Just about everything attached to the roof of an RV is a potential entry point for water. The TV antenna, vent fans, satellite dish, plumbing vents, solar panel mounts or anything else screwed into, or transitioning through the roof to the interior are places that invite leaks.
The main line of defense against water damage is vigilance — periodic inspection of the Dicor waterproof sealant. Dicor self-leveling lap sealant is ubiquitous in the RV industry, sealing roofs on everything from pop-up trailers to diesel pusher motorhomes and everything in between.
The best way to avoid ever developing a leak in your RV is to check the roof at least a couple of times a year, looking for any cracks in the Dicor. One of the surest signs that an owner is meticulous in caring for their RV is to look for the tell-tale signs of Dicor patching on the roof. Dicor develops small cracks over time, and the periodic application of fresh Dicor to cover those cracks leads to the patchwork look of a well-maintained roof.
We don't pretend to be experts on any particular RV topic, and mostly know about maintaining our own rig. But many systems are the same on different RVs. The advice we give works well for us, but be sure to consult a professional technician if you're unsure about working on your own RV.
Showing posts with label Roofs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Roofs. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
RV Solar Panel Installation Overview
As we spend a fair amount of time boondocking (camping without hook-ups), solar panels have given us the freedom to enjoy the peace & quiet of remote locations without running our generator too much.
Since we already installed our panels on the RV (back in 2005), this is an overview of our set-up, as opposed to a detailed tutorial.
We show the general layout and components of the system, including the panels themselves, the wiring and the solar controller. We also talk about the benefits of including a simple and inexpensive tilt kit, which allows tilting the solar panels up in the winter, when the sun is lower on the horizon.
Our first RV had two panels, which were permanently fastened flat to the roof, so they couldn't be tilted. We've learned a lot since then, and the new panels are tilt-able, and also use thicker 6-gauge wire to reduce loss along its length.
Here's an overview of our entire system.
We don't pretend to be experts on any particular RV topic, and mostly know about maintaining our own rig. But many systems are the same on different RVs. The advice we give works well for us, but be sure to consult a professional technician if you're unsure about working on your own RV.
Since we already installed our panels on the RV (back in 2005), this is an overview of our set-up, as opposed to a detailed tutorial.
We show the general layout and components of the system, including the panels themselves, the wiring and the solar controller. We also talk about the benefits of including a simple and inexpensive tilt kit, which allows tilting the solar panels up in the winter, when the sun is lower on the horizon.
Our first RV had two panels, which were permanently fastened flat to the roof, so they couldn't be tilted. We've learned a lot since then, and the new panels are tilt-able, and also use thicker 6-gauge wire to reduce loss along its length.
Here's an overview of our entire system.
We don't pretend to be experts on any particular RV topic, and mostly know about maintaining our own rig. But many systems are the same on different RVs. The advice we give works well for us, but be sure to consult a professional technician if you're unsure about working on your own RV.
How To Replace an RV Skylight
Whether your RV's skylight is cracked or broken, or just old and cloudy, we'll show you how easy it is to replace it with a brand new one. Access to your roof and a few tools are all it takes to get the job done. Since most motorhomes, 5th wheels and travel trailers have skylights, this video is one that might help just about any RVer.
You'll need a putty knife or two, a can of mineral spirits, a caulk gun loaded with SureBond SB140 butyl sealant, a screw gun, an old rag and a pair of nitrile gloves (mostly to protect your hands from the mineral spirits). Of course you'll need a brand-new replacement skylight too. Also be sure to have some extra self-drilling screws on hand just in case, since there may be more screw holes in the new skylight than in the old one.
Surebond SB-140 Skylight sealant can be a bit hard to locate. We found it on Amazon.
We don't pretend to be experts on any particular RV topic, and mostly know about maintaining our own rig. But many systems are the same on different RVs. The advice we give works well for us, but be sure to consult a professional technician if you're unsure about working on your own RV.
You'll need a putty knife or two, a can of mineral spirits, a caulk gun loaded with SureBond SB140 butyl sealant, a screw gun, an old rag and a pair of nitrile gloves (mostly to protect your hands from the mineral spirits). Of course you'll need a brand-new replacement skylight too. Also be sure to have some extra self-drilling screws on hand just in case, since there may be more screw holes in the new skylight than in the old one.
Surebond SB-140 Skylight sealant can be a bit hard to locate. We found it on Amazon.
We don't pretend to be experts on any particular RV topic, and mostly know about maintaining our own rig. But many systems are the same on different RVs. The advice we give works well for us, but be sure to consult a professional technician if you're unsure about working on your own RV.
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