Lid Help

[gaberelli]

Hey smart people. Solve this one for me. My lid is made but it warped up in the middle. How can I make this weatherproof. I was going to go with automotive weatherstripping, but don't think that will work now. Should I bring it back and have them weld on a drip edge to cover the opening?

 

[gasman]

nice lid !! but the warping thing really sucks,, i would weld a drip edge on it then you will have less chance of any moisture gettin in there.. was it straight when you put it on there ???

 

[gaberelli]

The trailer is just primed by the way...that is not my color scheme! :Wow1:

 

[gaberelli]

The fabricator said they didn't notice it until I mentioned something. It was my design though, so I can only blame myself. I just didn't account for potential warping (they used the noob and cut me a deal )

 

[njtaco]

I don't see how it could warp in that direction...could you take a pic directly from the rear along the "warped" side?

Oh yea, I like the design. It appears very functional to me.

 

[JKDetonator]

It will still work!

Just use an automotive weather seal like the type that goes aroung a ford truck door. The sticky sided foam won't cut it, but an industrial closed cell foam seal should be compliant enough to prevent moisture from entering and thick enough to cover your gap. Good Luck! I'd definitely try that before welding on a "lip"

 

[brentbba]

Outside of the warping, nicely done on the lid!

 

[Piet]

:wings: Good design idea on creating a roof crown so that water drips off the lid while the trailer is standing still. :bike_rider:

Seriously, I would look at welding angle iron on the side of the lid. Put weather stripping on the bottom edge to seal the lid to the box.

 

[gaberelli]

Thanks for the help guys. I think I am going to go with a 1"x2" piece of angle iron for the sides and back to cover the gap. I am still going to use some weatherstripping and build it up in the center with double sided foam tape. I'll post the repairs.

 

[85CUCV]

Gaberelli,

If the whole lid is warped, I'd try taking the lid off and blocking the corners up and laying a 4x4 about 30 inches long along the side edge and use a bottle jack to try and bend it back gently. Use your truck hitch over the jack for your counter pressure.

Anyone else think it might work?

 

[cobb ridge]

Do you have gas cylinders on your lid? Try taking them off and see if it is still bent. The pressure from the cylinders could be pushing it up. I have been experimenting with mine and it did this.

 

[gasman]

welding the sq tube on is where the warping came from.. very difficult to weld somthing that long without warpage.. thats why mine was bent .. the strenght comes from the bend in the steel. the only fix i see is welding on a new lip .. and then grinding it out.. was it the fabricators idea to change the design.? then you could ********** him cuz the design was good..

 

[gasman]

Do you have gas cylinders on your lid? Try taking them off and see if it is still bent. The pressure from the cylinders could be pushing it up. I have been experimenting with mine and it did this.

im not sure but i dosnt look like he has the struts hooked up yet..

 

[gaberelli]

Struts are hooked up, but I don't think that they are bending anything because the bend is there when open or closed. The plan is to weld on a piece of angle iron to the lid that will cover the gap and the top of the trailer. It will look like gasman's when it is done but will be pieces welded together rather than a single piece of bent steel. I will still place the weatherstripping on the lid to attempt to seal it and I will build up the center with double sided foam tape to help with the arch.

Thanks Guys!

 

[gaberelli]

About the design. I agree that bending the whole thing would have been best, but the fabricator did not have the ability to make all of the bends. Welding sq. tubing was plan B. Now we are in "make it work" mode. I am appreciative of the fabricator working with me on something this unique, but they put the rookie on the job and it was redone by someone else after his first attempt. The redo was probably done quickly and resulted in the warping.