New chip box

[Rupe]

The roof on my ply chip box was really thin ply, i think 6mm. It worked because i bent it up in an arch, and then used struts to tie the two sides of the chip box together. I bet you could do the same in steel and it would be very strong and fairly lightweight.

 

I dont want an arched roof Pete. I need to stand on the roof to reach the tops of those big trees I do occasionally.

 

I might have to use plywood for a while to keep the cost down.

[Peter]

I'm talking about a fairly shallow arch, mine was only about 10 inches higher in the middle, and it was still possible to stand on it, plus it shed rainwater.

[Rupe]

I see. Its gonna be a flat roof, no need to overcomplicate. I'll make some steel struts and triangulate them to the inside of the box to give it torsional strength then stick some ply on top held on with bailing twine! So far this build has used no string or gaffa tape or nails, something wrong somewhere!

[dangerous brian]

smart job mate carry on as you are dont cut corners,may not be as heavy as you think,surly wont be as heavy as those steel tipping bodies you get on transits ,you could always sell it job like that should fetch a fair bit,nice job though.

[Dean Lofthouse]

It's got to have a decent roof on, I use my chipbox as a canteen when its raining

[Rupe]

It's got to have a decent roof on, I use my chipbox as a canteen when its raining

 

Any suggestion Dean??

 

I'm favouring 3mm chequer plate aluminium so far but need to find out what it costs, have never bought any before.

[Dean Lofthouse]

Any suggestion Dean??

 

I'm favouring 3mm chequer plate aluminium so far but need to find out what it costs, have never bought any before.

 

Three mill will do fine as long as you do as Peter says and put an ever so small arch, it only has to be a very small arch so you would hardly notice but you must have ties across the two sides for this to work

[Rupe]

I can't be doing with curves Dean! Curves belong on women not on my chip box! Id have to cut a curved front section to fill the gap or have a higher front section than I have already to allow for the curve. I can see how the strength would increase though. I can make steel cross beam out of folded sheet, L section or top hats like on the sides. The roof can bolt to that and I can make triangle brackets at either side for strength.

[combined tree services]

for the roof i would use 3mm chequer plate and mount it on an angle so that the watter will run off down betwene the tipper and tha cab and it also helps a bit chip into !

[Rupe]

Yes, did consider sloping it forward, but the height at the rear of the box is what dictates how easily chips go in, if its high enough there then a slope doesn't improve things. Wind resistance maybe improved but your still driving a brick. As for water run off, not sure about that. Surely the water will run over the edges if its flat on top. Also a flat roof will be easier to mount some kind of roof rack and/or rollers for ladders.