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01-24-2013, 01:29 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: N/A, Indiana
Trailer: Escape
Posts: 976
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Solar panels and 3M VHB tape
Howdy All,
Has any one had problems when 3M VHB tape was used to mount the solar panel ?
Thank you, Jubal
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01-24-2013, 02:20 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
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None here nor over on Fiberglass RV.
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
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01-24-2013, 03:18 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: St.Albert, Alberta
Trailer: 21 ft November 17th
Posts: 847
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I asked Tammy about that last summer as she said they did have one customer that lost a panel and since then they have been using epoxy to hold the mounts on. They used epoxy on mine .
__________________
MacRae, 21ft
2016 GMC Yukon SLT
St.Albert Alberta
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01-24-2013, 04:11 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
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What was the date your unit made Dave?
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
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01-24-2013, 04:21 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Austin, Texas
Trailer: '09 Escape 19 "Grasshopper"
Posts: 221
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Ours was the 1st solar panel that Escape used the 3M vhb tape to mount it with back in Sept 2009. To date, we haven't experienced any issues with it adhering to the roof.
__________________
Brad & Shay
'09 Escape 19 "Grasshopper"
'14 MB GL350 BlueTEC; '99 Toyota 4Runner V6 4WD
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01-24-2013, 07:13 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: St.Albert, Alberta
Trailer: 21 ft November 17th
Posts: 847
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We picked our trailer up Aug 10, 2012. had the solar panel mounted that day. I had a 80 panel from our old trailer and had escape prewire our trailer and then install it when we picked it up. I regret not just getting a new set up as I have to replace my charge controller now as its acting up. they used the opxoy on the mounting rails and indicated that is how they were doing it now .
__________________
MacRae, 21ft
2016 GMC Yukon SLT
St.Albert Alberta
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01-25-2013, 07:17 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Trailer: 2018 Escape 19
Posts: 374
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No problems on ours at one year.
__________________
Steve and Cynthia
San Antonio, TX
Escape 19 "Why So Serious?"
2019 Chevy Silverado RST 1500, 5.3L
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01-25-2013, 09:06 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Kelowna, British Columbia
Trailer: 2008 Escape 17b
Posts: 1,868
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3M tape or similar
Double sided foam tape like 3M Brand will dry up over time. I suggest:
Always use double sided tape ONLY to keep something in place until the glue dries.
Temperature, moisture, UV rays all shorten the life of any doublesided tape reguardless of brand.
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01-25-2013, 12:29 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Pollock Pines, California
Trailer: 2009 Escape 19
Posts: 453
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01-25-2013, 12:44 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Kelowna, British Columbia
Trailer: 2008 Escape 17b
Posts: 1,868
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3M
Bruce, It's up to you if you want to rely on 3M or similar tape to hold your valuables in place. But, 32 years in the industry of adhesives and VHB tape sways me different. I mean, why not as a precautionary measure use an epoxy or silicon glue in conjuntion with 3M tape just to be sure.
By the way Escape used an epoxy on my solar panel las year. A glue recomended by the solar panel supplier
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01-25-2013, 01:38 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Pollock Pines, California
Trailer: 2009 Escape 19
Posts: 453
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Yeah, I'm not using tape for any stressed apps, just thought it was interesting to see their testing.
Bruce
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01-25-2013, 01:59 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Kelowna, British Columbia
Trailer: 2008 Escape 17b
Posts: 1,868
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3M
3M is a good product don't get me wrong but it should be used only for sticking something light weight to a wall or window, ie. static. Affixing a solar panel on a roof of a trailer that may exceed 50 or 60 mph (in a head wind) with 3M tape is not advisable.
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01-28-2013, 07:48 PM
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#13
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Laramie, Wyoming
Trailer: 2011 19' Escape
Posts: 49
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My solar panel was mounted with 3M tape, and the panel blew off about a month after the trailer was manufactured. I had the trailer prewired for solar and told them to install the panel about a week before picking up the trailer.
The panel was installed and set out in the cold a couple of days after installing, as production was complete (December 2011). They thought this may have contributed to a weaker bond possibly?
The panel blew off in Wyoming when pulling the trailer 55-65 mph with wind gusts of 55 mph and temperatures in the 20's F. So the wind hitting the solar panel could have been 120 mph!!!
They sent me a new panel with epoxy to mount it. I have pulled the trailer in similar conditions, and have not had any problems.
__________________
2009 Chevy Silverado
2011 19' Escape
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01-28-2013, 11:47 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Spruce Grove, Alberta
Trailer: 2009 17B - Escape Pod
Posts: 148
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Three seasons, no problems.
__________________
Dave
2009 Escape 17B
2010 Toyota Highlander
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01-29-2013, 08:58 AM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: ,, Oklahoma
Trailer: 17
Posts: 840
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But it just takes one problem to injur a Motorcyclist.
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