Hi all!I am planning on installing a solar system on my 2012 Jayco X19H. In the process, I asked Jayco customer service for roof / wiring plans. Here is their response:response 1:"Thank you for contacting Jayco. My records indicate that your trailer did not come pre-wired for any solar panels. At this time, I cannot make any recommendations or provide any prints because the trailer cannot support any solar panels. I’m sorry for the inconvenience."After asking for more details, I got response 2:"What I mean by that statement is the trailer is not wired for any solar panels nor can the roof support the weight of the solar panels. Please see the attached roof print."Has anybody heard something like that before? Are they saying this to avoid liability issues, or is this real?Wondering if anybody has installed solar panels here on a Jayco Hybrid TT.Thanks for any responses!

Maybe it can't support the weight of solar panels in addition to a snow load??

Yes, Winnebago said that to me in 2014 but it does have a walkable roof, so it was baloney. An RV solar project starts with an energy survey (either actual use or desired use). What was your survey result in amp hours?

While they may not approve of a person walking on the roof, if the roof cannot support the weight of solar panels, I'm not at all impressed with the build quality of your trailer.

You can still do portable solar, plus that eliminates all those wiring issues.

Probably best to take their advice and use portable panels.Apparently if it was wired for solar the roof structure would be different.

Jayco X19H Roof does not support weight of solar cells?

pauldub
Explorer
May 20, 2019
Maybe it can't support the weight of solar panels in addition to a snow load??
Lwiddis
Explorer II
May 20, 2019
Yes, Winnebago said that to me in 2014 but it does have a walkable roof, so it was baloney.

An RV solar project starts with an energy survey (either actual use or desired use). What was your survey result in amp hours?
4x4van
Explorer III
May 20, 2019
While they may not approve of a person walking on the roof, if the roof cannot support the weight of solar panels, I'm not at all impressed with the build quality of your trailer.
BFL13
Explorer II
May 20, 2019
You can still do portable solar, plus that eliminates all those wiring issues.
CA_Traveler
Explorer III
May 20, 2019
Probably best to take their advice and use portable panels.

Apparently if it was wired for solar the roof structure would be different.
wanderingaimles
Explorer
May 20, 2019
Does the roof plan state what the base material for the roof is? 3/8" plywood or possibly some foam based material that will not hold fasteners well enough to ensure the panels don't pull out when reaching highway speeds.

They may have used something like a masonite panel which could make your panels pull the fasteners when they try to lift due to wind passing along the roofline.
Lwiddis
Explorer II
May 20, 2019
Portable panels....set up in the morning (my roof mounted panels are already working.) Move with the sun, watch for theft. (Roof mounted panels aren’t stolen) Take down and stow for lunch in town. (Mine keep charging) Return from lunch, set up panels again. Move with sun, watch for theft. Take down and stow for night. Yes, portables are great...$300 for 100 watts!
f150camper
Explorer
May 20, 2019
I know that I can walk on the roof with no issues, 225lbs.

The roof plan states: 1/2 Plywood Laminated to 1" Foamular. Plywood on interior side of roof.

Not sure what exactly that means.
But yes, a portable panel would eliminate the wiring concerns, LOL. :-)
MDKMDK
Explorer
May 20, 2019
f150camper wrote:
Hi all!
I am planning on installing a solar system on my 2012 Jayco X19H. In the process, I asked Jayco customer service for roof / wiring plans. Here is their response:

response 1:
"Thank you for contacting Jayco. My records indicate that your trailer did not come pre-wired for any solar panels. At this time, I cannot make any recommendations or provide any prints because the trailer cannot support any solar panels. I’m sorry for the inconvenience."

After asking for more details, I got response 2:
"What I mean by that statement is the trailer is not wired for any solar panels nor can the roof support the weight of the solar panels. Please see the attached roof print."

Has anybody heard something like that before? Are they saying this to avoid liability issues, or is this real?
Wondering if anybody has installed solar panels here on a Jayco Hybrid TT.
Thanks for any responses!

If weight is the only issue, what about going "Flexi"? Here's an example, and according to the vendor, their 100W panels only weigh....
https://www.zampsolar.com/100watt-flexi
Couple of heavily caulked screws at the corners, and some 3M adhesive or Eternabond tape, and you're good to go.
Lwiddis
Explorer II
May 21, 2019
And the heat goes where, MDK? Just touch a solar panel in a SoCal summer and you’ll see.