Bigger solar panels - enough room on the roof?

[bono]

Hi,

I placed an order on 28DSBH. I am planning to install solar panels on the roof. Would four 58.3" x 26.7" x 1.38" (160W) panels fit on the roof?

Another question - are you guys drilling to install the panels or using the 3M VHB tape? The tape sounds like obvious route for me, but wanted to check whether this is doable on Jayco?

Thanks!

[Jmooney]

I can't speak the open roof area and if it will hold 4 panels or not, but that's a lot of solar power and could produce 250 chargeing amps on a typical day. You must be building a huge battery array.

I drilled and screwed mine into the roof, dipping the screws in dicor and laying a pool of dicor around the bracket and roof.

Check out the rving with solar social group here on JOF for lots of tutorials

[Seann45]

Your roof should hold 4 panels with no problems... I would never use tape. Anchor it to the roof then use Dicor or Eternabond tape to seal it with..

[Subaru297]

Screwed in for me as well and sealed with dicor afterwards. I would never trust tape to hold a panel on the roof. Even if the tape is strong enough I would not trust the rubber roof membrane not to tear away.

The only way I would consider adhesive is if I was using the flexible panels that lie directly on the roof and would not have any wind drag.

I saw a solar install that used well nuts recently and thought that was a good idea as well. Bigger holes in the roof though but self sealing.

Let me google that for you

You may have issues with roof space if you ordered a fully loaded model with dual AC and multiple roof vents. If not though 4 panels should fit fine.

Cheers

[ddrueckh]

My panels, from AM Solar, came with double sided tape attached to the brackets. I first attached the brackets to the roof with the double sided tape. I then put the included screws through the bracket and tape into the roof (no pre drilling as I didn't feel that the size of the screws required it). I finally covered the top of, and around, the bracket with Dicor. I did this on my last trailer as well and never had an issue with leaks.

[bono]

Thanks Guys! As always, very helpful. The reason I am asking about the tape is that many Airstream TT owners are attaching the panels with the tape only, but maybe the membrane on Jayco is not as good as AS skin to use the tape only...

@ddrueckh - please could you send a photo of your panels on the roof? I am thinking aboutt AM Solar 160W panels as well.