TrakShak new ply needed on beds

Submitted: Saturday, Oct 15, 2011 at 10:57

ThreadID: 89554 Views:3057 Replies:4 FollowUps:9

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Gavv

Hi there,

I've got a '96 Trakshak. I've tried a number of covers for it over the years as it sits out in the weather. The latest one I'm using has failed to keep to keep the water out and in addition the seals around the ply on the roof have also failed and as a result their has been a fair degree of water come through during the winter.
In addition the bottom ply bed has developed a bend in it, probably due to a combination of long term exposure to moisture and a few trips where we kept sleeping bags, pillows and the like in there and had to push it pretty hard to close.

As a result I though I'd replace the ply on both sides and do a decent job sealing it up and painting it.

Ply size required is 220 x 150 x 12mm. Seems most suppliers only supply 120 widths so having to go to 150 really appears to limit my options. I would've thought structural ply would be a minimum requirement but I can't find any suppliers that supply a 150 width for structural. There are few that do 305 x 150 for an external grade. Any advice would be appreciated.

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Reply By: Sir Kev & Darkie - Saturday, Oct 15, 2011 at 11:18

Saturday, Oct 15, 2011 at 11:18

Have you tried getting exterior grade Ply??

Mister Ply wood link

I am about to replace the ply top on my Trak Shak and am thinking about getting one of these sheets Aluminium composite panel , as it is only 3mm thick I am going to get some 9mm structural ply to thicken it out when installed. I reckon it will be a better product to seal the weather exposed top of the trak shak :)

Cheers Kev

Russell Coight:
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AnswerID: 467651

Follow Up By: Gavv - Saturday, Oct 15, 2011 at 12:11

Saturday, Oct 15, 2011 at 12:11

Two posts with a similar solution, I'm liking your thinking there.

The exterior grade I know I can get in that size Kev, but was hoping to get the structural which I'm thinking might help to avoid the bow we've got in the original. If you are going for 9mm structural in your solution have you been able to find the size needed??? I've only seen 120 widths max. (apart from possibly this, DMK Forest although it doesn't say what grade it is it does used for vehicles/furnutire) nothing as big as the 150 required

Thanks.

FollowupID: 741824

Follow Up By: Sir Kev & Darkie - Saturday, Oct 15, 2011 at 12:55

Saturday, Oct 15, 2011 at 12:55

Gav,

If I can't get the 1500mm width I'll biscuit join the sheet :)

Cheers Kev

Russell Coight:
He was presented with a difficult decision: push on into the stretching deserts, or return home to his wife.

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FollowupID: 741829

Follow Up By: Charlie - Sunday, Oct 16, 2011 at 09:22

Sunday, Oct 16, 2011 at 09:22

I wouldn't worry too much whether its exterior or structural , its moisture in the wood and heating it on one side that cause it to warp, a bit of well dried hoop pine with the edges sealed would be the go would be the go. Radiata pines somewhat cheaper but not nearly as stable as hoop.

FollowupID: 741891

Reply By: olcoolone - Saturday, Oct 15, 2011 at 11:31

Saturday, Oct 15, 2011 at 11:31

When we had our TrakShak many years ago we used the original ply and placed and bonded a sheet of 1.6 aluminium sheet cut to size to fit inside the steel bent edge.

Around the edge we sealed it with Sikaflex 252....

AnswerID: 467654

Follow Up By: Gavv - Saturday, Oct 15, 2011 at 12:12

Saturday, Oct 15, 2011 at 12:12

Thanks for the reply,

What did you use to bond the Al sheet to the ply???

FollowupID: 741825

Follow Up By: woodie3 - Saturday, Oct 15, 2011 at 16:20

Saturday, Oct 15, 2011 at 16:20

Hi, depending where you are, but there is a company "DMK" that will possibly have 1.5mt wide sheets, they have branches in Sydney and Brisbane and import structural and marine from Europe, they also stock the sandwich material for truck construction, I have no affillliation with this company but have used them over many years, cheers Bill

FollowupID: 741838

Follow Up By: woodie3 - Saturday, Oct 15, 2011 at 16:25

Saturday, Oct 15, 2011 at 16:25

Hi again, they are on the web under DMK Forest Products and have 2 branches in Qls, Burleigh Hds and Labrador as well as Brookvale in Sydney , Bill

FollowupID: 741839

Follow Up By: Gavv - Sunday, Oct 16, 2011 at 08:32

Sunday, Oct 16, 2011 at 08:32

Thanks woodie, yep, referenced DMK in follow ups above. Will give them a call on Monday, will they cut and deliver???

Also as per above if I bond to Aluminium sheet then what would be the best glue to use.

Cheers,

FollowupID: 741884

Follow Up By: woodie3 - Sunday, Oct 16, 2011 at 10:17

Sunday, Oct 16, 2011 at 10:17

Hi, if you go through their product list I believe there are a couple of options in sandwich materials that would be a better option than bonding yourself ,cheers Bill

FollowupID: 741897

Follow Up By: olcoolone - Sunday, Oct 16, 2011 at 10:23

Sunday, Oct 16, 2011 at 10:23

We bonded the aluminium sheet to the ply with high temp spray contact adhesive (not the spray can stuff), this forms a very strong bond as the surface area is very large.

Then we just painted the aluminium sheet with 2 pak paint colour matched to the TrakShak.

FollowupID: 741900

Reply By: menace- Sunday, Oct 16, 2011 at 01:05

Sunday, Oct 16, 2011 at 01:05

Dont really know your thickness or weight limitations Gavv...but you can get form work ply in 1500 mm widths x 2400 length and of course definately waterproof and wont distort...cheers

AnswerID: 467711