How Thick Is The Roof

[joedana0502]

I am trying to mount solar panels on the roof of my 1990 WB. My roof
does not have the deck plate. I drilled a whole in the medal roof and
only found foam insulation under it. How do you get anything to hold
on just thin medal.

Thanks for any help

Joe Blankenship
Phoenix,Az
90WB40

[martingregg598]

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "joedana0502"
wrote:

>Joe, the sheet metal should be about 1/8" thick. If ss sheet metal
screws will not be stong enough, they make Nutserts, just search the
web, they make lots of different types. marty

> I am trying to mount solar panels on the roof of my 1990 WB. My roof
> does not have the deck plate. I drilled a whole in the medal roof and
> only found foam insulation under it. How do you get anything to hold
> on just thin medal.
>
> Thanks for any help
>
> Joe Blankenship
> Phoenix,Az
> 90WB40
>

[David Brady]

Do a search for "rivet nut" at http://www.mcmaster.com/

David Brady
'02 LXi, Smokey, Va

martingregg598 wrote:

>--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "joedana0502"
> wrote:
>
>
>
>>Joe, the sheet metal should be about 1/8" thick. If ss sheet metal
>>
>>
>screws will not be stong enough, they make Nutserts, just search the
>web, they make lots of different types. marty
>
>
>
>>I am trying to mount solar panels on the roof of my 1990 WB. My roof
>>does not have the deck plate. I drilled a whole in the medal roof and
>>only found foam insulation under it. How do you get anything to hold
>>on just thin medal.
>>
>>Thanks for any help
>>
>>Joe Blankenship
>>Phoenix,Az
>>90WB40
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>



--
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.1.371 / Virus Database: 267.14.1/204 - Release Date: 12/15/2005

[joedana0502]

Thanks David it maybe ok with just the sheet medal I was just hopeing
for some plywood too.

Joe Blankenship
Phoenix,Az
90WB40
--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, David Brady wrote:
>
> Do a search for "rivet nut" at http://www.mcmaster.com/
>
> David Brady
> '02 LXi, Smokey, Va
>
> martingregg598 wrote:
>
> >--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "joedana0502"
> > wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> >>Joe, the sheet metal should be about 1/8" thick. If ss sheet metal
> >>
> >>
> >screws will not be stong enough, they make Nutserts, just search the
> >web, they make lots of different types. marty
> >
> >
> >
> >>I am trying to mount solar panels on the roof of my 1990 WB. My roof
> >>does not have the deck plate. I drilled a whole in the medal roof and
> >>only found foam insulation under it. How do you get anything to hold
> >>on just thin medal.
> >>
> >>Thanks for any help
> >>
> >>Joe Blankenship
> >>Phoenix,Az
> >>90WB40
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
> --
> No virus found in this outgoing message.
> Checked by AVG Free Edition.
> Version: 7.1.371 / Virus Database: 267.14.1/204 - Release Date:
12/15/2005
>

[Tom Warner]

Joe depending on the size and weight of your solar panels you may
want to mount the panels on a piece of 3/4" marine plywood (or the
aluminum diamond plate used on some of the other BB) mounted to the
roof of the coach. But I would make sure the screws go into the roof
supports and not just the roof metal. If you contact Benny Collier at
BB he should be able to tell you the exact spacing of the roof
supports and how to locate them. Then I would size the plywood (or
diamond plate)large enough to straddle two or more supports. I would
get some rubber strip material like used on some of the older BB that
acts as an absorber and sealer , and run the strips so they are over
the roof supports(stick then to the roof with contact cement so they
dont move around while you are mounting the plywood) and then lay the
plywood on that and run stainless steel sheet metal screws thru the
plywood and rubber strips into the roof supports. This should give
you the strongest leak free mounting you need. Then mount your solar
panels to the plywood using screws that does not penetrate entirely
thru the plywood. This will ensure you get a leak free mounting surface.

Tom Warner
1982 FC35
Vernon Center,NY


At 03:39 PM 12/16/2005, you wrote:

>Thanks David it maybe ok with just the sheet medal I was just hopeing
>for some plywood too.
>
>Joe Blankenship
>Phoenix,Az
>90WB40
>--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, David Brady wrote:
> >
> > Do a search for "rivet nut" at
> <http://www.mcmaster.com/>http://www.mcmaster.com/
> >
> > David Brady
> > '02 LXi, Smokey, Va
> >
> > martingregg598 wrote:
> >
> > >--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "joedana0502"
> > > wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >>Joe, the

[fwernlein]

I would second Davids recommendation for rivet nuts. A solid blind
hole fastener system. There are types with rubber collars that will
provide both the strength and the weatherproof seal you need.

I have used on the bus and my boat with good success. They save a
significant amount of cussing where you can not easily reach the back
side of an installation.

frank w.
woodbridge, va.
85fc33


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "joedana0502"
wrote:
>
> I am trying to mount solar panels on the roof of my 1990 WB. My roof
> does not have the deck plate. I drilled a whole in the medal roof and
> only found foam insulation under it. How do you get anything to hold
> on just thin medal.
>
> Thanks for any help
>
> Joe Blankenship
> Phoenix,Az
> 90WB40
>

[Gregory OConnor]

Joe, If you have any concern, make a blank true radius plate for an
interface between the lodge and the solar panel. finish it with good
paint and use the 3-m double sided tape to hold it down then sheet
metal screw it also.
Greg

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "fwernlein"
wrote:
>
> I would second Davids recommendation for rivet nuts. A solid blind
> hole fastener system. There are types with rubber collars that
will
> provide both the strength and the weatherproof seal you need.
>
> I have used on the bus and my boat with good success. They save a
> significant amount of cussing where you can not easily reach the
back
> side of an installation.
>
> frank w.
> woodbridge, va.
> 85fc33
>
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "joedana0502"
> wrote:
> >
> > I am trying to mount solar panels on the roof of my 1990 WB. My
roof
> > does not have the deck plate. I drilled a whole in the medal roof
and
> > only found foam insulation under it. How do you get anything to
hold
> > on just thin medal.
> >
> > Thanks for any help
> >
> > Joe Blankenship
> > Phoenix,Az
> > 90WB40
> >
>

[Bob Lawrence]

Do you have the rails on the roof?

Bob Lawrence
84 PT36
Tacoma, Wa.

> I am trying to mount solar panels on the roof of my 1990 WB. My roof
> does not have the deck plate. I drilled a whole in the medal roof and
> only found foam insulation under it. How do you get anything to hold
> on just thin medal.
>
> Thanks for any help
>
> Joe Blankenship
> Phoenix,Az
> 90WB40
>

[Stephen Birtles]

You will probably find that the roof is strong enough for the panels
the regular armour that is placed over the roof in MOST cases is just
screwed to the roof and well sealed they are not aligned with the
inside roof ribs
The method to to attach is to use z shaped Brackets and use the
factory frame on the panels use short brackets so air cannot get
underneath the panels and create lift when drivng placing strain on
the panels make sure holes are well sealed to prevent water intrusion
and you should have no problems wirng would run down througha vent or
if you choose a seperate hole with a clamshell cover over a bulkhead
feedthru again to stop the water intrusion. if you have any questions
drop me a line

Stephen 77fc35 been there done that no pictures but got the tee shirt


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Bob Lawrence"
wrote:
>
> Do you have the rails on the roof?
>
> Bob Lawrence
> 84 PT36
> Tacoma, Wa.
>
> > I am trying to mount solar panels on the roof of my 1990 WB. My roof
> > does not have the deck plate. I drilled a whole in the medal roof and
> > only found foam insulation under it. How do you get anything to hold
> > on just thin medal.
> >
> > Thanks for any help
> >
> > Joe Blankenship
> > Phoenix,Az
> > 90WB40
> >
>

[joedana0502]

Thanks Stephen what you described is what I had in mind of doing.
The 1/8" sheet medal just scared me.
Thanks again

Joe Blankenship
Phoenix,Az
90WB40

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Stephen Birtles"
wrote:
>
> You will probably find that the roof is strong enough for the panels
> the regular armour that is placed over the roof in MOST cases is just
> screwed to the roof and well sealed they are not aligned with the
> inside roof ribs
> The method to to attach is to use z shaped Brackets and use the
> factory frame on the panels use short brackets so air cannot get
> underneath the panels and create lift when drivng placing strain on
> the panels make sure holes are well sealed to prevent water intrusion
> and you should have no problems wirng would run down througha vent or
> if you choose a seperate hole with a clamshell cover over a bulkhead
> feedthru again to stop the water intrusion. if you have any questions
> drop me a line
>
> Stephen 77fc35 been there done that no pictures but got the tee shirt
>
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Bob Lawrence"
> wrote:
> >
> > Do you have the rails on the roof?
> >
> > Bob Lawrence
> > 84 PT36
> > Tacoma, Wa.
> >
> > > I am trying to mount solar panels on the roof of my 1990 WB. My roof
> > > does not have the deck plate. I drilled a whole in the medal
roof and
> > > only found foam insulation under it. How do you get anything to hold
> > > on just thin medal.
> > >
> > > Thanks for any help
> > >
> > > Joe Blankenship
> > > Phoenix,Az
> > > 90WB40
> > >
> >
>