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Winterizing Skylight???

ggadwa
Explorer
Explorer
What did you do to winterize the Skylight in your Camper bathroom.... We really want to know....Because we want to choose the best idea and do it to our Eagle Cap 950 SOON. Heading out for winter camping in a little over a week and the one big weak spot in our Camper is the very Cold and moisture condensing Skylight.

So what did you do to fix this winter issue???

GARY and Laurii
Stanley, IDAHO
HAM RADIO Operator since 1964 'W7FSI'
EAGLE CAP 2011 950 CUSTOM BUILT by the great folks at LaGrande Oregon
2012 FORD 350 XLT 6.7L Diesel 4x4 Super Cab with lots of stuff
21 REPLIES 21

JumboJet
Explorer
Explorer
ggadwa wrote:
Thanks to help from various great folks on the Truck Camper Forum. I got all the right parts, snaps, screw in snaps, Vinyl and 2 inch insulation board. Fixed up great against the cold now. Looks pretty nice too. Even framed up a piece of foam board to cover the window to the truck cab.


Nice job. I used all my snap-on covers this weekend camping in Branson, MO. Sure makes a difference.

hedge
Explorer
Explorer
that looks great, I want to do something with mine too. Not sure how I missed this thread but I like the ideas. Not sure where to find the foam though.
2017 F350 Platinum DRW
2013 Adventurer 89RB

ggadwa
Explorer
Explorer
Thanks to help from various great folks on the Truck Camper Forum. I got all the right parts, snaps, screw in snaps, Vinyl and 2 inch insulation board. Fixed up great against the cold now. Looks pretty nice too. Even framed up a piece of foam board to cover the window to the truck cab.
HAM RADIO Operator since 1964 'W7FSI'
EAGLE CAP 2011 950 CUSTOM BUILT by the great folks at LaGrande Oregon
2012 FORD 350 XLT 6.7L Diesel 4x4 Super Cab with lots of stuff

bb_94401
Explorer
Explorer
ggadwa wrote:
Couldn't find anywhere to buy the 2 inch or 2 1/2 inch Blue board other than a sheet of it so still trying to resolve that issue as its 130 plus miles to Boise and carrying a 4x8 sheet is out of the question right now.GARY


You can make the 2" to 2-1/2" rigid insulation thickness that you need by building up layers of thinner foam board, gluing them together and sealing the edges of the expanded polystrene and the isocyanate foam with tape as they absorb moisture (not needed for extruded polystyrene). The thinner foam board is easier to cut, or score / break, and fit into your vehicle.

You can use solvent based contact cement on the aluminum/paper faced polyisocyante foam board (Rmax) or the plastic faced white expanded polystyrene board. Keep the glue away from the unprotected edges or it will dissolve the polystyrene. For this reason you need to use nonflammable contact cement (Dap Weldwood brand at Ace Hardware) on the pink corning or blue dow extruded polystyrene foam.

In another thread thread Buzzcut1 used the slightly compressible, closed cell polyethylene foam (same type of foam as the pipe wrap at building center / hardware stores) that he got in flat 4x8 sheets. Great stuff, but expensive to get via the net. Not locally available unless you have 7-8 million people living nearby like he does:D.

The clear/white version of closed cell polyethylene foam can sometimes be found in fabric stores, although it is only 1/2" thick (same stuff you find as shock absorbing blocks in shipping cartons). Building up layers is easy. Heat up the surface with a heat gun and the softened (barely melted) polyethylene will bond to itself when pressed together. No edge treatment necessary.
'05 Ram 3500, 4x4, DRW, LB, 6spd man, CTD, PRXB exhaust brake, Roadmaster bar

'01 Corsair 10'8" - 4,200 lbs., Xantrex XADC 80A, Link 20, 4-Lifeline GPL-4CT, PowerGate Isolater, 2 AWG wire, PI 30A EMS, 2 Honda EU2000i, parallel kit, ext. duration tank.

uriedog
Explorer
Explorer
I have 3/4" Styrophoam SM cut to size in my skylights. A snug fit holds it there.
2001 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins TD, 1993 Bigfoot 9.5c

ggadwa
Explorer
Explorer
bb9801...err whatever you go by...Just wanted to thank you for the scoop on getting the Screw in Snaps and vinyl from same place. Order up all needed items....Picked up Foam for the 14x14 vents. Couldn't find anywhere to buy the 2 inch or 2 1/2 inch Blue board other than a sheet of it so still trying to resolve that issue as its 130 plus miles to Boise and carrying a 4x8 sheet is out of the question right now.

Again Thanks,

GARY
HAM RADIO Operator since 1964 'W7FSI'
EAGLE CAP 2011 950 CUSTOM BUILT by the great folks at LaGrande Oregon
2012 FORD 350 XLT 6.7L Diesel 4x4 Super Cab with lots of stuff

bb_94401
Explorer
Explorer
A good place for small quantities of fabric fasteners is your local sail loft or boat cover shop. Marine supply stores usually don't have much variety.

On-line my favorite places for snap supplies are Sailrite and McMaster Carr.

Sailrite has the biggest selection under "Hardware" on their site and reasonable prices for the installation tools. They have a PDF file that lists all the options in one nice place. Some are shown below.



If you have a solid surface around the vent or skylight to mount these to button snaps to they should work fine. Unfortunately the 3/16" ceiling covering, with foam behind it probably won't hold over the long term.

The following alternate type snaps hold really well when closed, but take very little force to open them vs button snaps.







One thing to consider above the bed area is, the twist lock type would hurt less than the other two if you don't have have much headroom and hit it with your head ๐Ÿ™‚
'05 Ram 3500, 4x4, DRW, LB, 6spd man, CTD, PRXB exhaust brake, Roadmaster bar

'01 Corsair 10'8" - 4,200 lbs., Xantrex XADC 80A, Link 20, 4-Lifeline GPL-4CT, PowerGate Isolater, 2 AWG wire, PI 30A EMS, 2 Honda EU2000i, parallel kit, ext. duration tank.

ggadwa
Explorer
Explorer
Lots of great ideas and super tips for us to commence using. Taking a big trip to Boise tomorrow for foam and or Insulation board. Going to look for Screw on chrome snaps and wife wants to make a Naugahyde type cover for the foam or Insul board. Still not sure if our skylight is double pane as it sweats really really bad in comparison to our double pane windows. Going to get either foil reflectix or something for our full size Crawl through window too.

Stanley has been minus 25F to just above zero F the past week so have not worked in the camper but must get the goodies and get to it, soon.
Again some great tips and ideas.

Gary & Laurii
HAM RADIO Operator since 1964 'W7FSI'
EAGLE CAP 2011 950 CUSTOM BUILT by the great folks at LaGrande Oregon
2012 FORD 350 XLT 6.7L Diesel 4x4 Super Cab with lots of stuff

Carb_Cleaner
Explorer
Explorer
I used a piece of foam, 2'x3'x2", cut a little larger than the skylight frame. Since the skylight is spherical, the long sides should have a slight radius, so when you shove it in the hole, there are no gaps along the sides. I didn't have the fore-thought to do so (you can see the small side gaps in the pic), so after this pic was taken, I shaped a couple thin pieces to stick in the side gaps. Friction, and a small lip on the skylight, keep the foam in place. It works very well. I purchased the green upholstery foam from a fabric store. An electric carving knife, like you use on the Thanksgiving Turkey, cuts the foam on a straight line, any radius or bevel you'd like. A serrated bread knife works, too, but is much slower. I got a Black & Decker electric knife at my Ace Hardware store for 15 bucks.


I put a piece of 1" foam behind our cab-over step window's vinyl cover, too.


A left-over piece of the 2" was cut to fit in the stove exhaust vent.


I managed to squeeze some 1" behind the door's shade.
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'12 Wolf Creek 850 TC Coleman Polar Cub 9.2k A/C, 90 watt solar, dual propane & batteries, Maggie Rack

bb_94401
Explorer
Explorer
We have two fantastic fans and two large skylights in our camper. All are double pane. During our winter ski trips condensation will still form on the inside and you can feel the colder air.

We opted for a solution using Reflectix which we seal with 2" blue 14 day removable masking tape.

We tape the edges of the reflectix with wide packing tape and use double sided tape to attach the layers together as show below.



1st layer fits inside; 2nd layer covers the frame, 3rd layer extends reflectix to 2-3" beyond the edge of the flange or frame.

Below you can see the reflectix taped up to the vent. We do the same for the skylights.



The multiple layers and the tape prevent water vapor from getting to a cold surface and condensing. We only install these at night when it is colder and take them down during the day. Easy to store the reflectix under the bed. We also do the same to the double pane windows in the camper as well, but don't take them off each day. We made a storm window for our dinnette table window (effectively triple pane) and then also use the shrink film as well (four pane) so it is light and bright inside during the day.
'05 Ram 3500, 4x4, DRW, LB, 6spd man, CTD, PRXB exhaust brake, Roadmaster bar

'01 Corsair 10'8" - 4,200 lbs., Xantrex XADC 80A, Link 20, 4-Lifeline GPL-4CT, PowerGate Isolater, 2 AWG wire, PI 30A EMS, 2 Honda EU2000i, parallel kit, ext. duration tank.

Joe417
Explorer
Explorer
ggadwa,

You rig is a 2011. Are you sure your skylights aren't double pane. I would have though they would be, especially on an EC.

We use the standard fuzzy foam pillows in our 14x14 vents(Camco I think, not sure). They really insulate well. Coldest camping we done is maybe 15 - 20 degrees. Never had one fall out.

We would love to find something similar to fit our two skylight's odd sizes (don't think they are made commercially). I've threatened to make some but just haven't made it a priority.

I've tried the velcro with reflective window covers sold at camping world and it doesn't work well and also doesn't stick more that a couple of days even when cleaned well first. The glue on the velcro just makes a mess.

I bought stainless snaps and screws at ACE hardware and used them, with the reflective window covers, on the door windows.

I think per the posts above, the closed cell flexible block foam would do the job very well and probably cost less than other methods.
Joe and Evelyn

Photomike
Explorer III
Explorer III
ISBRAM wrote:
ggadwa wrote:
JumboJet, If we could find a source for screw in Snaps that might be the answer.

Gary


West Marine has stainless steel screw in snaps.


Now you guys gave me another idea ...... more work!
2017 Ford Transit
EVO Electric bike
Advanced Elements Kayaks

ISBRAM
Explorer
Explorer
ggadwa wrote:
JumboJet, If we could find a source for screw in Snaps that might be the answer.

Gary


West Marine has stainless steel screw in snaps.
1999 Dodge Ram 2500 QC LB Cummins
2018 Airstream Flying Cloud 28RB

If you see me camped someplace stop and say hi, I've always got an extra ice cold beer.

Glacier_D
Explorer II
Explorer II
ggadwa wrote:
Glacier D,
Did you just cram the Insulation Board in or is it attached in place??? Some Way????

GARY


Just cram it in there. Nothing fancy and no rocket science. Mine stays put even on forest service roads.
2011 Dodge Ram 3500 4X4 Crew Cab/LB, Rancho RS9000XL, Stable Loads, Superhitch and FastGuns. 2009 Eagle Cap 1050, Hickory interior with on-board generator, A/C and Honda EU2000