Installing New BougeRV Solar Panels On A Cargo Trailer Roof - What you need to know!

[@markbeavers5747]

Great video, also I've seen some folks have added a wind deflector in the front to buffer the wind as you are on the road which also reduces resistance for better mileage. Love Solar!!!

[@gonagain]

Good tip!

[@vester681]

Drill holes through those plastic mounts so the sealant goes through it.also add a wind deflector in front of the panels

[@n164bj]

The beginning of the remodeling that Linda is wanting after seeing the build in the last video! You have your project for the summer :)

[@gonagain]

That's the plan!

[@wrxs1781]

It will be interesting to see the finished install.

[@mrsjohnson1743]

Good information. It helps me to think of different approaches for attaching an extra solar panel to my rig. I always let myself ponder these kinds of things for quite a while before I come up with a solution that I feel confident about it.

[@Steve-Goff]

I’m surprised that one panel even stayed on your roof. That Sikaflex peeled off like silly putty. I’m looking forward to watching the install

[@janebray9392]

Yes! How the heck did they stay in place all those bumpy miles!!???

[@Pepsibear63]

Good Morning Rick & Linda 😊

[@777cretbo]

Great stuff as I now own a Cargo Trailer without Solar :) Learning lots good stuff here!!

[@gonagain]

Glad to hear it! Thanks for watching, 777 Cretbo.

[@markparr7224]

Great video Rick. I would have added two screws on the brackets, versus just one. Also, I hope you used zinc plated fender washers, because stainless will corrode aluminum.

[@1954shadow]

I’m taking notes!

[@mvrussisonline]

I really like your channel. You’re like the Bob Ross of RV ing. Cool, calm, pleasant to listen to and educational.

[@vernlemasters6504]

I took a solar class a year or so ago and he tested panels by shorting them out and testing the amperage they produced.

[@MOTrav]

Interesting video and good info! For those plastic mounts maybe an aluminum plate screwed to the mount and the use the adhesive between the roof and the plate would bond better? Whichever way it’s always good to be secure and safe. 😎

[@gonagain]

Thanks MHOrmond, we used your idea!

[@pkk6428]

Great job I watch a guy that used VHB tape and he did a review 2 years later and still on his van.

[@vencenzodemarco4393]

Hi Rick. Boy this sounds good, to start from scratch with all this new equipment. I will follow you & do the exact thing step by step. Will you be keeping the tilting panels or replacing everything??? Thank God you know what you are doing, this way I won't mess anything up. Nice. Now, we await your next video. Rick, I will email the details of my recording equipment so that I get exactly what is needed & make Zero mistakes. Thanks So Much. Hi Linda 👋

[@gonagain]

Yep, we're replacing the entire system that we currently have. This is something we had been thinking of doing for quite awhile even though the Bluetti gave us no problems at all. Stay tuned, Vincenzo! Hello from Linda, too.

[@jdedmnds1]

Why not use shallow unistrut the length of the roof and fasten the panels to the unistrut? That's how I mounted the solar panels on our shuttle bus and have had no problems.

[@gonagain]

I saw that but didn't want to use steel because if the weight and the rust. I looked at aluminum extrusions, but it's too expensive.

[@freeandhappy8562]

Great solution for mounting your panels. Thanks for the video!!

[@gonagain]

I just finished shooting part 2 of the install and will have it posted soon.

[@huckleberrychris]

🤣I just installed my solar and lithium. I'm heading your way tomorrow with a few days at Mt Rushmore

[@gonagain]

Look forward to seeing you, Chris! Enjoy Mt Rushmore.

[@paulstaf]

I would drill lots of holes through the mounts so that the mounting stuff you are talking about flows through the holes and bonds well with the mounts.

[@gonagain]

That's a great tip. Also, be sure to use the newer Sikaflex 292i, which is made for plastic and aluminum.

[@stephenmorton8017]

i would suggest you cut a heavy plastic tarp that will cover your roof. when it snows on your panels, you can strip it off quickly and get right back to generating power. when i say 'heavy' i just mean a fiber reinforced tarp.

[@dalesql2969]

The plastic mounts. When they are manufactured, they spray a mold release agent into the molds before injecting the plastic. This is intentionally super slippy. Removing it with cleaning solvent, or scuffing it up with some coarse sandpaper will expose the actual plastic to your adhesive. Clean the metal roof with the solvent as well, mostly to remove dirt and oily residue from manufacture.

[@cowboyscoffee]

Great video as always and tips for all of us

[@paulhunter546]

Looking good Rick..look forward to rest of install 👍

[@gonagain]

Thanks 👍

[@johnthompson5792]

You & Linda be well out there!

[@gonagain]

Thank you, John!

[@GypsyJvan]

thanks for sharing this, rick..

[@gonagain]

You bet!

[@michaeld4502]

I had those same single bolt mounts and decided it wasnt worth the risk... bought 8020 had more attachment places and much more Ridgid.

[@bobcole3852]

Great improvement!

[@cargotrailerkenny]

Looks sound to me, good job Rick.

[@gonagain]

Thanks!

[@stuartstuart866]

I wonder if the plastic solar panel mounts would have done better by drilling holes through them, so that the Sikaflex oozes through the holes providing, in effect, a mechanical bond.

[@gonagain]

Maybe, Stuart. That and really roughing up the mating surface.

[@DavidSmith-vo3nd]

Cool Thanks for the video.

[@JeffSkymaster]

You and i think alike Rick Cheers!

[@functionalvanconversion4284]

Great information 👍

[@gonagain]

Glad it was helpful!

[@irbfenian2594]

Ya, I always prefer a mechanical joint to adhesive, nice that you can have both with a bit of ingenuity! Do you use nylon thread nuts? Thanks for the vid.

[@gonagain]

No, just Locktite.

[@irbfenian2594]

@@gonagain That works too!

[@arthurbach9016]

I had the same thing happened to my maxxair fan it bonded really good to the fiberglass on my roof but did not bond to the plastic had to pull it off and replace it I use LPL it's made for commercial rubber quick fixed it

[@derekrichard9189]

I used aluminum latter rack and cut them so they were not so high !! They sit 11/2 inches above roof I used aluminum angle to go from one side to the other!! I used existing screw holes from top side of cargo trailer… never drilled a single hole in trailer and nothing sits on my roof

[@gonagain]

Good going, Derek!

[@paulcurtis5496]

Like# 89 - Are you back home already? I can’t recommend enough to bolt on aluminum flat bar to the upper frame all the way around the roof’s perimeter. Far less likely for leaks, and the holding power is infinitely stronger than adhesives.

[@paulcurtis5496]

Then mount the panels to the flat bar.

[@Tripsolo65]

Hi Rick & Linda, Never heard back from you after trying to contact y’all on Anthony’s trailer video. Since you are installing separate components, does this mean you are no longer going to run everything through Bluetti? Also, why not use big bad foldable panels?

[@gonagain]

Hello Rick, yes we're pulling out the Bluetti and are going to components to make replacement of modules easier. We prefer to have panels on the roof because they are always charging, even when we're driving, but like to have foldables along also.

[@Tripsolo65]

@@gonagain what were you wanting to get in touch with me about? How May I contact y’all?

[@seymourwrasse3321]

my son just got a 6X12 with a 6ft ceiling, we will start building it out in a month or so .That one panel could have become a hood ornament on a Cadillac

[@Nomadiccamping]

Bouge is what we have on the Motorhome

[@ShellyJDowling]

What did you use around the outside seam of your trailer?

[@gonagain]

Flex Seal, you can find it at your local hardware store.

[@Kamikaze3557]

Looks like a very secure mounting ! couldn’t find the 300w panel on their site, does anyone have a direct link? I may be blind.

[@jeremy-fv2my]

I find it on Amazon, www.amazon.com/dp/B0BNVJTZQX

[@gonagain]

Here's the link to the solar panels: www.amazon.com/dp/B0BNVJTZQX?ref=myi_title_dp&th=1

[@larrycarlston4044]

Do you park in full sun when you camp?

[@gonagain]

Yep, afraid so. There are lots of places where it's hard to find a spot that doesn't have shade!

[@larrycarlston4044]

@@gonagain Here in the northeast it get's too hot to park in full sun. So we find shade and put out portable suitcase panels to catch the sun. It would be counter productive to park in the sun to charge batteries when it would require running a generator to use AC.

[@WizzRacing]

Skip all the stuff. Just use 3M 4951 tape.. Better yet 3M windshield adhesive. You will need a pry bar to get them off...Go ask any Windshield repair company.

[@stephanmedlin7323]

You all have been doing a lot of renovating.

[@seymourwrasse3321]

what are your plans for the old system and panels?

[@gonagain]

The Bluetti will be at home to be used during power outages. Daughter #2 claimed the solar panels.

[@seymourwrasse3321]

@@gonagain good, it won't collect dust in a shed or garage

[@04UltraRyder]

Great video! There are so many different options but I've not seen any attaching panels to an rv roof with a membrane. I was planning on sikaflex but if it doesn't bond we'll to the plastic mounts..im back to the beginning of an adhesive hunt.. any suggestions would be appreciated!

[@gonagain]

I think that Sikaflex 252 just wasn't intended for this purpose. Also, the plastic mounts I used had a texture molded into the bottom meeting surface, but it wasn't rough enough to grip the adhesive. I just used Sikaflex 292i on my new panels, which is designed for both plastic and aluminum, according to the company, but I also used screws where they had something to bite into. I designed my own simple aluminum mounts just so that they would reach those spots for the screws.

[@04UltraRyder]

I'd love to be able to use a few screws to secure my 200w 9BB panels to the roof of our travel trailer. Finding a diagram for the roof is proving difficult for some reason so I'll have to go with adhesion for this one. I'm leaning towards 3M's vhb tape at the moment. I will be scuffing up the brackets for sure, but again, the weakest part of this plan is the roof and it's membrane. I am considering an arresting wire for each panel if I have anchors up to the task on the roof. Any thoughts from the more experienced panel installer?