Darn trees

[David Anderson]

I've had an affinity lately of smacking trees with my AC warts.  Grrr.
I got one yesterday that tore up the front AC cover into several pieces.  I lost a few pieces of it and had to do some fiberglass construction to cover the holes.  I'm not a great body work guy and did this pretty quick, but it looks ok from the ground.  The first picture is the inside of the cover showing how much fiberglass I had to add to cover all the damage.

Has anyone made some kind of metal sled similar to some of the John Deere tractors that might slide a limb over the top without damage? 

[Utahclaimjumper]

It won't take long for you to know where NOT to go..>>>Dan  ( Without looking up )

[dtcerrato]

Dave I couldn't resist cause of your post title. 40 years after initial installation and those little trees that were now towering over the entry gates to our property decided to let go in a straight line wind & the gate it crunched was the active automatic opening one. They don't mfg. That style anymore around these parts so I stole parts off of other smaller ones on the property and got it fixed up like new just like your doing with your AC shroud. I saved $200 by fixing it but spent $300 for a tree man to make little trees of them again - oh & before I replaced it! Sorry for the thread drift.

[luvrbus]

Use 2 coats of bedliner on the covers and they take a lot more punishment

[David Anderson]

It won't take long for you to know where NOT to go..>>>Dan  ( Without looking up )

I've been driving this rig for 20 years and have banged more limbs in the past 18 months than the previous 17 1/2 years.  The limbs around my neighborhood are getting lower and lower.   

[richard5933]

I've been driving this rig for 20 years and have banged more limbs in the past 18 months than the previous 17 1/2 years.  The limbs around my neighborhood are getting lower and lower.   

Same here - it is a constant battle to keep branches up high enough around our driveway. When we moved here 20 years ago we could see all the way across the valley, about 5 miles. Now we can't even see the valley due to all the trees we planted when we first got here. I like the trees, but I miss the valley.

Worst tree we planted was the locust. Beautiful, but it's a mess when the leaves fall and the branches are constantly drooping down.

[chessie4905]

My father lived in town on residential street when he had the 4104. He would call the borough manager every couple of years to complain they needed to trim the tree branches to required clearances over streets. I used to chuckle, but they would come out in a couple of weeks and get it done.

[Dave5Cs]

David great idea. I have two roof warts colemans and they are pretty thin and have cracked over the years. I was going to buy two new covers until I saw the price. Your idea I can do for a whole lot less. Thank you.
Then I can cover that with two coats of truck bed liner too.

[Jeremy]

Double decker buses typically have tubular steel guards to protect the top windows from tree branches. It wouldn't be hard to fabricate something similar to protect your ACs

Jeremy

[dtcerrato]

The cheap roof wart shrouds are chincy at best. While new we reinforce them. They even sell upgraded stronger shrouds as an option. Go figure...

[chessie4905]

The bed line coating seems like a good idea if you can get it to stick to plastic.you may be able to bolt an aluminum plate  with rounded sides to protect cover. Or make a new cover from aluminum or sheet plastic and a plastic welder. Maybe something like the brushguard used on pickups mounted to front of unit. Could make from 3/4 conduit, metal or aluminum.
Or an electric lawn mower mounted on its side.😎

[DoubleEagle]

Or an electric lawn mower mounted on its side.😎

Nah, I think it would be better upside down on the front angle, but a chain saw might be best. 

[dtcerrato]

Heck if you're gonna go that far just put a bush hog up there & go all the way in...