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Post by gadgetguy on Jun 1, 2017 17:59:56 GMT -8
My Travel Trailer roof is a rubber layer over 3/8's plywood with 16" on center aluminum trusses. When I screw the Z brackets into the roof do I need to screw into the aluminum truss or can I just screw into the plywood?
Thanks in Advance!
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Post by tattoo on Jun 2, 2017 4:26:51 GMT -8
I would go into the truss if you can. That would make it even stronger...
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mel
New Member
Posts: 31 
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Post by mel on Jun 3, 2017 14:08:03 GMT -8
Sometimes you can;t hit a stud, in that case you can go to home depot and buy something like a butterfly nut. They make something like that but with rubber as you tighten the bolt the rubber expands under your roof decking. I'm drawing a blank on the name. HD sells them and someone will come up with the name. if not go to RV.net and ask there you will get an answer there fast.
mel
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Post by rabird on Jun 3, 2017 16:59:47 GMT -8
I'd consider 3m tape I think its VBH, not sure about rubber roof.
be sure you can get access to nut (not the ones in the roof covered in dicor) so the panel can be removed easily, ie 2 piece brackets.
a good 1" of air space under the panel for ventilation
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Post by spiderbob on Jun 4, 2017 14:37:02 GMT -8
No disrespect rabird, but I'd stay away from 3m tape. I know friends that lost their panels in high winds on the highway, with them even higher, they get a lot of wind pressure. Plus, you can pull the rubber right up from the roof. I used "Well Nuts" if you hit a crossmember while drillling for the well nut that will give you an extra benefit but if not that's OK too. I added another layer of safety going through my rubber roof by adding strips of rubber roof repair 4" x 6" under each Z bracket to give it an extra thickness. The well nut will expand after you start turning the screw in. The rubber that the nut is embedded in moves up (after pushed through your roof) to seal the hole that you drilled. I aslo added caulking to the top of the roof area after starting the screw. I have 6 panels and with 8 holes each so that makes 48 holes and have not had so much as a drop inside. I spend time in Washington and Oregon as well. Of course I also a leveling caulking after I was down all around each Z bracket as well. I've had mine for two years now. Look up Well Nuts and read about them.
Forgot to mention, I used a Go Power roof plate to turn my cables down into the motorhome. I picked a place over the inside wall, then down the wall through the floor and 3' from the controller from there.
So going though the refregerator roof vent is another option. |
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