Solar panel bolt down kit - Escape Trailer Owners Community
Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×

Go Back   Escape Trailer Owners Community > Escape Tech > Modifications and Alterations
Click Here to Login
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 07-01-2015, 10:05 AM   #1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: N/A, Indiana
Trailer: Escape
Posts: 976
Solar panel bolt down kit

Posted by Reace 6/8/15
"As of today, we have redesigned the installation to a bolt on system, and we are working on a kit that we can send out to existing owners as a back-up to the epoxy install. We will be contacting owners for mailing confirmation soon.
I will post some photos of both systems in the next day or two."

I am interested in how the bolts will be backed up on the inside of the 1/8" roof and how the insulation and vinyl lining will effect the clamping effect. Just trying to plan ahead as I consider the alternatives.
__________________
"Never argue with an idiot. They only bring you down to their level and beat you with experience." George Carlin
Jubal is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-01-2015, 05:02 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
BRietkerk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Surrey B.C., British Columbia
Trailer: 2012 Escape 19
Posts: 150
We have the 95W panel and it so far is on solid. However I prefer to go directly to the bolt down method for insurance. I'm wondering if one bolt in each U channel will be enough. I may get stainless steel eye bolts installed as shown in the attached image. They will be useful to for instance to hang a wet towel on a coat hanger.
Attached Images
 
__________________
Brian
BRietkerk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-01-2015, 05:25 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
LarryandLiz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Maple Ridge, BC, British Columbia
Trailer: 2014 17B;2012 Nissan Frontier SV 4
Posts: 701
Bolt instal

Brian,

We slid by ETI and the install was done by the man himself.
Great customer service. It just took a phone call ahead of time to schedule.

That is what I would do if I was close to Chilliwack. Sorry I don't know how to correct the sideways pic
Attached Thumbnails
image.jpg  
LarryandLiz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-01-2015, 05:30 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: N/A, Indiana
Trailer: Escape
Posts: 976
Please provide photos of the inside and outside of the installation. Bracket bolt through or retention cable?
__________________
"Never argue with an idiot. They only bring you down to their level and beat you with experience." George Carlin
Jubal is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-01-2015, 05:39 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
escape artist's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: St. Thomas not BVI., Ontario
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0TA / 2016 Ram Eco Diesel 4X4
Posts: 8,034
Quote:
Originally Posted by LarryandLiz View Post
Brian,

We slid by ETI and the instal was done by the man himself.
Great customer service. It just took a phone call ahead of time to schedule.

That is what I would do if I was close to Chilliwack.

Sorry I don't know how to correct the sideways pic
Hi: LarryandLiz... I can't believe the panel could blow off the side of your Escape!!! LoL Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie
__________________
Quote Bugs Bunny..."Don't take life too seriously, none of us get out of it ALIVE"!!!
'16 Ram Eco D. 4X4 Laramie Longhorn CC & '14 Escape 5.0TA
St.Thomas (Not the Virgin Islands) Ontario
escape artist is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-01-2015, 05:42 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
LarryandLiz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Maple Ridge, BC, British Columbia
Trailer: 2014 17B;2012 Nissan Frontier SV 4
Posts: 701
Alf, Yea, but it is hard opening the door and don't even talk to me about setting up the awning.

Jubal, I may be able to take some install pics later. Right now it is Canada Day and I'm on my deck drinking beer.
LarryandLiz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-01-2015, 05:51 PM   #7
Site Team
 
rbryan4's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Canyon Lake, Texas
Trailer: 2015 19 "Past Tents", 2021 F150 Lariat 2.7L EB
Posts: 10,222
Here you go Larry. Try taking your iPhone photos in landscape mode (held wide screen with the home button to the right) and you won't need to edit and flip.
Attached Thumbnails
2015-07-01_18.47.45.jpg  
__________________
"You can't buy happiness, but you can buy an RV. And that is pretty close."
rbryan4 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-01-2015, 06:05 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
OneOleMan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Seattle, Washington
Trailer: 2015 17B Sold 5/2016
Posts: 343
Quote:
Originally Posted by LarryandLiz View Post
Brian,

We slid by ETI and the install was done by the man himself.
Great customer service. It just took a phone call ahead of time to schedule.

That is what I would do if I was close to Chilliwack. Sorry I don't know how to correct the sideways pic
I'm going there in August for a few things, this being one of them.
__________________
Pat
Life is Good
When "Escaping Reality" Sold 5/2016
2012 4Runner
OneOleMan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-01-2015, 06:11 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
Jim Bennett's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,528
Quote:
Originally Posted by LarryandLiz View Post
We slid by ETI and the install was done by the man himself.
I see he is well garbed in Chilliwack safety gear.
__________________
2017 Escape 5.0 TA
2015 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost
2009 Escape 19 (previous)
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” — Abraham Lincoln
Jim Bennett is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-01-2015, 06:18 PM   #10
Site Team
 
rbryan4's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Canyon Lake, Texas
Trailer: 2015 19 "Past Tents", 2021 F150 Lariat 2.7L EB
Posts: 10,222
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Bennett View Post
I see he is well garbed in Chilliwack safety gear.
And he's demonstrating the proper use of a stepladder.
__________________
"You can't buy happiness, but you can buy an RV. And that is pretty close."
rbryan4 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-01-2015, 06:21 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
LarryandLiz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Maple Ridge, BC, British Columbia
Trailer: 2014 17B;2012 Nissan Frontier SV 4
Posts: 701
Don't make me sorry I posted the pic
LarryandLiz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-01-2015, 06:26 PM   #12
Senior Member
 
Jim Bennett's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,528
Quote:
Originally Posted by LarryandLiz View Post
Don't make me sorry I posted the pic
I think he can handle the ribbing. You see the foo-foo hat he wears at the Escape Rally?
__________________
2017 Escape 5.0 TA
2015 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost
2009 Escape 19 (previous)
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” — Abraham Lincoln
Jim Bennett is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-01-2015, 06:30 PM   #13
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: N/A, Indiana
Trailer: Escape
Posts: 976
Quote:
Originally Posted by OneOleMan View Post
I'm going there in August for a few things, this being one of them.
Get the bolt thru bracket fix to secure the panel. The cable only retains the panel on the roof when the epoxy bonding fails and does not clamp it to the roof.
__________________
"Never argue with an idiot. They only bring you down to their level and beat you with experience." George Carlin
Jubal is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-01-2015, 06:50 PM   #14
Senior Member
 
Ron in BC's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: North Van., British Columbia
Trailer: 2014 Escape 19, sold; 2019 Escape 21, Sept. 2019
Posts: 8,728
Quote:
Originally Posted by BRietkerk View Post
We have the 95W panel and it so far is on solid. However I prefer to go directly to the bolt down method for insurance. I'm wondering if one bolt in each U channel will be enough. I may get stainless steel eye bolts installed as shown in the attached image. They will be useful to for instance to hang a wet towel on a coat hanger.
You really don't want to use a ring bolt like that. The ring has a lot of surface area and in a damp cold situation will have a lot of condensation dripping into the interior. Ideally you should cover the bolt head to insulate it and prevent condensation.

Ron
Ron in BC is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-01-2015, 07:50 PM   #15
Site Team
 
rbryan4's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Canyon Lake, Texas
Trailer: 2015 19 "Past Tents", 2021 F150 Lariat 2.7L EB
Posts: 10,222
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Bennett View Post
I think he can handle the ribbing. You see the foo-foo hat he wears at the Escape Rally?
Certainly. And if he gets perturbed, simply ply him with Jack Daniels.
__________________
"You can't buy happiness, but you can buy an RV. And that is pretty close."
rbryan4 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-01-2015, 08:07 PM   #16
Senior Member
 
LarryandLiz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Maple Ridge, BC, British Columbia
Trailer: 2014 17B;2012 Nissan Frontier SV 4
Posts: 701
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jubal View Post
Please provide photos of the inside and outside of the installation. Bracket bolt through or retention cable?
Here you go.

The bolts come through into the inside of the trailer but are hidden inside the cabinets.
LarryandLiz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-01-2015, 08:16 PM   #17
Senior Member
 
LarryandLiz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Maple Ridge, BC, British Columbia
Trailer: 2014 17B;2012 Nissan Frontier SV 4
Posts: 701
Roof

Roof
Attaching solar bolts
Attached Thumbnails
image.jpg  
LarryandLiz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-01-2015, 08:17 PM   #18
Senior Member
 
LarryandLiz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Maple Ridge, BC, British Columbia
Trailer: 2014 17B;2012 Nissan Frontier SV 4
Posts: 701
Roof

Attaching solar panel
Attached Thumbnails
image.jpg  
LarryandLiz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-01-2015, 08:18 PM   #19
Senior Member
 
LarryandLiz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Maple Ridge, BC, British Columbia
Trailer: 2014 17B;2012 Nissan Frontier SV 4
Posts: 701
Inside view

Hidden inside cabinet
Attached Thumbnails
image.jpg  
LarryandLiz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-01-2015, 08:20 PM   #20
Senior Member
 
LarryandLiz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Maple Ridge, BC, British Columbia
Trailer: 2014 17B;2012 Nissan Frontier SV 4
Posts: 701
Inside view

One last pic

Not too bad a job of posting pics after an afternoon celebrating Canada Day
Attached Thumbnails
image.jpg  
LarryandLiz is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off




» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Escape Trailer Industries or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:31 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright 2023 Social Knowledge, LLC All Rights Reserved.