Another Chipbox Problem

[Dean Lofthouse]

I am have a little problem with my chipbox.

 

I have drove to and from Tadcaster today which is a 70 mile round trip.

 

Going there, the Landy went like billy-ho, but on the way back the headwind really made it a struggle.

 

The chipbox has a huge flat front on it which sticks out the sides and top, which is obviously acting like a huge sail and really makes going into the wind a problem

 

I have thought about having a custom back made out of say 5mm aluminium. It would slope from just below roof level upward towards the rear and from the behind the cab side outwards. Tried downloading a sketch but had problems

 

I would want stifferners on the top and sides, but would have them on the inside not the outside .

 

I would want to take off my side boards leaving the steel tipper deck and the ali box would have angle section along the outside bottom edge to bolt it down to the deck and to the rear corner post to utilize the existing tipper tailgate.

 

It will have welded seams only, no bolting thru to angle iron

 

Has anyone built one out of Ali before and know the pitfalls, disadvantages and cost

 

Or has anyone got any other suggestions, apart from roof spoilers

 

The little hatch on the front is for my ladders to stick thru.

[madmatt]

A good fabricator could easily build what you want, at a cost though! Ali is flippin expensive at the moment.

 

I'd also consider mounting your beacon directly to your roof and perhaps have a second ontop of chip box so you can loose that very high roof bar that will drag way more than you think.

[Log-ologist]

sounds pricey. I would go for angle frame and rivet 3mm ally sheet. ( but then what do I know, I still use 2 sheets of 12mm ply painted with blue fence stain.)

[bob]

check out our pickup next time you see it we had them sides made after much weight discussions with profeshional body ompany

[Steve Bullman]

why 5mm, u dont think 3 mm would be thick enough?

[BrendonV]

I am in the same boat as you. My truck on the freeway is the same, a boat anchor. My plan this summer is to fabricate an aluminum shell to drop into the dump part of my truck. I am going to use 3/16" (5mm?) because it gets loaded with wood along with chips. Since your guys trucks are so small over there, 3mm seems suitable. Ever think about a tarp top? I am going to run a heavy duty truck tarp top.

 

Lowering the height of the top and raising the tailgate will compensate for the height lowering.

 

Just something to consider from an American.

[madmatt]

I don't know if my rubbish sketch will show on here but how about changing the profile of your chip box so its more like the red line rather than the blue.

[Log-ologist]

why 5mm, u dont think 3 mm would be thick enough?

 

probably not if its welded in the corners

[Andy Collins]

Pecon, on the front of the chipbox above the cab, why not simply cut a "window" and fine mesh it, to allow the wind thru? Mind you, the landy has the aerodynamics of a house brick so probably wont make too much difference.

[MattyF]

Mind you, the landy has the aerodynamics of a house brick so probably wont make too much difference.

 

ha ha! i think andy has a point...