Aluminum roof ?????

nealcj8 · Aug 7, 2013

I am wanting to put a aluminum roof on my buggy. What thickness material is everybody using for these?

ridered3 · Aug 7, 2013

nealcj8 said:
I am wanting to put a aluminum roof on my buggy. What thickness material is everybody using for these?

Had one on my old CJ7 and it was made from 1/4" aluminum. Previous owner of the cage had it cut that thick cause it was a spare piece sitting around.

peanut · Aug 7, 2013

just put 16ga on mine worked out pretty good

nealcj8 · Aug 7, 2013

My cage is low and I worry about something coming in on my head if I roll over so I dont want it to thin but I dont wont anything to thick eather.

ryan_25 · Aug 7, 2013

Re: Re: Aluminum roof ?????

I have used 1/8" on mine. They hold up well when put on a properly built chassis.

BUG-E J · Aug 7, 2013

Don't go too thin. I had one pull through the bolts going down the road one time and blow off. :****:

InDaShop · Aug 7, 2013

1/8" (.125) or 8 gauge alum (.1285) depending on your supplier.

patooyee · Aug 7, 2013

I think I have 16 ga on my roof and it did not hold up well to its first roll. I don't need it to be structural, but if I did I would not use that thin. How much bracing you have behind it makes a big difference but I would say that if you are relying on it to be structural / protect your head 3/16 or 1/4 would be the ticket. I had 5/16 as skid plates on my old buggy with not much bracing behind it and it held up well over the years. So for something that doesn't take as many hits I would say thinner would be OK.

jsburkey21 · Aug 7, 2013

1/8th

Sawzall · Aug 7, 2013

knaffie · Aug 8, 2013

1/8 is Ultra 4 spec

nealcj8 · Aug 8, 2013

I checked on a piece yesterday.... That **** is high.

civicmindedex79 · Aug 8, 2013

What grade did you check on? 6061 not needed or atleast I don't think so. How big a piece you need?

Skidkid · Aug 8, 2013

1/8" minimum. I have dented that fairly deep on rollovers and that is the thinnest I will ever use.

Go to a precious metals recycler and see what they have. Ones around here will resell stuff they have takin in for scrap. They sell it for a profit to you but it's usually much cheaper then buying it new. Most times it is new stuff they have as well someone brought in to scrap.

5onrocks · Aug 8, 2013

1/8th and make it a one piece design. I love the look of my roof inset in between the bars but it funnels the rain straight on my legs and shoulders!

nealcj8 · Aug 9, 2013

civicmindedex79 said:
What grade did you check on? 6061 not needed or atleast I don't think so. How big a piece you need?

I need a piece about 4'-3" x 6'-3" I dont know what grade it was. I checked at limestone steel, they are about the cheepest on any metal up here in the northwest Alabama area.