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11-27-2013, 10:12 AM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: San Diego, CA, California
Trailer: 2013 Escape "Bess" 19' Sept. 2013
Posts: 57
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Remove Solar Panel
Want to remove the solar panel from our 19 to put it outside the palapa to get the solar working. Looking at the way it is mounted I do not see a way to remove it. Looks like it was bolted to the mounting then glued to the roof with the mounting bolts tucked away with no access to them.
__________________
Michael & Debra
2013 19' "Bess"
2010 F150 STX
"You're not lost if you don't care where you are."
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11-27-2013, 02:11 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: n/a, Texas
Trailer: Escape
Posts: 721
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Pictures? It is usually possible to unbolt the panel from the mounts, leaving the mounts glued to the roof. But it sounds like you can't get at the bolts.
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11-27-2013, 02:34 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Marana, Arizona
Trailer: 2018 Airstream Flying Cloud (Escape 19 & 5.0 previously)
Posts: 1,078
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Have read on this Forum that a "super strong" double sided tape is the only thing holding the panel onto the roof. No bolts, no holes, no leaks.
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11-27-2013, 04:52 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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You may have to cut a hole in the roof to allow sun to hit the solar…….if you can not raise the bridge, you lower the river!
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
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11-27-2013, 05:05 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Phoenix Metro Area, Arizona
Trailer: 2014 Escape 19
Posts: 767
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I *believe* they are currently using a marine epoxy to attach the panels. See post #3 in http://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f3...tape-2010.html
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11-27-2013, 05:06 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: ..., New Mexico
Trailer: 2013 Esc19/'14 Silvrado
Posts: 4,193
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Sounding here like another good reason for not ordering stuff factory pre-installed on the roof.
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11-27-2013, 05:26 PM
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#7
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: ottawa, Ontario
Trailer: 2014 Escape 19
Posts: 43
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I ordered the solar option but kept the solar panel portable because of perceived
difficulty in removing it should the need ever arise. I had the regulator mounted under driver's side seat with an electrical hatch for wires to go out to panel. I had an extra set of 10g wire run from regulator to overhead cabinet for possible future roof mount (resale value).
I am toying with the idea of placing solar panel on rack over the pick- up bed cap to
allow use when travelling.
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11-27-2013, 05:59 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: ..., New Mexico
Trailer: 2013 Esc19/'14 Silvrado
Posts: 4,193
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Just read those posts on failed tape vs epoxy glue, etc ...am reminded of what my welder guy told me in his shop. I brought him a trailer hitch I cobbed together to fit the Tahoe. He refused to weld it, citing safety liability issues. I pointed out his welds would not be held responsible for the stress of towing. I had cut squares in the two parallel brackets bolted to the frame. The square-tube cross piece slid perpendicular through those openings, so the hitch was mechanically connected to the frame. The welding merely secured position. He did the job.
Moral of story: Mechanical connections trump adhesive ones long-term, every blinkin' time, no matter what the chemists tell you.
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11-27-2013, 06:00 PM
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#9
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Spring, TX, Texas
Trailer: 2014 Escape 19ft, birthing date September 3, 2014
Posts: 37
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This is what I have been thinking about too. I figure that with most of my camping be in Texas and other Southern states I would be camping under trees as much as possible so I might be better to keep the solar on the tow. The Xterra has that nice rack on it and I thought the hubby could build something that we can lock on it and attach the panel to that and maybe be able to also take it off the tow and use it as a regular portable solar panel. I'm just still so ignorant of how all this works and if a long cord to the batteries would be a problem. I know RV Sue has her solar permanently attached to her tow but I want ours to be removable and just put on during camping trips. I would welcome any feedback on this.
Taryn
__________________
Taryn and Rob
Xterra
Escape 19 (09/03/14)
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11-27-2013, 06:09 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Phoenix Metro Area, Arizona
Trailer: 2014 Escape 19
Posts: 767
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I think it's all a big trade off - how/where do you camp, and what is ok/not to have to do:
-- Portable is good because you can move it wherever you need to, and bad because it can grow legs and walk off and you need to store/deploy it each time
-- Tow vehicle is good because you can maybe move it where you need it, and bad because if you drive off for any reason you lose your solar charger and if you forget and drive off you may get to fix it
-- Trailer is good because you won't lose/forget it and don't have to do anything and bad because you may not get good sun on it
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11-27-2013, 06:37 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: ..., New Mexico
Trailer: 2013 Esc19/'14 Silvrado
Posts: 4,193
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And eggs don't have bones.
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11-27-2013, 06:57 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 2013 19' & 2013 15B
Posts: 2,634
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Two or three well placed mirrors could direct the sun onto your solar panels.
__________________
2013 19' \ 2013 15B, 2020 Toyota 4Runner TRD Offroad
"It is better to remain silent at the risk of being thought a fool, than to talk and remove all doubt of it." - 1907, Maurice Switzer
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11-28-2013, 12:12 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Portland, Oregon
Trailer: 2002 Escape 13'
Posts: 967
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I took my front panel off to raise it up on standoffs. It took some wrench mods to get the bolts off but it can be done.
Steve
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11-28-2013, 12:28 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Nanoose Bay, British Columbia
Trailer: 2014 5.0 TA
Posts: 152
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nilotica
This is what I have been thinking about too. I figure that with most of my camping be in Texas and other Southern states I would be camping under trees as much as possible so I might be better to keep the solar on the tow. The Xterra has that nice rack on it and I thought the hubby could build something that we can lock on it and attach the panel to that and maybe be able to also take it off the tow and use it as a regular portable solar panel. I'm just still so ignorant of how all this works and if a long cord to the batteries would be a problem. I know RV Sue has her solar permanently attached to her tow but I want ours to be removable and just put on during camping trips. I would welcome any feedback on this.
Taryn
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Check this out...
Portable Solar Kits (120, 80 & 40 watts) | GPElectric
Larry
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11-28-2013, 08:58 AM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: New Meadows, Idaho
Trailer: 2008 Escape 17B
Posts: 206
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cpaharley2008
You may have to cut a hole in the roof to allow sun to hit the solar…….if you can not raise the bridge, you lower the river!
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Noting Jim's suggestion, might the palapa support a skylight or solar tube ( www.solatube.com)?
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11-28-2013, 09:12 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: N/A, Indiana
Trailer: Escape
Posts: 976
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Quote:
Originally Posted by soultrek
Noting Jim's suggestion, might the palapa support a skylight or solar tube ( www.solatube.com)?
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One needs to consider that the sun tracks fron east to west and the solar incidence changes with the season.
__________________
"Never argue with an idiot. They only bring you down to their level and beat you with experience." George Carlin
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11-29-2013, 07:50 AM
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#17
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Spring, TX, Texas
Trailer: 2014 Escape 19ft, birthing date September 3, 2014
Posts: 37
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Escape13
I noticed you are not on the map, we don't show anyone in Mexico.
Taryn
__________________
Taryn and Rob
Xterra
Escape 19 (09/03/14)
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11-30-2013, 05:22 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Peru, New York
Trailer: 2014 19' hatch date Feb. 27
Posts: 123
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hotfishtacos
I took my front panel off to raise it up on standoffs. It took some wrench mods to get the bolts off but it can be done.
Steve
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Steve, how much did you end up raising your panel?
Thanks, Howard
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11-30-2013, 09:57 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Portland, Oregon
Trailer: 2002 Escape 13'
Posts: 967
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I raised it 3".
Quote:
steve, how much did you end up raising your panel?
Thanks, howard
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12-05-2013, 11:15 AM
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#20
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: San Diego, CA, California
Trailer: 2013 Escape "Bess" 19' Sept. 2013
Posts: 57
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Phew!!!!!
Got the panel off. What a bear to remove those 4 bolts. Thanks for the help HotFishTacos!
__________________
Michael & Debra
2013 19' "Bess"
2010 F150 STX
"You're not lost if you don't care where you are."
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