Steel frame Aluminium Canopy
- Bliksempie
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Baie netjies, Robbie. Wil se jy is pro.
Ecc 1:9 Wat gewees het, dit sal daar weer wees; en wat gebeur het, dit sal weer gebeur, en daar is glad niks nuuts onder die son nie.
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Robbie waar het jy daai deurskynende vensters gekry? en sal daai venters nie 'n diefstal risikoe wees nie ? al sal kan sien wat jy rond ry.
Rules are there to make you think before you break them!!!
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woman so as to give him time
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for her first question.
COMMON SENCE IS NOT A GIFT, IT IS A PUNISHMENT!! BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT HAVE IT!!!

God made man before
woman so as to give him time
to think of an answer
for her first question.
COMMON SENCE IS NOT A GIFT, IT IS A PUNISHMENT!! BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT HAVE IT!!!

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By dieselfde plek as jou sin vir humor.Obelix and Dogmatix wrote: ↑Tue May 02, 2017 11:08 amRobbie waar het jy daai deurskynende vensters gekry? en sal daai venters nie 'n diefstal risikoe wees nie ? al sal kan sien wat jy rond ry.

- dalkill
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i have run the thought in my head about building steel frame and galvanising it for protection.
since steel easier to weld (i could even do it myself albeit not very good), but i assume it's just for the weight factor that aluminium is preferred ?
since steel easier to weld (i could even do it myself albeit not very good), but i assume it's just for the weight factor that aluminium is preferred ?
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- Bliksempie
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True that. I have to ad that I did the fitment myself, without any help. The steel is not that heavy at all.
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Baie netjiese werk sover Robbie.
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Well done Robbie.I would have also built the frame out of steel.The light steel tubes are not that much heavier than aluminium tubes and a few kilograms extra on that sfa ain't gonna make much difference.
Can't wait to see the finnished project.
Can't wait to see the finnished project.
- niclemaitre
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Alu isn't as strong so you have to use thicker tubing than you would if you used steel. My steel framed, alu-clad canopy is hardly (~5-10kg) heavier than the equivalent alu one. Alu is just much more corrosion resistant.
I can also fix it in the middle of nowhere with a welding rod and a car battery.
Happy trails
Nic
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Robbie, what wall thickness tube did you use? Also if you don't mind, could you post some more photo's detailing the window openings and the upright sections. I might want to copy your design, if you don't mind.
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ek weet daar is updated foto's beskibaar so waar is hulle?
Rules are there to make you think before you break them!!!
God made man before
woman so as to give him time
to think of an answer
for her first question.
COMMON SENCE IS NOT A GIFT, IT IS A PUNISHMENT!! BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT HAVE IT!!!

God made man before
woman so as to give him time
to think of an answer
for her first question.
COMMON SENCE IS NOT A GIFT, IT IS A PUNISHMENT!! BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT HAVE IT!!!

- Bliksempie
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Peter, the thickness i used was 2mm mild steel. Unfortunately these are the only pics as already uploaded. Difficult to elaborate on the design, as the final product is merely out of pure luck. Everything started with an idea... and the built just ended up as it is.
- Bliksempie
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Ja tog. Hier is nog 'n paar nuwes. Ek sal volgende naweek die kant deurtjies se slotte insit. Hierdie afglope naweek was net te kort. Mens moet so bietjie braai ook intussen.Obelix and Dogmatix wrote: ↑Sun May 07, 2017 12:37 pmek weet daar is updated foto's beskibaar so waar is hulle?
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Looks stunning.I really like the colour of your Hilux as well.
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Baie netjies, Robbie. Gaan jy binnekant ook uitle. Wil dit graag sien.
Ecc 1:9 Wat gewees het, dit sal daar weer wees; en wat gebeur het, dit sal weer gebeur, en daar is glad niks nuuts onder die son nie.
- niclemaitre
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I have a complete CAD drawing of mine if you want it. Dunno if it'll fit on your load bin, I've got the "import" bin with the lights at the sides, not under the tail gate and the dimensions are slightly different.
Put a plank on the roof to get the height measurement. I used a big square to get the angle of the sides (20 deg I think). I'd recommend building a wooden jig to get the roof tubing of the canopy in the correct position. Because it's not a rigid rectangle but has one open end, it wants to twist out of shape a lot. Short, well spaced welds will help keep it true.
Happy trails
Nic
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- pietpetoors
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Looks stunning, well done !
Dalkill -
Steel tube can handle vibrations much better than alu tube.
Dalkill -
With Alu you will probably use a tube with 3mm wall thickness. On steel frame with cladding I will easily sommer use tubing with 1.6 wall thickness. In the end the weight will be almost the same. As long as you galvanize the steel you will be fine. If you are up north like Robbie, just a proper paint job will do.i have run the thought in my head about building steel frame and galvanising it for protection.
since steel easier to weld (i could even do it myself albeit not very good), but i assume it's just for the weight factor that aluminium is preferred ?
Steel tube can handle vibrations much better than alu tube.
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Ha Ha, hierie kan 'n baie lang debat raak.
The uprights are so short (only about 450mm) and the force mostly downward, in my opinion 1.6 will be fine. For the roof, if you plan to load stuff onto the roof one can use thicker material, but remember span of the roof is only about 1.2 meter. Over that short distance you do not need very strong metal , but I agree that here a 1.6 wall might be a bit thin. If you need extra strength in the roof I will use a rectangular tubing of 50x25 and use it with the long side vertical.
Rectangular tubing is nice to use, it gives a more robust look and feel than 25mm SQR, so one might as well use it for both the strength and cosmetic factor.
If you are not a experienced welder, 2mm welds easier than 1.6 , but then again, these new inverter welders makes welding so much easier than the old transformer welders.
One of my criteria is the same as Robbie's, must be able to fit and remove it myself. Even my all alu canopy is about on the weight limit for fitting and removing it alone.
The uprights are so short (only about 450mm) and the force mostly downward, in my opinion 1.6 will be fine. For the roof, if you plan to load stuff onto the roof one can use thicker material, but remember span of the roof is only about 1.2 meter. Over that short distance you do not need very strong metal , but I agree that here a 1.6 wall might be a bit thin. If you need extra strength in the roof I will use a rectangular tubing of 50x25 and use it with the long side vertical.
Rectangular tubing is nice to use, it gives a more robust look and feel than 25mm SQR, so one might as well use it for both the strength and cosmetic factor.
If you are not a experienced welder, 2mm welds easier than 1.6 , but then again, these new inverter welders makes welding so much easier than the old transformer welders.
One of my criteria is the same as Robbie's, must be able to fit and remove it myself. Even my all alu canopy is about on the weight limit for fitting and removing it alone.
Only Dead Fish Go With The Flow!

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1999 Hilux 2.7i 4x4 Raider DC. Rear diff-lock, Red Peppor Bull Bar and rock sliders, 31" Cooper ST, Snorkel, Alu-Canopy, VHF Kirisun radio, West Coast Rust, Mikem Rear Suspension, Ball Joint Spacers in front, 25watt LED Spots
- Bliksempie
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Hennie,
Dit is die plan, ja. Al vier kant deure kry hul eie kassies vir onderskeidelik Breekware, Recovery gear ens. Binne wil ek graag die gewone (Fridge, Ammo box sliders) insit wat na agter uittrek.
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- Bliksempie
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Hi Martin,
Dis 'n negatief daar. Die boswa sal maar bly. Die canopy is maar net vir as ons Botswana of ander plekke toe gaan waar 'n boswa nie geskik is vir kamp nie. Beplan om 2 x RTT op te sit vir die doeleindes van een aand oorslaap situasies.
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Baie mooi Robbie... Dit lyk heel netjies en baie goed afgewerk.
Botswana is deesdae so mooi oopgery dat jy maklik daai boswa sal kan sleep, maar daai 22R mag dalk bietjie swaar werk met daai Jurgens XT agter sy stert.
Botswana is deesdae so mooi oopgery dat jy maklik daai boswa sal kan sleep, maar daai 22R mag dalk bietjie swaar werk met daai Jurgens XT agter sy stert.
Johan Marais
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Lyk baie mooi Robbie?
Waar kom die Yskas en gaan jy rakke inbou?
Onthou net, hoe verder agter jou yskas is hoe meer gaan hy stamp met die slegte paaie...
Waar kom die Yskas en gaan jy rakke inbou?
Onthou net, hoe verder agter jou yskas is hoe meer gaan hy stamp met die slegte paaie...
HABOOB means "Dust Storm"
- Bliksempie
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Die plan os om rakke in te bou, ja. En dankie vir die advies oor die ligging van die yskas.... Dalk moet ek my vrou se sitplek soontoe skuif...Haboob wrote:Lyk baie mooi Robbie?
Waar kom die Yskas en gaan jy rakke inbou?
Onthou net, hoe verder agter jou yskas is hoe meer gaan hy stamp met die slegte paaie...
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- Bliksempie
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