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05-30-2015, 10:07 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 1
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Attaching solar panels to roof.
What is Fleetwood Bounder (1997) roof made of? What are methods of attaching solar panels to roof?
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05-31-2015, 02:38 AM
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#2
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Moderator Emeritus
Country Coach Owners Club Appalachian Campers Gulf Streamers Club
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Chattanooga, Tn.
Posts: 12,060
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Hello and  We are glad to have you join us here and we look forward to reading of your adventures and experiences. I am sure you will enjoy our website and forums. Good luck, stay safe and keep us posted.
I can't remember what the top membrane material is but under it is a wood deck and the framing structure. Be sure to clean the area before mounting. We mount solar panels with 1 1/2" #12 - #14 screws. The flanges of the panels should have a putty tape (usually butyl) applied and once secured to the roof covered with a seal leveling lap sealant such as Dicor brand.
__________________
Mike, RVIA & RVSA Certified Master RV Technician
Amy, Dr. Assistant - Roxie & Mei Ling, four legs each
2000 Gulf Stream Scenic Cruiser 450 hp & 1330# torque
06 Saturn Vue, 06 Chevy Z71 4x4 & 2014 Corvette Z51 M7
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05-31-2015, 04:18 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Vintage RV Owners Club Fleetwood Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Santa Barbara, CA
Posts: 413
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I think your roof is made of EPDM rubber membrane.
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05-31-2015, 06:30 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,345
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I have a solar panel on mine but it is attached to one of my AC units. I would resist any and all temptations of creating an entry point for water. JMHO
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Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club
2009 Fleetwood Bounder 35H
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05-31-2015, 08:05 AM
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#5
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: West Palm Beach, FL. USA
Posts: 27,676
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It's EPDM rubber membrane over luan plywood sybstrate. Probably wood cross members too. You should have no problem fastening things to the roof with screws, say #10 or #12 in a 1 or 1-1/4" length. Seal the screw holes and heads with a rubber roof lap sealant, e.g. Dicor EPDM lap sealant.
__________________
Gary Brinck
Former owner of 2004 American Tradition and several other RVs
Home is West Palm Beach, FL
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06-01-2015, 06:14 AM
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#6
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Moderator Emeritus
Nor'easters Club Workhorse Chassis Owner iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 30,785
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Welcome to irv2.
Here is a couple of Solar installation sites. # 1 ---- # 2
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06-01-2015, 09:35 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 184
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gary RVRoamer
It's EPDM rubber membrane over luan plywood sybstrate. Probably wood cross members too. You should have no problem fastening things to the roof with screws, say #10 or #12 in a 1 or 1-1/4" length. Seal the screw holes and heads with a rubber roof lap sealant, e.g. Dicor EPDM lap sealant.
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Very good post, but if I may add one small improvement suggestion, put the lap sealant under the solar panel feet before screwing it to the roof. I was an RV tech for almost 10 years and have done this without issue many times.
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Tank Thomas, USAF Ret.
There are no secrets to success. It's the result of preparation, hard work and learning from mistakes.
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06-01-2015, 04:28 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Solo Rvers Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Pahrump, NV
Posts: 479
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BigBlockTank
Very good post, but if I may add one small improvement suggestion, put the lap sealant under the solar panel feet before screwing it to the roof. I was an RV tech for almost 10 years and have done this without issue many times.
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My thoughts exactly but I used an adhesive sealant-not cheap stuff.
Rich
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2004 Horizon 40AD/ISC 350/2012 SILVERADO or 2008 Chevy HHR/Demco/Vmspc/2013 Polaris RZR
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06-01-2015, 04:59 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Mariposa, CA
Posts: 3,932
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Though I have a fiberglass roof, my aluminum rail method should work on a rubber roof:
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2003 - 2010: 2004 35' National RV Sea Breeze LX 8341
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2021 - ???? : 2001 31' National RV Sea View 8311
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06-01-2015, 09:43 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
National RV Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Thousand Oaks, Ca.
Posts: 144
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Hey V. I added solar on mine with a rubber roof and was told the sealant did most of the work. I used angled aluminum with silicone and screws. worked great!
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06-01-2015, 10:49 PM
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#11
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 12
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I just added solar to the roof of my 98 fleetwood jamboree. I ended up calling fleetwood and talked to them about the actual construction of the roof. Fleetwood was very helpful when I called about the way they secure everything to the roof and where the aluminum cross supports are located in the roof as well. If yours is like mine then you have a rubber membrane over the top of an 1/8 thick piece of wood/luan and then about 4 inches of Styrofoam. I had to use toggle bolts since 1/8 wood will not hold a bolt securely. I also used lots of dicor under and over everything. I just drove about 250 miles this weekend from Michigan to Ohio and back through all the heavy rain and some very strong winds. Happy to report everything is still in place and no signs of leaks.
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06-02-2015, 12:35 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Small Town USA , California
Posts: 1,349
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I mounted 3 Solar Panels to my 1998 Bounder. Sit panel where you want it and Mark outside of brackets. Drill a very small (1/16th) hole in hole area of bracket, move panel abut of the way. Use Dicor sealant and just a a little inside where bracket marks are, reset panels, use 3/4 stainless steel screws and use a screwdriver and manually screw down and don't over tighten and strip out , now cover complete bracket with sealant and screw head all over. If you put down too much sealant at first it squirts out and covers your marks. Mine have been up there over 10 years with zero leaks
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06-03-2015, 06:33 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,717
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The roof supports for your roof are steel. You can find them with a good magnet. Try and position the solar panel mounts over the steel supports for the most secure mounting. You may want to span across the roof supports with aluminum angle. As already noted, caulk all the screws.
Richard.
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06-03-2015, 07:06 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Spring Valley AZ
Posts: 1,226
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VHB tape. Steel roof bus.
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'00 Bluebird Skoolie Conversion
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