Forum Discussion

Sgeorge's avatar
Sgeorge
Explorer
May 09, 2017

Rockwood/Flagstaff Solar Panel Mounting

Has anyone mounted solar panels on either of these two trailers? I am looking to purchase one and concerned that mounting them on the thin laminated roof will be a problem. If you have done it could you tell me how you secured then to the roof.
  • Please tell us more about the roofs of these two RVs. "Thin laminated" isn't enough.
  • They are constructed of 4" of styrofoam with 1/8" plywood on top and 1/8" Luan on the bottom. Held together by adhesives laminated under pressure during the construction. I was hoping that someone that has one of these trailers would respond to what they did, although there are other RV's that have this same style of roofs. I am concerned that the thin wood will not allow for lag bolts to be affective. I am not comfortable with just using adhesives to mount the panels to the rubber membrane roof.
  • I just asked the same thing in regards to a 2008 Jayco, same roof makeup. I'm going to have to see if I can find the aluminum cross members.
  • I think I have that roof.

    I installed a 100 watt panel. I put it so that two of the mounts were screwed directly into the perimeter frame member. There was no doubt about the #10 screws having enough "bite" in those locations. The other 2 screws, on the opposite side of the panel, clearly did not connect to a frame member. There was only a little bit of "bite" as they connected into the plywood. I am depending on butyl tape between the mounting brackets and the rubber roof for grip at that point. Two good, strong mounts, with screws firmly in the framing, and two somewhat weak screws reinforced by butyl tape. I suppose the only other thing you could do would be to move the panel forward or back enough to connect one of those two "other" screws to a framing member.

    Mine has been holding up well for almost a year of travel.

    -Speak
  • How close to the edge did you put the screws? Any idea how wide the aluminum is?
  • Padlin wrote:
    How close to the edge did you put the screws? Any idea how wide the aluminum is?


    It's within an inch of the edge.

    -S
  • Any other replies, surely some Rockwood/Flagstaff owners have done this.