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Posts: 22 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Bad roof ????
    Posted: 27 Aug 2020 at 7:59pm

Hello rPodders.   I need some help!   

I was working off a ladder today (safely!!) cleaning a bird’s nest out of the A/C unit on the roof of our fairly new 176.  As I removed the AC unit cover, I noticed a slight upward bulge in the roofing material.  As I pushed down on the roof with my thumb I could feel a ~1 inch air gap between the exterior sheet of the roof and the inner roof structure. As the roof extends toward the front and back of the trailer it then gets solid (~no air gap).  

There does not appear to be any breaks or problems with any sidewall-to-roof seals, or the seals around the A/C unit, fantastic fan, plumbing vents, or solar wiring connectors.  We were in a major rain storm about a month ago and experienced no leaks.   

I was expecting the roof to feel solid like the front, back, and side walls. I had never inspected the roof this closely before so I don't know if this is 'normal' or something to be concerned about (as in warranty work).  I have a feeling this is bad news…………

All feedback is appreciated.  Thank you.   
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Posts: 6418 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Aug 2020 at 9:42pm
Don't sweat it. It is normal. Mine feels the same way. As long as the items going through the roof are in good shape and well sealed, the one-piece fiberglass roof will be okay with the little bit of flexing. I don't think it is glued down and that allows for expansion and contraction.
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Posts: 5 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Oct 2020 at 1:19am
I just noticed the same issue on the roof of my 2017 178. The area of the roof on the driver's side of the AC unit flexes at least 1/2" before it feels solid. Other areas of the roof flex as well. So my big question is, can I still use the no-drill VHB adhesive method to mount solar panels to the roof? Or is that not a good idea given the flexing fiberglass?
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Posts: 5290 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Oct 2020 at 6:43am
 I don't trust VHB tape even if the surface isn't flexing. Pressure sensitive adhesive is a hit or miss method. I had a customer with a 100 kilowatt solar array he attached to a structure with that tape. Half of it came off in the first windstorm, the other half was rock solid. Never could determine why. We added clamping screws, problem solved. 

Use a mechanical fastening system, its more certain and secure. 
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Posts: 5 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Oct 2020 at 12:12pm
Thanks, offgrid. What are clamping screws? I googled them and got lots of different results.
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Posts: 5 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Oct 2020 at 12:14pm
... also, same question, is the air gap between the fiberglass and whatever is below an issue with mechanical fasteners such as the clamping screws mentioned by offgrid or expanding rubber nuts (rivnuts?) used by other forum members?
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Posts: 144 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Oct 2020 at 3:50pm
Mine is a 2017, 172, and has stayed outside since I got it.  Most of my roof has about 1/4-3/8" springy air gap.  What I worry about is, How thick the fiberglass skin is and when should I look for cracks.  It is snug around all the components extending through the roof.
Happy Traveling,
Tom
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Posts: 5290 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Oct 2020 at 7:58am
Originally posted by offgrid

 I don't trust VHB tape even if the surface isn't flexing. Pressure sensitive adhesive is a hit or miss method. I had a customer with a 100 kilowatt solar array he attached to a structure with that tape. Half of it came off in the first windstorm, the other half was rock solid. Never could determine why. We added clamping screws, problem solved. 

Use a mechanical fastening system, its more certain and secure. 

Sorry, the solar array we used vhb tape on was on racks. We used clamps similar to these. very common in the solar industry.


I wasn't meaning to suggest that you use them directly to the roof of your rpod, although you could if you could find the roof structure to attach them to. For fastening to the roof surface many folks use the technique in the Renogy manual. 


In your case if your roof fiberglass is very loose then it might be that nothing attaching to the roof surface will work. You might want to consider running a couple of pieces of rail across the roof side to side and then attach the solar module(s) to that with the top down clamps. The rails can then be solidly mounted to the wall structure at the top corners. The top down clamps slide in the rails so that you could place them wherever you want The other benefits of  this approach are that there are no holes in the roof itself and the solar modules get cooling air under them. 
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Posts: 157 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Oct 2020 at 8:53am
I would also check the AC mounting bolts under the inside cover.
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Posts: 5 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 Oct 2020 at 12:39am
Originally posted by Toyanvil

I would also check the AC mounting bolts under the inside cover.

Toyanvil, do you mean check to the bolts to see if they are loose?
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