see through roof

[bobhenry]

:) thankyou to all that replyd bobhenry,thankyou so much for yr input and experence...got another ? for yall......what kind of sealer to use to make sure the roof dosent leak ..........should i look into "fishtank" stuff ? or more craft stuff ?

Looking in my early album pages you will see I had to utilize 3 pieces for the roof on Chubby. At 5' 7" wide the roof is almost 5' 9" wide with the overhang. I was very concerned with the center seam where the two large sheets came together. I placed them side by side and fitted them as tight as possible but there is probably 3/16" variation in the center crack. I cleaned the lexan with alcohol to remove any grease and grime and after it flash dried I applied a strip of Ice dam tape. It is an ultra sticky soft rubber tape used in roofing. You may want an assistant because it need to be applied rather carefully because once it touches it sticks. You do not want puckers in the membrane as the water will follow the little channels to the seam. To protect the 7" wide tape I ripped a 10" strip of the lexan and after applying a continuious stripe of 100 % silicone on the larger roof parts I bedded the 10" lexan strip in it and drilled and fastened the center strip. 3 years and 2 months later no runs no drips and no errors.

As to general caulking I have only used the 100% silicone and it has passed the test of time so far. At 5-6 bucks a tube it is a bit more expensive than the blended caulks but is far superior in adhesion and weather tolerance.

Here is a before picture of the frp on the 4x7 I just completed.

I title this pic " Why God made caulk"


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Here is a completed seam filled with 100 % white silicone



I simply used clear 100% silicone on the see thru roof

[tathead41]

thank u so much for all yr help its greatly appreciated )))))))))

[Jim Edgerly]

Along with the sleeping in theme, there is the thunder/lightening storm aspect. I have been in quite a few lightening storms while camping in a tent and the way the whole tent lights up with each flash is something else while you are trying to sleep through it. Having a clear roof...I would prefer not.

Also I have been in a camp ground where a security light was inconveniently placed. What about a full moon (pretty to gaze at...horrible trying to sleep through)? Being in a tent was bad enough, having a see through roof in that case is something I could do without.

I guess worst case is you could drag a small tarp over the top in bad weather/full or partially full moon/bad security light conditions (if you can't fix it internally)...and enjoy the night time sky on others. On new moon and clear skies it would be awesom!

[bobhenry]

Have you ever taken a nap in a comfey hammock on a summer afternoon ?

[Jim Edgerly]

Yes, but only under a shade tree and not during a thunder storm. I also have to pull my ball cap over my eyes because I have trouble falling asleep with the light. I can't fall asleep in front of a TV for the same reason. I also know that there are others that have no problem (like my wife).

[bobhenry]

Man I am glad I don't have that problem !

[Jim Edgerly]

It is a real pain in the butt. I can be sooo tired, but if there is light I have problems. Whereas my wife can be waiting for her favorite TV show to start in 5 minutes...and miss the beginning because she fell asleep. Or, just as bad, fall asleep during the last commercial and miss the end of her show.

I really do envy people that can tune everything out, including the light, and just slip into lala land at will.

My wife says it is because I am getting old (I'm 62) but I've had this problem since early adulthood (sleeping as a teenager was no problem). I do suspect that with the current trend I will be up for breakfast at 4:00 am at the local diner with the other old people within a few years.

[tathead41]

we generaly stay active most of the entire day ,for the most part .....sometimes might require a nap but i have lots of ideas for shadeing this large open area the area will b 40 to 45 inches wide and over 10 feet long due to the curve of the tear .....one of my ideas iz 3 bamboo curtains that can b rooled up and down when needed....gonna be hard to figure the exact way to do it yet but in still in the design and model stage of my trolley tear and might be for some time but like ive heard lots on here "measure twice ,cut ONCE thanku for yr time and reply

[tathead41]

we generaly stay active most of the entire day ,for the most part .....sometimes might require a nap but i have lots of ideas for shadeing this large open area the area will b 40 to 45 inches wide and over 10 feet long due to the curve of the tear .....one of my ideas iz 3 bamboo curtains that can b rooled up and down when needed....gonna be hard to figure the exact way to do it yet but in still in the design and model stage of my trolley tear and might be for some time but like ive heard lots on here "measure twice ,cut ONCE thanku for yr time and reply