldopelguy wrote:
4x8 sheet of 1/4" black hdpe at Menards is $130, 1/10" is $75. I have been led to believe that with two pieces of angle iron and a propane torch it's relatively easy to put a 90* fold in the stuff, and it is supposed to be one of the plastics that can be welded.
You can also find plastic corrugated culvert pretty much anywhere, and it's considerably lighter and less expensive than PVC.
Don't rule out wood too. Something built like a strip canoe and covered in layers of spar seal or polyurethane is pretty awesome pretty much anywhere.
Along the same line, a frame covered in canvas can be sealed up well enough for an airplane wing, it would certainly hold up to some rain and bug guts.
good ideas, I'll ahve to look into them and decide how much time I want to devote to this. I'd prefer something off-the shelf with minor modifications but who knows.
