Use nuts and bolts for the panels. Like others have said the self tappers will become loose. The panels will act like a wind sail. If the screws do get loose which they will, the glue then will also give way too at some point. Imagine at 70mph on a motorway and your panel comes off... You can by them threaded all the way to the end. Really good work guys keep it up.
Hey, thanks for watching! It’s too late to change now we will just keep an eye on them. We have spoken to lots of people and van conversion companies and they should be fine. The sikaflex is also an adhesive in itself aswell as a sealant. If it happens it happens, learn by mistakes! Plus there’s enough of an air gap below the panels to the roof, if they were closer to the roof I’d be considering redoing it all. We use the van daily and have been on plenty motorways with strong winds and they are fine 👍
Hi guys, I’ve enjoyed watching your videos and take my hat off to you both undertaking a conversion project with no experience....well done. On another note please take my advice and re-secure your solar panels with proper bolts and nuts, over time the wind drag will definitely rip those fixings out of your roof. You can get threaded all the way to the top, stainless steel, 40mm x 8mm bolts from screwfix, part no (4120T). Happy building, cheers, Ben 😉
Hey Ben thanks for your comment and for watching! 😁 we have all the cladding done now and would like to ask you a question first, before we decide to redo it all again. We added that sticks like turbo underneath, which is absolutely solid as a brick.. in my mind it’s acting like a solid washer wider than the bolt so it spreads out the possible pressure if windy or driving fast etc. This extra step is more than what we have seen a lot of others do with the self tapping bolts, these bolts are supplied by renogy specifically to fit with the brackets to the van. Do we definitely need to redo them? Thanks for your support and glad you like our vids! 😁👍
@@AnthAmy Hi guys, you hate me lol 😆 The skin of the van is only a couple of mm thick, I noted the screws were wobbling as well. Taking into account that the thread of the screws are very fine they will eventually tear through the stick like 💩. The wind drag hurtling down the motorway, bearing in mind that the panels will behave like wings on an aircraft will put a lot of strain on those fixings. I'm currently doing a conversion myself and appreciate the hassle of having to double back over your work but it's well worth it getting it right. Greg Virgoe is always happy to answer questions, drop him a message, I'm sure he'll confirm my concerns. Cheers guys 😊
Yeah were definitely open to help and advice, we will have a think about it and ask around, I definitely agree with you, but it was just one what was loose and they feel solid, in the beginning it did cross my mind if we should of had wood inside (like the ehu point) so it has something to fix to. Thanks for the help, i’d rather do it knowing its safe than be ignorant and regret it 👍 my only concern is how would we remove the glue underneath which is now solid? Goodluck on your build too! 😁
On your connectors, after you have crimped it onto the wire the red part should be a heat shrink. Use a heat gun and shrink it to the wire, it helps the connection and insulates it and in you case should fit into the 3 way more easily for you. Hope this work for you and is of help mate
Thanks for watching and commenting Conor! Yeah I agree, I usually heat shrink everything but because of those 3 way connectors having their own insulation I didn't.
Really enjoy watching this series and seeing the van come along. You both seem to have an ethos of not saying ‘this will have to do’ but rather ‘ we need to get this perfect’. It seems complex but every challenge you have faced so far is being sorted properly. I reckon this van will be perfect when you’ve finished 👍🏻
Cheers Adam, thanks a lot for your comment! :) All we can do is try our best, and not be lazy if something can be made better or improved! We hope so! Haha, definitely curious myself to see how it all turns out. Hopefully exactly as we have visualised!
More great progress. I do think that like a lot of these home conversions, the overall fittings and finish evolve as you move on. Love your attention to detail. 👍
We were pretty nervous about putting the solar on but we're happy it's done now... and you've done a great job. You'll for sure have enough room in the shower for the toilet :)
Hey guys, just seen your self drills screws, these are surely not supported enough, the material of the van isnt enough to stop your panels ripping off in transit. Could you not brace them with a scrap of wood so the screws have something to sink into?
Hey, yeah we thought that too but it was only one that was wobbly. We have since drove around a lot and they have been fine. We did want to use washers and nuts but like I said in the video the nuts wouldn’t get past the start of the bolt threads. After watching more videos after even conversion companies like @vanlifeconversionsuk uses the self tapping bolts, we took the extra precaution of the sticks like turbo which sets off and is solid 👍
@@AnthAmy ive just seen what you have done with your solar panels its not going to work those screws will work loose over time and water will leak in,should have used nuts & bolts solar panels are not cheap you dont want to lose one
Yeah we tried all different size nuts but none would get past the start of the bolt threading, safe to say now that these are fine (this footage is from 2 weeks ago) and we have since been on motorways with strong winds etc, lots of people use the self tapping bolts 👍 would of preferred washers and nuts but nevermind the glue is solid and spread wider underneath 👌
@@AnthAmy really interesting watching. It’s just the solar panels I know there’s been a few comments about the fixings there’s not a lot of surface area on the roof that’s stuck down. I’ve got the same type of roof. If theres any movement with the continued wind and the pressure on it at speed. I think the self tappers could move so easily. At best you could get leaks at the worst your panel flys off. I would have nut and bolted with some large washers or a metal plate on the inside. Going forward if you don’t want to open the roof up again can you fabricate a couple of extra brackets with a larger surface area. I realise if your not going to open the ceiling up, it means extra sikaflex on a few extra brackets. At the end of the day your the one who can see how well the sikaflex is stuck. Again I worry About what if , good luck with it.
![[UA] NAVI проти G2 Esports | Blast Premier Fall Final](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/QWlIm4FGESQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Use nuts and bolts for the panels. Like others have said the self tappers will become loose. The panels will act like a wind sail. If the screws do get loose which they will, the glue then will also give way too at some point.
Imagine at 70mph on a motorway and your panel comes off...
You can by them threaded all the way to the end.
Really good work guys keep it up.
Hey, thanks for watching! It’s too late to change now we will just keep an eye on them. We have spoken to lots of people and van conversion companies and they should be fine. The sikaflex is also an adhesive in itself aswell as a sealant. If it happens it happens, learn by mistakes! Plus there’s enough of an air gap below the panels to the roof, if they were closer to the roof I’d be considering redoing it all. We use the van daily and have been on plenty motorways with strong winds and they are fine 👍
Angle grinder with a 1mm metal cutting blade for the shower tray
Good video...
Glad you liked it!
Hi guys, I’ve enjoyed watching your videos and take my hat off to you both undertaking a conversion project with no experience....well done. On another note please take my advice and re-secure your solar panels with proper bolts and nuts, over time the wind drag will definitely rip those fixings out of your roof. You can get threaded all the way to the top, stainless steel, 40mm x 8mm bolts from screwfix, part no (4120T). Happy building, cheers, Ben 😉
Hey Ben thanks for your comment and for watching! 😁 we have all the cladding done now and would like to ask you a question first, before we decide to redo it all again. We added that sticks like turbo underneath, which is absolutely solid as a brick.. in my mind it’s acting like a solid washer wider than the bolt so it spreads out the possible pressure if windy or driving fast etc. This extra step is more than what we have seen a lot of others do with the self tapping bolts, these bolts are supplied by renogy specifically to fit with the brackets to the van. Do we definitely need to redo them? Thanks for your support and glad you like our vids! 😁👍
@@AnthAmy Hi guys, you hate me lol 😆 The skin of the van is only a couple of mm thick, I noted the screws were wobbling as well. Taking into account that the thread of the screws are very fine they will eventually tear through the stick like 💩. The wind drag hurtling down the motorway, bearing in mind that the panels will behave like wings on an aircraft will put a lot of strain on those fixings. I'm currently doing a conversion myself and appreciate the hassle of having to double back over your work but it's well worth it getting it right. Greg Virgoe is always happy to answer questions, drop him a message, I'm sure he'll confirm my concerns. Cheers guys 😊
Yeah were definitely open to help and advice, we will have a think about it and ask around, I definitely agree with you, but it was just one what was loose and they feel solid, in the beginning it did cross my mind if we should of had wood inside (like the ehu point) so it has something to fix to. Thanks for the help, i’d rather do it knowing its safe than be ignorant and regret it 👍 my only concern is how would we remove the glue underneath which is now solid? Goodluck on your build too! 😁
On your connectors, after you have crimped it onto the wire the red part should be a heat shrink. Use a heat gun and shrink it to the wire, it helps the connection and insulates it and in you case should fit into the 3 way more easily for you. Hope this work for you and is of help mate
Thanks for watching and commenting Conor! Yeah I agree, I usually heat shrink everything but because of those 3 way connectors having their own insulation I didn't.
Nice to see a video with proper content. And I love Amy's accent
Thanks Gary! :)
I'd make your next job a tracker. Camper vans are very desirable.
One of the first things we did! 👍
Really enjoy watching this series and seeing the van come along. You both seem to have an ethos of not saying ‘this will have to do’ but rather ‘ we need to get this perfect’. It seems complex but every challenge you have faced so far is being sorted properly. I reckon this van will be perfect when you’ve finished 👍🏻
Cheers Adam, thanks a lot for your comment! :) All we can do is try our best, and not be lazy if something can be made better or improved! We hope so! Haha, definitely curious myself to see how it all turns out. Hopefully exactly as we have visualised!
It’s really coming on guys
Just take your time and enjoy every moment
Take care 👍🏻👍🏻
Thanks a lot Steve! Yeah I agree, we're loving it so far, such a challenge but worth it! You too :)
More great progress. I do think that like a lot of these home conversions, the overall fittings and finish evolve as you move on. Love your attention to detail. 👍
Thanks Michael! Yeah I agree, things will definitely get better as we go :)
We were pretty nervous about putting the solar on but we're happy it's done now... and you've done a great job. You'll for sure have enough room in the shower for the toilet :)
Thanks guys! Yeah we were too, happy to say after some long windy fast drives they are fine 😬👌 yeah so glad we sent the other back!
Hey guys, just seen your self drills screws, these are surely not supported enough, the material of the van isnt enough to stop your panels ripping off in transit. Could you not brace them with a scrap of wood so the screws have something to sink into?
Hey, yeah we thought that too but it was only one that was wobbly. We have since drove around a lot and they have been fine. We did want to use washers and nuts but like I said in the video the nuts wouldn’t get past the start of the bolt threads. After watching more videos after even conversion companies like @vanlifeconversionsuk uses the self tapping bolts, we took the extra precaution of the sticks like turbo which sets off and is solid 👍
@@AnthAmy ive just seen what you have done with your solar panels its not going to work those screws will work loose over time and water will leak in,should have used nuts & bolts solar panels are not cheap you dont want to lose one
What size is your shower tray and where did you get it from,many thanks keep up the good work
Hey! Thanks for watching, the shower tray is 1050mm x 670mm and we bought it from jacksonsleisure :)
Think I'd gone with nuts and bolts and metal plates on the inside to fix those panels like you I worry about things thanks for the vlog
Yeah we tried all different size nuts but none would get past the start of the bolt threading, safe to say now that these are fine (this footage is from 2 weeks ago) and we have since been on motorways with strong winds etc, lots of people use the self tapping bolts 👍 would of preferred washers and nuts but nevermind the glue is solid and spread wider underneath 👌
@@AnthAmy really interesting watching. It’s just the solar panels I know there’s been a few comments about the fixings there’s not a lot of surface area on the roof that’s stuck down. I’ve got the same type of roof. If theres any movement with the continued wind and the pressure on it at speed. I think the self tappers could move so easily. At best you could get leaks at the worst your panel flys off. I would have nut and bolted with some large washers or a metal plate on the inside. Going forward if you don’t want to open the roof up again can you fabricate a couple of extra brackets with a larger surface area. I realise if your not going to open the ceiling up, it means extra sikaflex on a few extra brackets. At the end of the day your the one who can see how well the sikaflex is stuck. Again I worry About what if , good luck with it.