Community Forums

deandec · 02-23-2021, 10:36 PM

My 1995 rig has a double dome skylight. Bronze outer and clear inner.

Both are nested on top of the MH roof with only one set of screws to fasten both down.

But.... they have lasted 26 years. Until now.

I guess the replacement needs to be two domes that will nest with air space between the domes and fit nicely on the roof.

Polycarbonate, because I need screws to fasten them to the roof.

Has anyone sourced such a combo of replacement skylight domes with success?

FusionKing · 02-24-2021, 08:22 AM

Yes!
The MFG is Foxlight (or Foxlite)
They are still in business and the guy who did the deal was still there when I talked to them last year.
I'll dig around. I still have mine in a box and didn't use it because I chose a different route.
They make windshield for F-16 fighter jets....very interesting people

153stars · 02-24-2021, 09:19 AM

If and when I do mine. I will use black butyl tape , like windshields are attached/sealed .

MSHappyCampers · 02-24-2021, 11:03 AM

I just replaced our shower skylight. It was two separate products, one that attached to the roof on top, and the other attached to the shower ceiling inside.

deandec · 02-24-2021, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MSHappyCampers

I just replaced our shower skylight. It was two separate products, one that attached to the roof on top, and the other attached to the shower ceiling inside.

Yes, that seems to be a common RV inner dome solution, but our OEM setup discourages that type of inner dome being used so I want to learn about dual roof top dome mounts.

deandec · 02-24-2021, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FusionKing

Yes!
The MFG is Foxlight (or Foxlite)
They are still in business and the guy who did the deal was still there when I talked to them last year.
I'll dig around. I still have mine in a box and didn't use it because I chose a different route.
They make windshield for F-16 fighter jets....very interesting people

Their website does not address RV skylights as far as I can see.

Fox Lite | The Leader in High Tech Skylights and Plastic Products

What different approach did you use for your replacement?

Dutch Star Don · 02-24-2021, 01:48 PM

Unless you need the shower height, have you ever thought about buying a flat piece of tinted (thick) plexiglass and just cover the opening and use eternabond to seal the edges?

No one will see it, it would just be a height issue, if you're tall.

deandec · 02-24-2021, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dutch Star Don

Unless you need the shower height, have you ever thought about buying a flat piece of tinted (thick) plexiglass and just cover the opening and use eternabond to seal the edges?

No one will see it, it would just be a height issue, if you're tall.

Interesting idea, and no, I have not spent enough time thinking about it.

Our clear height without the dome is 69". I need more than that.

A flat sheet of Acrylic certainly appears to be simpler and 1/4 the price. But the dome sellers seem to avoid drilling for screw holes in acrylic.

I wonder if the Eternabond adhesive would be challenged if used as the only mechanical fastening?

Perhaps screws and tape is the answer. And do screws dictate Poly?

The thick flat plexiglass/Acrylic also may not conform well to the roof and all the flexing going down the road?

I am thinking the Dome is critical to our needs for clearance.

vito.a · 02-24-2021, 03:40 PM

I replaced our double skylight dome a couple of years ago. I purchased several skylight domes to measure the offset and found a tinted and a clear that worked well together.

It's important not to use any petroleum based sealant on polycarbonate domes.
Use Surebond SB140 sealant. I ordered 2 tubes but 1 was enough.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Specialty Recreation tinted skylight (I would order this from Camping World as it's less expensive)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

#8 x 1” stainless steel hex head washer Tek screws
http://www.allensfasteners.com/detai...roduct_ID=0778

More detail and pictures: https://www.irv2.com/forums/f115/ins...ht-392007.html

deandec · 02-24-2021, 03:56 PM

Great write up on your project link. Thank you.

FusionKing · 02-24-2021, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deandec

Their website does not address RV skylights as far as I can see.

Fox Lite | The Leader in High Tech Skylights and Plastic Products

What different approach did you use for your replacement?

Sure it does.
Mine is a "curb mount"
The guy I talked to was Doug. Like I said he was the guy who made the deal with National RV. He brought it up.
My part # was CDE-1624 They had it in stock. Yours might be a different size.

FusionKing · 02-24-2021, 06:57 PM

[IMG]

[/IMG]I had temporarily fixed mine before I found the original MFG for National who also owned country coach for some time.
I simply used 1/4" flat clear acrylic. I'm only 5'10" and really like the brighter light in the shower. I managed to use the original sealant that was still intact on the "curb" and used the screws to pull it down tight.
I also used 4200 3M sealer to reseal the "curb" and several new screws. I sealed up the original holes in the "curb" sides and moved on.
We went on vacation and it was great.
Meanwhile I read here on the forum on an old thread about Foxlite so I called them.
Their website isn't all that impressive except for the fact that what seems like bragging is actually true. They actually can and do all the stuff they say.
They apparently haven't needed to advertise for years. They already have the reputation for making the cutting edge stuff.
I was really impressed that he knew exactly what my coach needed offhand and even said he had some trouble with factories not using the proper sealant they recommended and caused later problems.
I really hope this helps someone. This is the first time I've posted pics here and it took me a good while to figure it out!

deandec · 02-24-2021, 08:37 PM

Great pics. Well done!

Your curb mount concept is interesting. Does it have the double layer for insulation? It looks like it would give the same 5" height spacing in the shower as a dome.

The curb mount would avoid screws through the dome which I understand are not recommended on Acrylic Domes. Polycarbonate appears to be double the price of acrylic.

Ours is not a curb mount, but mounted to the surface of the roof fiberglass, so we need Polycarbonate.

Heat is a major issue and the double dome with insulating space between domes seems to be helpful.

Also, I will be doing two bronze or smoke type layers for light control. Some have actually painted their domes to reduce the heat and light admitted.

FusionKing · 02-24-2021, 09:02 PM

Yea the engineer spoke about the earlier ones were directly on the roof and those were the ones that he had problems with the incorrect sealant.
That's when he sold them on the curb style and went to only needing the screws or That's what I recall.
It's been over a year now.
Hope you get it figured out. These things can make you pull your hair out if you let them!!
The DW and I prefer the light. Less usage of the electric too. That's the beauty of doing your own work. You get to do it how it makes you 😊 happy.