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Old 08-05-2013, 04:56 PM   #11
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Re: Removing & reinstalling a penthouse roof

Thanks everyone. I'm not the original owner, and yes, I should consider again having them do it the install, but I've been waiting two weeks for just a return call about when they can schedule it. Plus they really are reluctant to install Yakima tracks over Thule--I think they just get a better deal on Thule's because they're nearly exactly identical and install the same too.

Anyways, I'll have to call them again and maybe also one of the other locations.

Thanks, KC

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Old 08-05-2013, 05:53 PM   #12
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Re: Removing & reinstalling a penthouse roof

3M makes some crazy double sided sticky tape. My bro-in-law just mounted his rails to his tent trailer with the stuff. Do a little google search and I think you'll find this to be pretty common. I personally would probably want to have one bolt per rail as a physical safety connection, but the adhesive properties/specs of the tape is very impressive.
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Old 08-05-2013, 07:56 PM   #13
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Re: Removing & reinstalling a penthouse roof

Maybe Aluminess can make something that mounts through the sides the way they do the racks which could hold the solar and Yakima racks...Yeah probably expensive.
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Old 08-05-2013, 08:39 PM   #14
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Re: Removing & reinstalling a penthouse roof

Quote:
Originally Posted by kcshoots
I too thought about glueing the tracks onto the top of the roof, but wondering if that non-mehanical fastener is strong enough to hold them, especially since the tracks are not entirely solid due to bolt holes and fairly narrow, there isn't a lot of surface to glue them on. However, I'm sure that there are strong enough adhesives to hold.

Anyone know or have thoughts? Thanks,

KC
Hysol is a very strong epoxy adhesive. They even use it to glue airplanes together.

And for something more user-friendly:
http://www.clickbond.com/

I have used both, and the underlying structure always breaks first as long as they are applied correctly.
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Old 08-10-2013, 08:06 AM   #15
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Re: Removing & reinstalling a penthouse roof

Thank you CarringB for your suggestion of ClickBond. When checking out their product page, I saw that they are located in Carson City, NV, which is only 20 mins south of my home. So I called them up and they were incredibly helpful. I went by their offices yesterday.

I surprised to find that they have several buildings over two streets of buildings, making up their own campus, complete with hangers for a fleet of planes, fuselage sections of jumbo jets, and very nice people. They took me back into one of their labs and showed me how to apply it, showed me some of the strengths, etc. In my application between 200-6500 psi depending upon the exact installation. Either way, way strong enough. You're right, the substrate will fail first.

So they sent me home with a sample tube, a borrowed tube gun, several fasteners and even a plate of fiberglass to play with. They said that if I can get a piece of the SMB top to them, they will apply their bonding and test the strength of the bond and how it fails.

Anyone have a piece of penthouse top you can send me, like a cut out from an attic fan? If so, I'll take it to them and have them test and share the results. Than we'll know exactly how strong their bond is and if we can use it for kayak racks, solar racks, etc, without having to drill thru the roof. Way quicker and less issue install.

I'm excited to mount my solar panels this way and also kayak racking. I'll share photos, part numbers, etc.

If any has a section of top they can send, please do.

KC
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Old 08-10-2013, 08:29 AM   #16
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Re: Removing & reinstalling a penthouse roof

1. I agree with Jage about calling some other SMB locations if you pursue your earlier bolting/screwing idea
2. I recently used a modern epoxy called Plexus methacrylate adhesive, which must be similar to the ones discussed above, because it will bond so strong the substrate will be destroyed trying to remove it. In other words, there is something out there which will work. Keep in mind that if you go this route, your tracks will probably not ever be reusable. Perhaps not at all a concern, but at the price of anything Yakima sells, just remember it will become a part of the van and be sold with it. I have some tracks on my van and judging by the size/thickness of them I bet you would bend and destroy them removing them if you ever try to remove.
3. LenS or someone else who has cut a hole in their PH roof may have the leftover piece around. He mounted a Fantastic vent and I know others have. If any of them think like me, they would throw that in the project wood pile sooner than throwing it away.

Keep us posted!

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Old 08-10-2013, 09:07 AM   #17
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Re: Removing & reinstalling a penthouse roof

Thanks for the info. I'll write LenS and see about that piece of top. Thanks!
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Old 08-16-2013, 11:38 AM   #18
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Re: Removing & reinstalling a penthouse roof

Quote:
Originally Posted by rockbender
3M makes some crazy double sided sticky tape.
It's called VHB (very high bond) tape...it comes in different thicknesses and widths...it's permanent. (you can remove it by slicing the foam part with a wire/guitar string then use brake cleaner to get off the adhesive but it's a PITA to get off.)

Someone on this forum has a thread about using it to fasten his solar panel to the roof.

Easy to get; McMaster sells it:

http://www.mcmaster.com/#vhb-tape/=o3b21u
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Old 08-30-2013, 08:50 AM   #19
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Re: Removing & reinstalling a penthouse roof

Quote:
Originally Posted by kcshoots
I too have the same issue, in that the PlusNuts by Yakima and similar by Thule are too thick/deep and will push the paneled ceiling out, as well as risk drilling thru it. Plus not likely strong enough although they are made for that and for mounting to truck camper shells, which are likely less strong than the SMB Penthouse fiberglass top. So really it's the thickness and challenges not drilling too deep from atop the roof.
It appears that Yakima sells two different versions of the tracks; one with plus-nuts for mounting on sheet metal, and another with bolts, nuts, rubber washers, etc for mounting on fiberglass tops/camper shells......

http://www.orsracksdirect.com/yakima-tr ... 0inch.html
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Old 08-30-2013, 09:09 AM   #20
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Re: Removing & reinstalling a penthouse roof

Quote:
Originally Posted by boywonder
Quote:
Originally Posted by rockbender
3M makes some crazy double sided sticky tape.
It's called VHB (very high bond) tape...it comes in different thicknesses and widths...it's permanent. (you can remove it by slicing the foam part with a wire/guitar string then use brake cleaner to get off the adhesive but it's a PITA to get off.)

Someone on this forum has a thread about using it to fasten his solar panel to the roof.

Easy to get; McMaster sells it:

http://www.mcmaster.com/#vhb-tape/=o3b21u
man, they don't give that stuff away though do they!

There is another product I've heard of but not used, called Eternabond tape. It's used in the RV world for quick permanent weatherproof repairs of leaky roofs etc. I'm not sure if they sell a double sided version but if we're talking about indestructible tape add it to the list.
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