Solar tube skylight

There won't be any "tube" in a rig roof. Have you found one designed for a RV?

Install a skylight and/or LED lights.

There are rv specific dome skylights (circular) out there now, several OEMs have been installing them for a few years. I'd go with RV specific version as it will have the inside trim and such and actually fit in pretty well with other decor.

Hardest part will be determining what/where to cut, as there is likely a bunch of wiring run through the rafters. Might try pulling a vent out and seeing what you can see in the ceiling.

IMHO, you will just be inviting a roof leak. I would simply add more lights and then you have extra light even at night.

pianotuna wrote:
Clear vent lids and skylights make more sense in an RV. Skylights often have an "accordion" cover inside the RV for helping keep out light at night.

Agreed. Clear (or milky) vent lids will work the same as solar tube, given its the short depth in RV roof. Was it a "missus" behind this solar tube initiative, I wonder.

galtgirl wrote:
It is very dark inside our 5th wheel and I wondered if anyone has ever installed the solar tube skylights into the roof of an RV.

We had two of these in our manufactured home and they made it so nice and light inside. We had a handyman do the install and purchased the light tubes at Home Depot.

Any thoughts or experience in this type of modification?

Are they made for 65 mph?

Clear vent lids and skylights make more sense in an RV. Skylights often have an "accordion" cover inside the RV for helping keep out light at night.

You could also consider clear vent lids or putting an RV specific skylight over the area you are looking at for more light. Interesting idea though with the solar tube skylight.

I put one in my house and did not get 5, 100 watt light bulbs effect as advertised. A little better though. It did improve the lighting a bit. The longer the reflective tube runs the more intense light. You'll just have the base light cover on, so basically a hole in the roof.

You won't need the tube part of the skylight in your RV because, unlike your stick house, there is only a few inches of ceiling cavity for the light to pass through. Get a good quality skylight and make sure it is sealed well. I recommend Eternabond tapes for sealing any roof through-holes.

I think it's a good idea.
Make sure it is sealed well, it's another hole in the roof and potential leak.