Has anybody here installed solar panels on the roof?

[f150camper]

Jayco told me it can't be done because my 2012 X19H's roof can't support the weight.

Does anybody have any experience with that?

[pitch]

I am sure that Jayco is just doing a CYA. I can almost guarantee you that Jayco would have the same answer for any modification

[phemens]

I'm sure the construction can't be that different, our hybrid was a JayFeather, but to be safe i'd install the panels from a ladder on the side, or use a piece of plywood to distribute your weight when up there.

[f150camper]

phemens wrote:
I have experience - our previous trailer was a 2008 Jayfeather 26l hybrid. I had 3 large solar panels on the roof, without any issue at any time, and I walked around up there to boot. I have no idea why the dealer would tell you that...

Thanks phemens!
It was Jayco customer service actually who told me this via email after my inquiry - not just the dealer.
Good to know that there are people out there who did this without issues!

[ppine]

Some roofs are designed to be walked on but some aren't. You can mount solar panels without walking on the roof. It is tiring to hear things from salesmen that are just not true.

[phemens]

I have experience - our previous trailer was a 2008 Jayfeather 26l hybrid. I had 3 large solar panels on the roof, without any issue at any time, and I walked around up there to boot. I have no idea why the dealer would tell you that...

[f150camper]

Would be nice to hear from anybody who actually has installed solar panels on a Jayco hybrid.

[pianotuna]

So far I've only heard of one failure on a roof install. Anything is possible--it is just unlikely.

[Ed_Gee]

f150camper wrote:
Yeah, my first thought as well.
The only thing that I could imaging is screws holding the panels down at highway speeds. Could that be the problem?
.

Thousands and thousands of RVs are running the highways with screwed down solar panels. I have never heard of one coming off.

[Lwiddis]

Oh my. How many RV solar panels have I seen blown off and along the highway over thousands of miles? Ah, none!

[f150camper]

Yeah, my first thought as well.
The only thing that I could imaging is screws holding the panels down at highway speeds. Could that be the problem?

Yeah, I can walk on the roof just fine, have done so many times.

[Lwiddis]

Didn’t you post this issue at 3:54 pm? Receive numerous responses?

[KD4UPL]

If it won't support the weight of a solar panel it will likely collapse the first time it snows. I sure wouldn't walk around up there to clean the roof either. You probably weight 3 or 4 times what a solar panel weighs with a much smaller footprint.
As a comparison, in VA building codes require roofs to be able to support 30 to 40 pounds per square foot of snow load. A solar array is only about 4 or 5 pounds pounds per square foot.
The point is, I think their full of it.