Trakka Roof

1

The Trakka roof cut-out eliminates all of the the roof bows.  Roof bows have two functions.  The first is to impart torsional rigidity to the structure (via the roof being attached to them) and the second is to provide roll-over protection.

When the T3 conversion was released, I asked Ron Berry about the diminution of these strengths.  He told me that a ring frame had been fitted to the roof opening and that "it was stronger than the original roof".

Since I have not examined this ring frame, I cannot give an engineering opinion on his statement but I am tempted to lift the roof to renew the sealing, whereupon the frame would be visible and I could make an assessment. 

In respect of fitting a supplementary brace, I sketched out such a brace many years ago.  It would pick up on the ends of the B pillar bow (where they are cut off) and could be quickly installed and removed.  The loss of headroom would not trouble me and it would certainly restore roll-over strength where it is most needed - above the driver's and passenger's heads.  It would not add much to the racking stability but it would add considerably to head protection.

It is on my seemingly endless To Do list!

Les

 

2
--- In Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com, "Leslie C E Harris"
<leslieharris@...> wrote:
>
>
> The Trakka roof cut-out eliminates all of the the roof bows. Roof
bows
> have two functions. The first is to impart torsional rigidity to
the
> structure (via the roof being attached to them) and the second is
to
> provide roll-over protection.
>
> When the T3 conversion was released, I asked Ron Berry about the
> diminution of these strengths. He told me that a ring frame had
been
> fitted to the roof opening and that "it was stronger than the
original
> roof".les i have a rolled trakka syncro dlx which phil has
recently got a few bits off...i must say that the roof and a-b-c
pillars held up very well..will try and take a couple of shots for
ref..not sure phil may have already...having had factory training
in the viens i too am concerned at the removal of the braces..but it
seemed to work in this situation very well..cheers steve
>
> Since I have not examined this ring frame, I cannot give an
engineering
> opinion on his statement but I am tempted to lift the roof to
renew the
> sealing, whereupon the frame would be visible and I could make an
> assessment.
>
> In respect of fitting a supplementary brace, I sketched out such a
brace
> many years ago. It would pick up on the ends of the B pillar bow
(where
> they are cut off) and could be quickly installed and removed. The
loss
> of headroom would not trouble me and it would certainly restore
> roll-over strength where it is most needed - above the driver's and
> passenger's heads. It would not add much to the racking stability
but
> it would add considerably to head protection.
>
> It is on my seemingly endless To Do list!
>
> Les
>
3
Steve,
 
This is very good information. 
 
I would very much like to have some more detailed information about the roll over - speed, how many rolls, etc.  I am an engineer at General Motors Holden and I have a dual interest, first as a special vehicle engineer (I build prototype vehicles and I can learn from any accident details) and second as a Syncro owner with a Trakka roof.
 
Thanks
 
Les
les
 
i have a rolled trakka syncro dlx which phil has
recently got a few bits off...i must say that the roof and a-b-c
pillars held up very well..will try and take a couple of shots for
ref..not sure  phil may have already...having had factory training
in the viens i too am concerned at the removal of the braces..but it
seemed to work in this situation very well..cheers steve
4
--- In Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com, "leslie harris"
<leslieharris@...> wrote:
>
> Steve,
>
> This is very good information.
>
> I would very much like to have some more detailed information
about the roll over - speed, how many rolls, etc. I am an engineer
at General Motors Holden and I have a dual interest, first as a
special vehicle engineer (I build prototype vehicles and I can learn
from any accident details) and second as a Syncro owner with a
Trakka roof.
>
> Thanks
>
> Les
> les
>
> i have a rolled trakka syncro dlx which phil has
> recently got a few bits off...i must say that the roof and a-b-c
> pillars held up very well..will try and take a couple of shots
for
> ref..not sure phil may have already...having had factory
training
> in the viens i too am concerned at the removal of the
braces..but it
> seemed to work in this situation very well..cheers steve
>



Steve
looking 4 pop top and camper bits are you selling parts

my phone no is
0754429307
Regards Pete