Plexiglass / Acrylic Sheeting strength question

[Blazintrails03]

Just like the subject says how strong is this stuff? I went Kyle's route with the Tri-Fold Ramp for my roof and now that im getting too many of the "WTF" stares from my fiance about wind noise I'm looking to fix the problem.

My original plan was a sheet of Plexiglass cut to fit and bolted to the standoffs on the rack. I was a little nervous that Plexiglass wouldn't hold up to the wind (looking at .220 thickness 48"x24" for around $25) so I ended up buying a Yakima fairing from Dicks that was too small in length and just as thick and flemsy as the Plexiglass.

Anyone have a knowledge of the Plexiglass that can say it would work? The standoffs on the rack are roughly 45" from end to end and roughly 11.5" apart from each other so it would be braced in the middle.

[Trail X]

Acrylic has about 9ksi of strength. Taking a swag, I think it would be ok. It might still vibrate in the wind. Are you mounting the plexi in top? Won't that kinda ruin the convenient tie down points inherent to the open design?

Maybe I need a sketch to understand.

[Blazintrails03]

Acrylic has about 9ksi of strength. Taking a swag, I think it would be ok. It might still vibrate in the wind. Are you mounting the plexi in top? Won't that kinda ruin the convenient tie down points inherent to the open design?

Maybe I need a sketch to understand.

Look at the back of your hand and imagine your 4 fingers have 11.5" between them and they are bent at a 45 degree angle. The plexiglass would cover your fingers not the back of your hand.

[NC_IslandRunner]

Lexan is just about indestructible, local store claims it is 250x's stronger than glass of the same thickness, played with some in High school and it is tough, use it at work and it can handle over 1000ºF.

[dvanbramer88]

The windshields in NASCAR are Lexan. Apparently it is borderline bulletproof, and pretty much shatter proof.

[NC_IslandRunner]

The windshields in NASCAR are Lexan. Apparently it is borderline bulletproof, and pretty much shatter proof.

Thick enough and it is bullet proof.

[djthumper]

Plexiglass would work but it isn't a pliable as lexan. Plexiglass is what is used for aircraft windows and cockpits for years, including the high speed fighters. YOU have to heat it up in order to get it to bends and shape if you want.

Lexan on the other hand is more like working with metals. You can put it in a brake and bends it for mounting purposes or you can heat it up and do some mild shaping to it as well.

Either one should work for your purpose but lexan can do it in a thinner sheet.

[Blazintrails03]

Plexiglass would work but it isn't a pliable as lexan. Plexiglass is what is used for aircraft windows and cockpits for years, including the high speed fighters. YOU have to heat it up in order to get it to bends and shape if you want.

Lexan on the other hand is more like working with metals. You can put it in a brake and bends it for mounting purposes or you can heat it up and do some mild shaping to it as well.

Either one should work for your purpose but lexan can do it in a thinner sheet.

Awesome. Thank you. That's the answer I was looking for. I'm not worried about bending or shaping it. It's gonna be roughly 45" x 4"-12" depending on how close I want to get it to the truck and flat. The plexiglass I can pick up easily at a Home Depot right by my work

[Trail X]

You've gotta have something for it to tie down to on the roofline, right? How are you making that connection/attachment?

[Blazintrails03]

This is as close as I can find. It just isn't the harbor freight model. The plexiglass will be mounted black parts on the end. There will be a gap between it and the roofline just like most fairings and baskets.

[Trail X]

I guess I thought most were a little more supported. I think the plexi will be a bit too flexi without another support lower on the faring, but it also greatly depends on your dimension, 4" or 12" is a big difference.

[navigator]

do you know where the wind noise is coming from?
If you removed the black parts(or turn it around) and plugged the holes, how much would that help?
I would think that rack mounted low to the roof with the holes plugged would be pretty quiet.

The one I built home made originally only had three sides with the front open.
It was pretty quiet until I added the front of the basket, then it got loud.
It was mounted low, right to the stock roof channels.

[HARDTRAILZ]

I have aluminum diamond plate and it makes little to no noise up there.

I would not hesitate to use plexi or whatever plastic i could find if I did not have the lights mounted to the diamond plate. I had planned on some 1/8 inch plexi so yours would be even thicker and should be fine.

[Blazintrails03]

I have aluminum diamond plate and it makes little to no noise up there.

I would not hesitate to use plexi or whatever plastic i could find if I did not have the lights mounted to the diamond plate. I had planned on some 1/8 inch plexi so yours would be even thicker and should be fine.

Awesome. And I figured when I did lights I could just use the same mounting holes and make it look even cleaner.

[Blazintrails03]

do you know where the wind noise is coming from?
If you removed the black parts(or turn it around) and plugged the holes, how much would that help?
I would think that rack mounted low to the roof with the holes plugged would be pretty quiet.

The one I built home made originally only had three sides with the front open.
It was pretty quiet until I added the front of the basket, then it got loud.
It was mounted low, right to the stock roof channels.

Mine is mounted right to the roof rails on a 1" square tube. It sits low and the holes around the black parts are already plugged from the factory.