Gluing plastic solar panel mounts to trailer roof.

[dustboy]

I'm confident I can get a mount to stick to the roof, but I'm not confident about the beer-can roof material. On my trailer, it's literally that thin (although galvanized steel rather than aluminum), and it is not attached to the roof spars, so anywhere I stick the solar panel, it's going to flap around and eventually tear a hole in the roof.

Any ideas?

[hankaye]

dustboy, Howdy;

If the metal is galvanized steel then it will continue to off gas the zinc.
One trick is to wipe the area first with vinegar then use your glue.
On the other hand, if you could find the centers of the roof frames then
you could bolt to the frames through the roof. Just an idea ...

hank

[dustboy]

I got antsy (with a 2-year old around, I get few moments when I can get these projects done) and stuck it up there with some Sikabond adhesive. I think it should be pretty solid, I got two out of four mounts to sit on top of a spar. I'll take a look this evening after the glue has set.

The last thing I want is to have the panel blow off on the highway...

[digimark]

Just to follow up, two years later the solar panel is still solidly attached, the VHB tape is awesome.

[Rainier70]

Thanks for the follow up. That is good news to hear. I think a successful glue mount depends a lot on surface preparation, temperature, and how many sq inches of surface you have bonded. Hopefully mine that I glued on doesn't have any problems either.