200 lb trailer lid

[FJJUNKY]

I have finally found someone that can bend up a lid for the trailers. Now he told me that he can only do it in one piece with 12 gauge and would be about 180 lbs. Is this too much. Would I be able to get gas struts to lift this thing with a tent on it? I really wanted 14 gauge but for him to do it would have to be done in two pieces.

Please help.

[XJBANKER]

I have finally found someone that can bend up a lid for the trailers. Now he told me that he can only do it in one piece with 12 gauge and would be about 180 lbs. Is this too much. Would I be able to get gas struts to lift this thing with a tent on it? I really wanted 14 gauge but for him to do it would have to be done in two pieces.

Please help.

How much do the adventure trailers weigh?

[FJJUNKY]

not sure are they heavy ?

[sgv209]

That sounds a little on the heavy side, but you can get standard struts from McMaster-Carr that can lift 250lbs and they even have larger ones that go up to 550lbs each.

[Tight_wad]

My 12 ga. lid figures to be right at 150 pounds, by my dimensions. Then adding the cargo rack, and then possible a RTT, and it would be easy to hit 300 pounds. This amount of weight on the struts doesn't really bother me, its having this much weight at the top of my trailer that I wish I didn't have.

At the moment, I am planning on using 4 gas struts, 2 per side. Even though I can get 2 struts to do the job, gas struts come in different sizes, up to 250 pounds per Strut. I just think I would feel a little safer with this much weight over top of me while I am trying to put my gear in and out.

Its not the struts themselves that worry me, its the way that they mount. I have had mounts fail on hatch back lids before, and they come down pretty dang hard.

What is the dimensions of your lid going to be?

[gasman]

i wouldnt sweat it.. my tent weighs almost that much and the lid about the same .. i use 2 150# struts no problem if you were really worried you could fab up a saftey bar or somthing so that when it was open if a strut failed it would not come crashing down.. good idea ? i think i might add one to my my trailer .. ya thats a really good idea. you can never be too safe..

[Martyn]

I'm working on a composite lid for trailers right now.

The design is done, waiting on costing of CAD and the computer operated router to cut the panels. The lid will be flat packed and assembled by the purchaser.

If I've done my math correctly it should weigh in around 56lbs.

We can include 3 hinges, and gas struts. Options would include tracks and roof racks.

The lid would have to be finished by the customer using a polyurethane based paint. We could offer the option of a fully assembled lid that was linexed, but the cost and weight would increase.

[R_Lefebvre]

I think 12ga is way over-done on a trailer lid. That's what I made my gas tank skidplate out of! Why does he want to go so thick?

I made the roof of my trailer out of 18ga, and I can walk up there no problem. You just need to use a bit of framing. I realize a sheeted tubeframe structure is a little harder to do than just a simple bent sheetmetal structure, but I think it's more efficient.

Or why not just build the lid out of plywood and have it Linexed?

[Toolman]

I just made a lid out of 1X2 frame and 18 gauge sheet metal and it is way too strong and only weighs about 60 lbs. I think 12 gauge is overkill.. especially weighing in at a 180 lbs. M & K metal in Gardena bent the skin for me with material included for $140 the 1X2 cost about $60 for the entire lid with hinges and finish I'm into it for $250..

I was quoted by fab shops around here for around $750.

BTW I'm an amateur at best when it comes to welding. But I'm happy with the outcome and stoked to have saved $500.. I do need stronger shocks to support the weight of RTT.

[StumpXJ]

Finding struts to do the job will be no problem. If it weighs too much for a lid... thats an opinion thing. I think my lid with the RTT and everything is close to 275#'s I used 1 inch 11 gauge tubing for the frame, and skinned it with 14 gauge. Works great for me...