Apr-09-2022 11:30 AM
Apr-29-2022 05:25 PM
Apr-22-2022 10:41 PM
jdcellarmod wrote:
On my 2020 AF 865 I used the AM Solar L foot rocker foot mounts.
Apr-16-2022 09:01 PM
Apr-16-2022 06:25 AM
memilanuk wrote:Geewizard wrote:
I tried well nuts for my solar panel mount (using Z mounts). They pulled right out.
Well, 17 years later it's obviously too late to argue about how exactly you did the install... but in my limited experience (putting several of them in last fall/winter), on the first attempt (or two) they *did* pull 'right out'. Turned out it was a mistake on *my* part, and when I went back and did it correctly, they held very solidly.
The metal version aka 'riv-nuts' should work at least as well, with the slight difference of not being inherently water-tight. Since most people are going to cover everything in sight with some kind of sealant, it's debatable whether that's worth it or whether it's better to go with some thing that is mechanically stronger like you did.
Either way works.
Apr-15-2022 03:10 PM
Apr-15-2022 01:33 PM
Geewizard wrote:
I tried well nuts for my solar panel mount (using Z mounts). They pulled right out.
Apr-15-2022 10:39 AM
deltabravo wrote:HMS Beagle wrote:
Just VHB tape, on a solid roof, will be stronger than a few #8 screws.
VHB tape attached to rubber roof membrane, with the rubber roof membrane being glued to the underlayment of the roof is a horrible idea.
On any rubber roof RV, the panels need screwed down to the wood under the rubber roof.
Apr-15-2022 06:40 AM
memilanuk wrote:SoonDockin wrote:
With the thin luan on the top of my RV it seems picking the best screw can be challenging.
Look up 'well nuts'. There is a rubber sleeve with a flange on it, and a metal (brass) insert. You drill a hole big enough for the sleeve to slip into, so it stops on the flange. Then when you screw the bolt in, the threaded insert pulls it towards the head, mushrooming the rubber body and sandwiching the thin wall material (luan, in your case) between the flange and the mushroom. Think of it like a rubber rivet.
Other uses include attaching glass windshields to motorcycles, or providing attachment points on the sides of water craft. They provide a fairly water-resistant connection to begin with, and when utilized underneath a mounting bracket or rail and then covered with additional sealant like Dicor or Sikaflex you shouldn't have any issues with UV degradation either.
I'd double check with the manufacturer (Arctic Fox) about the actual construction of the roof. Adventurer has their 'TCC' i.e. 'true composite core/construction' equivalent, but even that has aluminum frame members, and weirdly enough, three additional random wood cross members. That's in addition to the cheap/light white pine stuff they put around the roof openings for screw holding. I'd be shocked if AF doesn't have *some* kind of structural cross members in the roof.
Apr-12-2022 02:00 PM
memilanuk wrote:
I'd double check with the manufacturer (Arctic Fox) about the actual construction of the roof. Adventurer has their 'TCC' i.e. 'true composite core/construction' equivalent, but even that has aluminum frame members, and weirdly enough, three additional random wood cross members. That's in addition to the cheap/light white pine stuff they put around the roof openings for screw holding. I'd be shocked if AF doesn't have *some* kind of structural cross members in the roof.
Apr-12-2022 10:39 AM
SoonDockin wrote:
With the thin luan on the top of my RV it seems picking the best screw can be challenging.
Apr-12-2022 10:10 AM
Apr-12-2022 07:48 AM
deltabravo wrote:HMS Beagle wrote:
Just VHB tape, on a solid roof, will be stronger than a few #8 screws.
VHB tape attached to rubber roof membrane, with the rubber roof membrane being glued to the underlayment of the roof is a horrible idea.
On any rubber roof RV, the panels need screwed down to the wood under the rubber roof.
Apr-12-2022 05:59 AM
Apr-11-2022 09:07 PM