Dougy Posted July 8, 2017 Report Share Posted July 8, 2017 Has anyone put a hatch in a truckman top ? I'm after putting a shooting hatch in one, got some idea, and I understand that i will need to look at the structural strength if a big hole appears. I'm thinking of a alli frame sandwich and fixing the hatch to that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Okrang Posted July 8, 2017 Report Share Posted July 8, 2017 I did it with an aluminium Ifor Williams cover. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted July 9, 2017 Report Share Posted July 9, 2017 My last truck man had a beam down the middle and I wouldn't want to try it. Done it on my last two ifor tops and dead easy and works really well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonker Posted July 9, 2017 Report Share Posted July 9, 2017 My last truck man had a beam down the middle and I wouldn't want to try it. Done it on my last two ifor tops and dead easy and works really well Did you manage to keep it low? As I'm thinking off doing mine but I very often tie a bit off wood or a ladder on the top with ratchet straps and would need to keep it below the struts. Did you use the piece you cut out the top for the lid or use new? just getting my head around it and devising a plan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Okrang Posted July 9, 2017 Report Share Posted July 9, 2017 Did you manage to keep it low? As I'm thinking off doing mine but I very often tie a bit off wood or a ladder on the top with ratchet straps and would need to keep it below the struts. Did you use the piece you cut out the top for the lid or use new? just getting my head around it and devising a plan. Yes you can keep it virtually the same height as the strengthening hoops / struts on the canopy. I made mine out of clear macrolon, mounted on a frame made from 'U' section aluminium and edged with aluminium angle to allow more light into the back of my truck (think of it as a sunroof!). I cut the hatch out between the two hoops / struts and lined the cut edges with 'U' section aluminium extrusion, rivet-fixed to give rigidity. The removable hatch overlaps the framing on the canopy to keep it all watertight and is held in place by two spring-loaded bolts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted July 9, 2017 Report Share Posted July 9, 2017 Did you manage to keep it low? As I'm thinking off doing mine but I very often tie a bit off wood or a ladder on the top with ratchet straps and would need to keep it below the struts. Did you use the piece you cut out the top for the lid or use new? just getting my head around it and devising a plan. I put a couple of boat hatches in, works really well with a plank inside on the inside ledges of the top. You sit low but it is spot on shooting height. When lamping it's a very safe shooting position and you don't get bumped around much. It helps to be slim with the hatches I have at the moment they are a little snug so make sure the ones you get are big enough Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougy Posted July 9, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 9, 2017 What's the structure like on the fibreglass tops ? Mine has a liner in so can't see. I don't really want to butcher it just to see if it's possible to put a hatch in. What are the ribs attached to ? Can they be crushed between a steel frame (to replace the rigidity) to seat the hinged hatch ? All will be sealed using rubber sealing strips of various types. The other option is buying a bespoke aluminium top with a shooting hatch. I just wanted to keep the colour matching top if possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reggiegun Posted July 9, 2017 Report Share Posted July 9, 2017 (edited) What's the structure like on the fibreglass tops ? Mine has a liner in so can't see. I don't really want to butcher it just to see if it's possible to put a hatch in. What are the ribs attached to ? Can they be crushed between a steel frame (to replace the rigidity) to seat the hinged hatch ? All will be sealed using rubber sealing strips of various types. The other option is buying a bespoke aluminium top with a shooting hatch. I just wanted to keep the colour matching top if possible. Get Ivor williams Ali top and get fruity to put a hatch in it and then sell the truckman. And stop being anal about colour match. You turned into a right snob since you got into the field trails with that dog of yours. Edited July 9, 2017 by reggiegun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotslad Posted July 9, 2017 Report Share Posted July 9, 2017 Another option would to to spray the ifor ally top a similar colour to pick up. Know 1 big estate ahd all its motors colour coded and sprayed the canopies to match. Lokks well. While it might be an extra expense the ifor lids are fairly cheap compared to the fancy fibre glass 1 so would pay for the paint job I'm meaning to do mine shortly (if it passes its mot anyway) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted July 9, 2017 Report Share Posted July 9, 2017 The only reason I wouldn't is the silver colour helps reflect heat, I know even on the hottest day the dogs are fine in the back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougy Posted July 9, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 9, 2017 Get Ivor williams Ali top and get fruity to put a hatch in it and then sell the truckman. And stop being anal about colour match. You turned into a right snob since you got into the field trails with that dog of yours. We'll start calling you regieGreenwithenvy if you keep on. Will probably go with the 1 I saw on www. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reggiegun Posted July 10, 2017 Report Share Posted July 10, 2017 We'll start calling you regieGreenwithenvy if you keep on. Will probably go with the 1 I saw on www. Clutch gone in mine ;-( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougy Posted July 10, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 10, 2017 (edited) Clutch gone in mine ;-(Oh dear lol Selling a nice black one. With a good clutch if your interested. £7750. 11 months MOT. And 2 sets of tyres ;-) free Edited July 10, 2017 by Dougy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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