Aluminum Roof Owners

Dzus fasteners are the most common way to mount an aluminum roof or any aluminum panel for that matter.

or if your ghetto like me... RIVETS!

My roof is bolted.....I think the most common mistake that I have seen is too thin of material or too little hold down points. Mine did end up with some harmonics when it was at a certain RPM but I put vynal on it so that seems to have quieted it down. Good LUCK!!!!!!!!!

BiggJim said:

My roof is bolted.....I think the most common mistake that I have seen is too thin of material or too little hold down points. Mine did end up with some harmonics when it was at a certain RPM but I put vynal on it so that seems to have quieted it down. Good LUCK!!!!!!!!!

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Excellent point. Use 3M Super 77 spray glue and apply the material of your choice to dampen noise and make it a little plusher.

s2k1 said:

Dzus fasteners are the most common way to mount an aluminum roof or any aluminum panel for that matter.

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Ditto...the only way to go!

dzus k:

Big Jim,

What thickness do you recommend??

s2k1,

I did a little searching on the fasteners. I know nothing about them. Which ones should I consider using?

Thanks for the tips. I appreciate the help.

I am not a fabricator so I don't know the little details. For the dzus fasteners, I know there are many types. Button head or flush - Use the button heads if you don't want to dimple the panel for flush mounts. Then there are different materials, aluminum, stainless, steel. That is pretty much cost and preference. For the dzus plates, they come in different styles, lightened, standard, etc.
Call a sheet metal fab shop and get their recommendation.
For the material, I think you want to use 2024 or 5052. Maybe 07fj will chime in about that. Thickness can vary.

3003 or 5052 is maliable enough to work with. I use .050 or .065 for roofs. . 065 if there are not many supports.

5052 is more common. 3003 makes good dashes and hood scoops. IMO

Vinyl or cloth on the inside is great for the rattles like mentioned above, also bead rolling helps right from the get go.

Rog

i put 3/4'' or 1'' weatherstripping underneath...keeps it quiet. LOWES sells it, cheap and quick.

07fj said:

3003 or 5052 is maliable enough to work with. I use .050 or .065 for roofs. . 065 if there are not many supports.

5052 is more common. 3003 makes good dashes and hood scoops. IMO

Vinyl or cloth on the inside is great for the rattles like mentioned above, also bead rolling helps right from the get go.

Rog

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I think My roof is the gauge between 1/16 and 1/8. Ill measure it when I get home

Thad or AZBDBY do way more this of than I do. So maybe they will chime in.

Dzus and lowes weather stripping the way to go just had mine installed about a month ago and works great no rattles...

Would anyone be willing to post pictures of theirs with the dzus fasteners? I just want to get a mental picture of how they work and what they look like.

I have a quote of $300+ for a custom fabric top. I am waiting for my quote for the aluminum top. Hopefully that quote comes in less. I really want the aluminum top.

I normally charge $400 for a 2 piece aluminum roof with the front rolled over about 4'' on one of my 4 seat cages. I use a total of 22 dzus fastners to hold it tight. It can be less if you do not want it to roll over in the front and if your cage doesnt exceed 48'' at it's widest point.
Plus you would have a RHINOTALK.COM discount.

Thad.

Rough cage dimensions for me are 52"x72", which includes the 4 inch roll over in the front. How do you do the seams on a two piece roof??

Chasethistoo,

I am in Prescott Valley, AZ, but I appreciate the offer to help.

The front panel overlaps the back panel just past the center bar. The back panel is stepped down so when they overlap they remain flush with each other. There is also dzus fastners off the back of the center tube that go thru both panels.

Nice. I bet that looks nice and clean. Any issues with water leaking when it rains?