| attaching to roof [message #70456] |
Mon, 11 January 2010 05:35  |
jayrabe
Messages: 509
Registered: June 2009
Location: Portland, OR
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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Interesting stuff about plugging and sealing holes in the roof. Great tips.
But I want to drill some holes to mount some solar panels. So how do I do that? Do I have to pull the headliner out to get access for nuts on the inside? Is it possible to just line things up so I can use like self-tapping screws into the main ribs? Any ideas greatly appreciated.
J "listening to that sucking sound from my bank account" Rabe
76 Palm Beach
Portland, OR
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| Re: [GMCnet] attaching to roof [message #70457 is a reply to message #70456] |
Mon, 11 January 2010 05:42  |
Mr ERFisher
Messages: 7117
Registered: August 2005
Karma: 2
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Senior Member |
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Just remember, any hole in the roof, is a potential leak -----
run the wires in through the Refer vent (no hole ;>)
Happens on every motor home
and, and
the sun don't shine in Portland (ask me how I know ),
good luck
gene
On Mon, Jan 11, 2010 at 3:35 AM, Jay Rabe <jayrabe@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> Interesting stuff about plugging and sealing holes in the roof. Great tips.
> But I want to drill some holes to mount some solar panels. So how do I do
> that? Do I have to pull the headliner out to get access for nuts on the
> inside? Is it possible to just line things up so I can use like self-tapping
> screws into the main ribs? Any ideas greatly appreciated.
>
> J "listening to that sucking sound from my bank account" Rabe
> 76 Palm Beach
> Portland, OR
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> List Information and Subscription Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
--
Gene Fisher -- 74-23,77PB/ore/ca
“Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today --- give him a URL and
-------
http://gmcmotorhome.info/
Alternator Protection Cable
http://gmcmotorhome.info/APC.html
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| Re: [GMCnet] attaching to roof [message #70487 is a reply to message #70459] |
Mon, 11 January 2010 10:35 |
jayrabe
Messages: 509
Registered: June 2009
Location: Portland, OR
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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Steve,
Thanks, Steve. Rivnuts! What amazing things! New to me, so apologies for my exhuberance to all for whom they're old hat. I did some web searching and found a world of options which of course leads to more questions.
If I attach through the roof and a cross-member, what's the total thickness (in order to specify the "grip range" of the fastener)? 1/4" or so?
Lots of options for thread sizes. To withstand the wind of freeway speeds, I'm thinking at least #10, or maybe #12 or even 1/4-20. Thoughts?
Application tools: I saw lots of power tools, way out of my price range or need, for just a few rivets, and one, lever type hand tool for $90, and another that used a wrench for $25. Opinions?
Thanks again
J "learning more all the time" Rabe
76 Palm Beach
Portland, OR
> Date: Mon, 11 Jan 2010 05:36:13 -0700
> From: botiemad11@gmail.com
> To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
> Subject: Re: [GMCnet] attaching to roof
>
> Jay,
> The easiest is to drill into a crossmember beneath the roof skin.
> This is also the strongest. Cross members are not too difficult to
> locate as you walk on the roof.
> The next easiest is to use RivNuts. These are basically threaded
> rivits installed much the same way as regular rivits.
>
> On Mon, Jan 11, 2010 at 4:35 AM, Jay Rabe <jayrabe@hotmail.com> wrote:
> >
> >
> > Interesting stuff about plugging and sealing holes in the roof. Great tips.
> > But I want to drill some holes to mount some solar panels. So how do I do that? Do I have to pull the headliner out to get access for nuts on the inside? Is it possible to just line things up so I can use like self-tapping screws into the main ribs? Any ideas greatly appreciated.
> >
> > J "listening to that sucking sound from my bank account" Rabe
> > 76 Palm Beach
> > Portland, OR
> > _______________________________________________
> > GMCnet mailing list
> > List Information and Subscription Options:
> > http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
> >
>
>
>
> --
> Steve Ferguson
> '76 EII
> Sierra Vista, AZ
> Urethane bushing source
> www.bdub.net/ferguson/
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> List Information and Subscription Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
_________________________________________________________________
Hotmail: Powerful Free email with security by Microsoft.
http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/196390710/direct/01/
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| Re: attaching to roof [message #70489 is a reply to message #70456] |
Mon, 11 January 2010 11:05 |
idrob
Messages: 645
Registered: January 2005
Location: Central Idaho
Karma: 0
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| jayrabe wrote on Mon, 11 January 2010 03:35 |
Interesting stuff about plugging and sealing holes in the roof. Great tips.
But I want to drill some holes to mount some solar panels. So how do I do that? Do I have to pull the headliner out to get access for nuts on the inside? Is it possible to just line things up so I can use like self-tapping screws into the main ribs? Any ideas greatly appreciated.
J "listening to that sucking sound from my bank account" Rabe
76 Palm Beach
Portland, OR
|
Be VERY careful about drilling into the ribs. Several of them contain wires crossing from one side of the coach to the other. If you miss the flange of the rib, you might drill right into a 120 volt line. When I had the headliner out on mine, I found that the roof pod had been attached to a rib by a long self taping screw which barely missed a 120 volt line contained in that rib.
I believe that Dan Gregg has some experience with this matter. Dan?
Rob Allen
former owner of '76 x-PB
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| Re: [GMCnet] attaching to roof [message #70492 is a reply to message #70489] |
Mon, 11 January 2010 11:12 |
jimk
Messages: 6734
Registered: July 2006
Location: Belmont, CA
Karma: 9
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Senior Member |
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Rev nuts can loosen up also.
Get some putty strip that the RV repair shops use as a back up.
They hold for only 5 years. Not permanent.
On Mon, Jan 11, 2010 at 9:05 AM, Rob Allen <profmail@camasnet.com> wrote:
>
>
> jayrabe wrote on Mon, 11 January 2010 03:35
>> Interesting stuff about plugging and sealing holes in the roof. Great tips.
>> But I want to drill some holes to mount some solar panels. So how do I do that? Do I have to pull the headliner out to get access for nuts on the inside? Is it possible to just line things up so I can use like self-tapping screws into the main ribs? Any ideas greatly appreciated.
>>
>> J "listening to that sucking sound from my bank account" Rabe
>> 76 Palm Beach
>> Portland, OR
>
>
> Be VERY careful about drilling into the ribs. Â Several of them contain wires crossing from one side of the coach to the other. Â If you miss the flange of the rib, you might drill right into a 120 volt line. Â When I had the headliner out on mine, I found that the roof pod had been attached to a rib by a long self taping screw which barely missed a 120 volt line contained in that rib.
>
> I believe that Dan Gregg has some experience with this matter. Â Dan?
>
> --
> Rob Allen
> '76 x-PB
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> List Information and Subscription Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Fremont,CA
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
http://www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
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Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
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| Re: [GMCnet] attaching to roof [message #70520 is a reply to message #70487] |
Mon, 11 January 2010 15:51 |
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mike miller
Messages: 3576
Registered: February 2004
Location: Hillsboro, Oregon
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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| jayrabe wrote on Mon, 11 January 2010 08:35 |
... Rivnuts! What amazing things! New to me, ...
...
Application tools: I saw lots of power tools, way out of my price range or need, for just a few rivets, and one, lever type hand tool for $90, and another that used a wrench for $25. Opinions?
|
For just a few rivnuts I used a bolt, several washers, a spacer and a nut to "make" a tool. (Selected from the cheap hardware bins.) I used a couple of wrenches to turn it. Worked just fine but stresses the bolt and other parts so they are only good for a few installations.
I also coated the rivnuts with JB Weld before installing. When I remove the rear overhead cabinets I'll find out how well they hold.
Mike Miller -- Hillsboro, OR -- on the Black list
(#2)`78 23' Birchaven Rear Bath -- (#3)`77 23' Birchaven Side Bath
More Sidekicks than GMC's and a late model Malibu called 'Boo'
http://m000035.blogspot.com
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| Re: attaching to roof [message #70596 is a reply to message #70456] |
Tue, 12 January 2010 04:47 |
tgeiger
Messages: 518
Registered: February 2006
Location: kansas city
Karma: -1
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Senior Member |
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I've been looking a solar panels for my GMC as well. I have just atarted looking at all the different types and brands. What brand and type would be recommended for the motorhome. I also need to know about the charging system. I just purchased a smart charging system for the coach a couple of seasons ago and was hoping it would work into this system.
Tom Geiger
76 Eleganza II
KCMO
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