Sunroof?

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Sunroof?

Postby Forrest747 » Sun Apr 19, 2009 5:39 pm

Ok i am kicking around ideas. Talking to freinds about the all clear top I saw in the Hall of Fame and some one sugggested a sunroof of clear glass. your thoughts. Would have to make a curtain for it at night, but one freind said it would be cool to be comfy in the trailer and being able to see the stars
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Postby Juneaudave » Sun Apr 19, 2009 6:01 pm

You might PM Thomas (2bits) about his sunroof. He's putting in a stationary unit on his build. I have no idea where he got it...but it looks pretty nice!!! (wished I had seen it earlier in my build!)

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Postby Forrest747 » Sun Apr 19, 2009 6:09 pm

I was thinking of a large sunroof and using that as my vent
"All the success on the trail can not compensate for having square headlights"

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Postby Bucko6 » Sun Apr 19, 2009 6:13 pm

I was thinking the same thing. No roof vent because they stick up. Wanted to use a pop open sun roof desigend for after-market installation in a car. Could tilt it up at the back or remove it all together. Would need to install a removable screne to gain access to the latch. Unless you went power??? I am not sure about the thickness needed since designed for sheet metal. Also, another source for a leak. I still have it in mind during my build.
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Postby Arne » Mon Apr 20, 2009 7:12 am

I thought about a sun roof, also, but too many other things to think about, and I had a fantastic fan sitting there. I would have liked to drop the top of the fantastic fan down level with the t/d, but that got too involved.

I also thought, what would be the benefit of the sun roof? If the moon shown in, I'd cover it up anyway, since I like to sleep in the dark... Actually, I have cut a piece of card board I can stick in the fantastic vent to keep street lights (c/g lights) from shining in.

I guess the bottom line was the sun roof seemed like a nice idea, but practically speaking for me, it just didn't cut it...
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Postby Forrest747 » Mon Apr 20, 2009 7:14 am

thought of those issues too and what if your in a camp ground someone can peak in. I do plan on taking it to remote parts of southern Utah so the idea of looking at the stars would be cool to me. and then doa curtain to velcro up there. kicking around build ideas.
Last edited by Forrest747 on Mon Apr 20, 2009 4:13 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Postby Nitetimes » Mon Apr 20, 2009 9:15 am

Forrest747 wrote:thought of those issues too and what if your in a camp ground someone can peak in. I do plan on taking it to remote parts of southern Utah so the idea of looking att eh stars would be cool to me. and then doa curtain to velcro up there. kicking around build ideas.


I'm thinkin' ya might just notice if someone crawls up on your roof to peek in!! :thinking:
These things are small but usually not quite low enough for someone to just look in the roof, unless maybe they are 7-8' tall. 8) 8)
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Postby bobhenry » Mon Apr 20, 2009 9:32 am

Most people are courtious of your site and with our tinted all clear roof I personally don't give a damn if some 7'8" giant wants to see an old fat man in his sweat pants. There are one way mirror films like those used on limo's that will afford more privacy and still allow a view. The lack of a top vent has not been a problem however with the lexan I could cut one in. We simply put a small o2cool fan at the door screen and let it blow thru. The big drawback is solar gain you can proof bread in our's during the day. I have used a couple of those mylar survival blankets to cover the roof and reflect the sun during the day. We had one outing in a city campgrounds with the street light directly overhead :x

The big question is would we do it again................

Hell yes ! Staring up at the stars in the night and I can't even describe watching an electrical storm and watching the raindrops land on the roof.
The one I never would have thought about was during the shivaree this year giant snowflakes landing on the roof That my friends was almost magical.

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Postby bobhenry » Mon Apr 20, 2009 9:46 am

Here is a night shot. I am standing on the tailgate of my Jeep Wagoneer still hooked to the trailer. This is what you see from 4 feet away. The small lights are party lights on the rear edge of the galley hatch.
Yes you are looking through the galley skin

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Postby BrwBier » Mon Apr 20, 2009 9:34 pm

Do you mean kind of like this?
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Got mine from a junk ,I mean a recycling yard for $25.
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Postby Forrest747 » Mon Apr 20, 2009 9:36 pm

That is exactly what i want thank you perfect. How was it to install? one of teh earlier comments made it is made for sheet metal. I can always work around that i think
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Postby BrwBier » Tue Apr 21, 2009 6:53 am

A sunroof like that comes with a two or three section tear off strip on the trim ring. It is for the depth of different headliners. I just took all off so my trim ring is just flat. The trim ring screws into the sunroof frame, that is what holds it together. Get some butyl tape for under the flange and press it into the hole. If you look for one from a van they aren't as curved as one from a car. It will pucker your roof slightly.
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Postby Forrest747 » Mon May 04, 2009 7:28 pm

Found one today at a recycle yard. I paid $40 for it and i think it will do the trick. Its clear with a factory tint to it, that i do not think i can scrape off, but I am happy with it.
THis is fun.
Wish I could do this for a living!
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Postby ssrjim » Mon May 04, 2009 11:57 pm

If I recall I paid 80 for a new one ordered off the internet.


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Postby 35thAV » Fri May 08, 2009 11:29 am

My Swiss-Army tent has a clear roof at the top with a zip-close shade.

I love having it open when the weather is good or when the weather is bad!
Too bad I don't have one in the trailer.....yet
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