Motorhome roof bar load rating
Discussion
What with Le Mans approaching and our group having a pitch pretty close to the track, I got to thinking. It would be very cool indeed to get some chipboard or similar and build a platform on top of the motorhome for us to sit on and get a great view.
It has roofbars on it already which certainly feel very very strong but I wonder how much weight they might safely support. Ideally enough for the chipboard and 2 to 4 reasonably sized blokes and their chairs, so gettin on for what, 300 - 400 kg?
Now I write it, that sounds like a LOT of weight. Anyone got any idea what the average motorhome roofbar setup will safely take or what they might be rated to?
It has roofbars on it already which certainly feel very very strong but I wonder how much weight they might safely support. Ideally enough for the chipboard and 2 to 4 reasonably sized blokes and their chairs, so gettin on for what, 300 - 400 kg?
Now I write it, that sounds like a LOT of weight. Anyone got any idea what the average motorhome roofbar setup will safely take or what they might be rated to?
gog440 said:
My cars roofbars are only rated to 75kg and in the handbook it says maximum roof load of 75kg too
That's not a static load though, they have to allow for bumps etc which will increase the load substantially. Not sure I'd test it with 4 mates and a cool box of lager though 
I don't know what van you have so this information may well be useless, but, my van is an Autotrail and has a factory fitted roof rack, and although the roof can be walked on and it has a ladder on the back to facilitate this, the recommended max load for the roof rack is 40kg.
Now I reckon 4 blokes, 50 ltrs of lager, a BBQ, 4cwt of sausages and burgers and a sound system might just be over that.
Now I reckon 4 blokes, 50 ltrs of lager, a BBQ, 4cwt of sausages and burgers and a sound system might just be over that.
GAjon said:
I don't know what van you have
Of course you don't, because I am an idiot and didn't mention it at all! Facepalm, d'oh, etc.It is a 1999 Knaus Traveller 575.
GAjon said:
my van is an Autotrail and has a factory fitted roof rack, and although the roof can be walked on and it has a ladder on the back to facilitate this, the recommended max load for the roof rack is 40kg.
That's a caravan, right? For some reason completely made up by myself, I think they don't have such strong or specifially built roof bars. Probably I'm off the mark, I don't know much about this stuff (is it obvious yet?!)GAjon said:
Now I reckon 4 blokes, 50 ltrs of lager, a BBQ, 4cwt of sausages and burgers and a sound system might just be over that.
Agreed. I estimated 300 or more kilos which, since I first wrote it down and saw the number, sounds ridiculous and I am sure the motorhome will collapse in a ball of flames with that much weight on the roof. SWMBO would not be impressed.[quote=LeoZwalfThat's a caravan, right? For some reason completely made up by myself, I think they don't have such strong or specifially built roof bars. Probably I'm off the mark, I don't know much about this stuff (is it obvious yet?!)
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[/quote]
No, its a motorhome, and you can walk on the roof. I suspect the low load rating of 40 kg is probably more to do with limiting the raising the centre of gravity of the van whilst travelling rather than the actual capacity of the roof and roof bars.
You might be OK as long as you don't take any salad up there with you.
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[/quote]
No, its a motorhome, and you can walk on the roof. I suspect the low load rating of 40 kg is probably more to do with limiting the raising the centre of gravity of the van whilst travelling rather than the actual capacity of the roof and roof bars.
You might be OK as long as you don't take any salad up there with you.
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