How much weight can a fiberglass top bear?

[clandr1]

I'm looking to put a roof rack on my fiberglass top, and I'm wondering if anyone knows of a factory published weight limit for the top, or any personal experience you've had with roof racks & various amounts of weight on the camper shell.

I'm thinking just a simple 5x5 cargo rack mounted to 4 or 6 points on the roof to carry jerry cans, water jugs, and my spare tire. Probably looking at 300 pounds of gear maximum.

I know that I stood on the left rear corner of the camper and I'm 255 lbs -- it didn't creak or crack, so I'm assuming if I were to disperse the weight over a large enough area I wouldn't have a problem.

Any feedback is appreciated!

 

[Deuling]

I bet they will hold alot more than 300 lbs. They are pretty thick SOB's, heavy too.

 

[496truck]

My top has a factory rack on it. I'll check the owners manual and see if it says anything in there.

Owners manual is at home in the toolbox...

 

[6.2Blazer]

When I cut apart the topper from my '90 I was surprised at how beefy it was. There was quite a bit of metal in it, especially at the front and rear seams. I posted a thread with pictures on here awhile back showing this. Along c-pillar (around rear window) there was 3-4 layers of fiberglass and a steel subframe

 

[chulisohombre]

im pretty sure ive seen advertised 300 pounds sticks in my head.if the weight is dispersed over the length of the top.6 points as you say,shouldnt have a problem.i think my 94s rack says 200. and its not as sturdy as the older steel racks.

 

[sledheadak]

70 gallons of gas and 30 gallons of water have been on mine before

 

[Deuling]

70 gallons of gas and 30 gallons of water have been on mine before

You carrying barrels of gas up their???

 

[clandr1]

Thanks for the responses guys! That is good to know, especially sledhead carrying a gas station up there LOL

496truck, were you able to find your owners manual?

 

[496truck]

uummm, yeah. Actually, I know exactly where it is. Just forgot about this completely.

Thinking I have to start writing things down now. Problem is, I'm not that old.

 

[clandr1]

uummm, yeah. Actually, I know exactly where it is. Just forgot about this completely.

Thinking I have to start writing things down now. Problem is, I'm not that old.

Welcome to my world... 31 with the mind of an 80 year old!

 

[Deuling]

Thanks for the responses guys! That is good to know, especially sledhead carrying a gas station up there LOL

?

He never did respond to that, I want to know how you get that much fluid on top of a blazer lol. Whats a gallon of water/gas weigh? Roughly 5 lbs?? If he carried roughly 500 lbs of fluid up their you should be fine

 

[496truck]

Alright, I just flipped through every page of my owners manual. It says absolutely nothing about loading the roof or the rack on it. I was kinda disappointed.

 

[meanboyjr]

He never did respond to that, I want to know how you get that much fluid on top of a blazer lol. Whats a gallon of water/gas weigh? Roughly 5 lbs?? If he carried roughly 500 lbs of fluid up their you should be fine

Water weighs 8.3 lbs/gal. Gasoline weighs 6 lbs/gal. So 70 gallons of gas (420 lbs) and 30 gallons of water (249 lbs) would weigh just about 669 lbs, not counting container weight...or the weight of the rack.

That's quite a load.

BTW, I've had 300 lbs on my aftermarket Yakima rack.