roof load rating

[The_D]

Hi, I have passenger van with FLVC roof rack + Thule + RTT (or cargo) + maxtrax

the question is, when I build set up I did not account on factory installed A/C unit since weight is unknown and it was part of the van already.
Surprisingly roof load is 330 lbs, with napkins math it gives me the following:

1. Roof Rack 100 lbs
2. Awning 70 lbs
3. AC 110 lbs
4. Max Trac 20 lbs

anything on top - I'm fucked, how does everyone else load their roof considering awning + rack + A/C at max load capacity

 

[Yardverkauf]

I think that rating is low so as to discourage you from making the van top heavy and causing unpredictable handling.

 

[Maslin]

The same way our 9000 pound jacks struggle to lift the rear of some vans.

 

[Midwestdrifter]

What most folks with heavy roofs aren't telling you is how their vans handle like a obese whale.

Also part of the reason that aftermarket shocks are so popular (besides Mercedes having crappy shocks). Is that excessive rooftop weight makes the van pitch and roll oscillations to be quite pronounced.

I had one van owner I was working with complain that their van gave him motion sickness on the highway due to constant roll and pitch oscillations from even the smallest perturbation. I drove the van it was borderline dangerous even with stage one shocks from a major vendor.

Well at first glance I could tell if there was an issue he had probably close to 700 lb on the roof between the rack air conditioner solar panels and several heavy cases of gear. The rack alone was over 150 lb.

To make things worse he was probably at least 600 lb over gross without passengers.

And before someone says just get a 3500, that doesn't solve the roof weight issue. In fact a 3,500 shock in spring locations make them more susceptible to roll oscillations. The roll bar may reduce the magnitude of the oscillation, but the frequency rise is proportionally and without sufficient damping it can be aggressive, having everything ejected from overhead cabinets or even breaking latches in some cases.

 

[vreihen]

What most folks with heavy roofs aren't telling you is how their vans handle like a obese whale.

So, I take it that this is a bad idea?



What surprises me most is that there's no out-riggers on the sides, so turning the boom towards the curb will instantly put the van onto its side!

I'll share the secret for how I load my roof...if something doesn't fit inside the van, it stays home!!!!!!!

 

[The_D]

I'll share the secret for how I load my roof...if something doesn't fit inside the van, it stays home!!!!!!!

Watersport equipment often too big to go in