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Horaysh's avatar
Horaysh
Explorer
Jun 12, 2020

Rigid Solar Panels on 1/8 Luan Roof

Hi all,

I recently bought our first travel trailer. It is a 2018 Geo Pro 16BH. I have been researching everything about solar panels and how to install the for about 2 weeks now. I haven't been able to find a concrete answer on my question though.

I want to mount 3 100watt rigid solar panels to the roof. The roof has an Alpha Super Flex rubber coating so gluing or taping is not going to hold.
The structure of the roof I can see through the skylight is about 1/8" Luan, 3" to 4" foam and the interior 1/8" ceiling panel. With that said, I'm confident that any screw type fasteners will not hold no matter how many I use.

The best answer I have been able to find is to use well nuts. I have never used these before and am wondering if they will hold with such a thin luan panel. Will these hold up to the highway driving? What if I add a wind deflector in front of each panel to avoid having much air flow under them? The panels will likely be about 2" above the roof as the roof is on a big arc and I need to use specialized Z brackets(6 brackets per panel, 2 well nuts per bracket). I will then of course coat the brackets and nuts in lap sealant.

Can you guys give me some input on whether this is a good idea or if there is something better I should be doing?

Thanks!

7 Replies

  • midnightsadie's avatar
    midnightsadie
    Explorer II
    Jun 12, 2020
    just how I feel about add on,s to any roof. #1 the roof was not made for this #2 a bad job could kill somebody.#3 you really don,t need it ,its just a toy.
  • corvettekent's avatar
    corvettekent
    Explorer
    Jun 12, 2020
    The well nut will work. I think I would only use 4 brackets but if you are using 6 brackets with 2 holes in each bracket those panels are not going anywhere.
  • Horaysh's avatar
    Horaysh
    Explorer
    Jun 12, 2020
    Thank you for the reply,

    After speaking with an RV dealer and thinking about how nervous these rigid solar panels are making me, I'm going to bite the bullet and return them for flexible ones. I found a method of attaching them so they are removable in case they fail.
  • Lwiddis's avatar
    Lwiddis
    Explorer II
    Jun 12, 2020
    "What if I add a wind deflector in front of each panel to avoid having much air flow under them?"

    I'm not an expert either but I don't see wind deflectors out and about. When I installed my panels an engineer friend advised against them saying the unrestricted flow of air over and under the panels when driving was best.
  • naturist's avatar
    naturist
    Nomad
    Jun 12, 2020
    I make no claims of expertise in this matter, but I'd suggest that there must be framing members at the corners at the very least. I think I'd look into bolting rails to those framing members, and then bolting the panels to the rails. This would also give you the option to change panels, or their orientation and number without extra holes in that roof. I also bet there are framing members spaced across the roof. I'd look for those. The luan/foam/ceiling panel you describe would not be strong enough on its own, with no framing members, to span 8 feet by 16 feet.

    To be sure, you need to make sure they stay put while driving into a strong headwind at 70 mph. The paperwork from taking out the windshield on the car behind you would not be fun.

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