Walking on the Roof

[digitek718]

So I finally made the 2.5 hr trek to Mcadoo PA to pick up my new Haulmark Transport 6x12 vnose. I will post pics soon and will start a build thread. While I was at the factory and was doing my inspection of the trailer before I signed the papers I noticed the wood around one of the roof vents (I ordered it with two vents) looked a little damp. I knew that this was an easy fix with some caulk but when the worker asked me if I found anything wrong with it I mentioned that one of the vents might have not been sealed properly. They immediately said they would reseal both vents with caulk and I obliged (what the hell less work for me). Next thing I know this big guy is crawling around the top of my cargo trailer. I knew that these things were built durable but I didnt know that you could flat out walk on the roofs. After he was done caulking I used his ladder to take a look at the roof and noticed that the aluminum roof was not completely flat. It was concave in some spots, particularly close to the vents. Is this just the nature of the sheet metal?? Are your roofs perfectly flat or are there slight imperfections, slight concave areas/dents??? Could this be caused by the fine craftsmen at Haulmark having a party on my roof?? Am I being a little bit nitpicky about my new metal box, I have been known to be a bit of a perfectionist in the past?? Any insight would be greatly appreciated.. I suppose when I add foam board insulation and luan to the ceiling that should stiffen up the aluminum sheet metal a bit maybe even flattening out some of those concave/dent areas....

P.S. Other than this slight bout of ocd the trailer looks great, all the windows and vents are in the right spot.color looks great (silverfrost), and could not even feel it behind me while towing (2007 nissan xterra).cant wait to start building

[snal]

Is the roof flat?...or are the ribs slightly bowed? I wouldn't worry too much if there's a bow in the roof, just watch for ponding water.
I built mine dead flat, but it has 1/2" sheathing as a base...then skinned with aluminum.

[digitek718]

Its a one piece flat roof

[Trackstriper]

Maybe post some pictures?

I recently purchased a 7x22 Pace trailer with a flat, one-piece aluminum roof. And I'm definitely like you, I want it flat and tight. But that's not reality. Mine's warped here and there.

Your Haulmark, like my Pace most likely has steel framing and steel roof cross-members. Steel and aluminum expand at different rates by a factor of about 3:1. The aluminum is not tied down to the cross-members...it just floats on top, fastened only at the edges. It probably has a central strip of lauan plywood tying the cross-members together and giving the aluminum a little more support. But the aluminum just lays on top, and will wrinkle depending on the temperature. I think the view from the trailer manufacturers is that it keeps the water out, thus fulfilling its purpose.

Some all-aluminum trailer manufacturers will bond the roof to the cross-members as there is no differential expansion problem. Those roofs can be fairly tight and "flat", I looked at Featherlite ($$$) and they build nicely, but even then there are things I'd rather fix in the way of fit and finish.

The good part is that you can't see the roof. It's probably not a problem unless they really dinged it up walking on it. I'd have had a cow.