I need HELP!!!: Bad roof ????

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Bad roof ????

Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: I need HELP!!!
Forum Discription: Perplexed/need help with a problem - ask here
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=13957
Printed Date: 28 May 2025 at 7:45pm
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Topic: Bad roof ????

Posted By: rPodCamping
Subject: Bad roof ????
Date 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.

Replies:

Posted By: StephenH
Date 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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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...

http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS

Posted By: BigJones
Date 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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BigJones
R-Pod Skipper
2017 R-Pod 178 (Blue)

Posted By: offgrid
Date 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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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold

Posted By: BigJones
Date 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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BigJones
R-Pod Skipper
2017 R-Pod 178 (Blue)

Posted By: BigJones
Date 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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BigJones
R-Pod Skipper
2017 R-Pod 178 (Blue)

Posted By: SC for Huskers
Date 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.

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Happy Traveling,
Tom
2017 172pod
2011 F150 STX

Posted By: offgrid
Date 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.

https://www.prosolar.com/clamps - https://www.prosolar.com/clamps

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.

https://www.renogy.com/content/Manual/MTS-ZB.pdf - https://www.renogy.com/content/Manual/MTS-ZB.pdf

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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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold

Posted By: Toyanvil
Date Posted: 05 Oct 2020 at 8:53am

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

Posted By: BigJones
Date 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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BigJones
R-Pod Skipper
2017 R-Pod 178 (Blue)

Posted By: Toyanvil
Date Posted: 06 Oct 2020 at 8:10am

Yes, they can come loose.

Posted By: tttrules
Date Posted: 10 Feb 2021 at 4:57pm

I recently purchased a new to me 2018 RP179. While cleaning the roof I also noticed a couple "air" pockets of deflection. I am certain there is no delamination going on and after watching a couple videos of how the R-Pods are made the roof structure is not solid so some deflection seems likely.

At first I was nervous but not so much after watching the videos and reading through the forum. No signs of leakage and seals look great. All appears very solid around penetrations.

Should I be worried or this a pretty common condition?

Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 10 Feb 2021 at 6:29pm

Pods have a one piece roof. Sealed around items mounted on roof. As long as you have no leaks and seals are good, I would say your OK. Some delamination is acceptable. Where you do not want delamination is around side walls to roof, which could be a sign of a leak at sidewall.

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Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."