24' Enclosed Trailer Build

[eXodus]

These are the ones I used: https://a.co/d/eE67UZZ

I also just sent it with a 3/8" impact, my guess would be somewhere around 40-60ft/lbs. Probably way tighter than they were supposed to be lol, but no bending.

I would assume M8 stainless steel screws? You remember the length? 50mm ?

I used those: https://a.co/d/dB6VXps and some of them are bending. Not all of them. Might be just cheap material. Not 100% trusting those.

 

[eXodus]

These are the ones I used: https://a.co/d/eE67UZZ

I like those much more. Solid hunk of metal and a skinnier.

 

[Lt.Dan]

I would assume M8 stainless steel screws? You remember the length? 50mm ?

I used those: https://a.co/d/dB6VXps and some of them are bending. Not all of them. Might be just cheap material. Not 100% trusting those.

I actually drilled them out and used 3/8" Grade 8 hardware. Only because I had a huge box of 3/8" Spring Nuts for the Unistrut.

 

[eXodus]

You are even more overkill with your construction then I am I found M8 stainless steel spring nuts for the struts.

But yeah, the bolt won't be the part which will fail in this construction. More likely the unistrut bends and opens up.

 

[Lt.Dan]

You are even more overkill with your construction then I am I found M8 stainless steel spring nuts for the struts.

But yeah, the bolt won't be the part which will fail in this construction. More likely the unistrut bends and opens up.

I plan for the roof to come off the trailer before the solar panels go anywhere lol

 

[eXodus]

I plan for the roof to come off the trailer before the solar panels go anywhere lol

Yeah the weak point is probably the trailer roof rails to the walls. But those are welded, and are many. I think we should see a broken weld before the whole thing comes of.
I bolted M8 through the roof trusses and put locking nuts underneath - so impossible to pull out. I think you drilled and put screws from above ?


Your panels are resting directly on the Unistrut? I saw some people adding a small spacer there in between?
I used those: https://a.co/d/7oJXDVN to space my strut from the trailer roof. So water can drain underneath.

 

[Lt.Dan]

Yeah the weak point is probably the trailer roof rails to the walls. But those are welded, and are many. I think we should see a broken weld before the whole thing comes of.
I bolted M8 through the roof trusses and put locking nuts underneath - so impossible to pull out. I think you drilled and put screws from above ?


Your panels are resting directly on the Unistrut? I saw some people adding a small spacer there in between?
I used those: https://a.co/d/7oJXDVN to space my strut from the trailer roof. So water can drain underneath.

Yes, they would have to break the welds from the uprights to the roof line on mine. I was able to get some pics of when they were building mine.


I wanted to run bolts all the way through and put nuts on the inside, but I also opted for the insulation package and full vinyl walls inside. I didn't want to ruin the vinyl ceiling, so I just opted for some very large 1/4" Self Tappers into each 1.5" Square Tube rail, which was quite a few. I then laser cut some 1/4" thick Stainless steel washers to space the unistrut off the roof and allow drainage etc. I also did lay the panel directly on Unistrut, and used the clamps to hold them down. Is there any reason for the insulated spacer?



You can see the trim piece down the center of the roof that overlaps the 2x sheets is already sagging. The screws they used literally pulled through the material so nothing is holding it up except the silicone. This picture is from a few months ago, and it is getting worse. I am thinking about using some 1/8" Aluminum instead of this crap 1/4" fiberboard they used.

 

[eXodus]

Is there any reason for the insulated spacer?

SLR200SA-KIT Unistrut Solar End Clamp For Strut Based Racking System (Includes High Wind Clamp)

Unistrut Solar End Clamp For Strut Based Racking System (Includes High Wind Clamp)

www.kellyhayes.com

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0614/5546/6701/files/PVKit2-Brochure-05212018.pdf?v=1686620738

it's apparently either for high wind load (not sure if a flat mounted panel with no back pressure is considered - high wind) or bonding purposes.

 

[eXodus]

These are the ones I used: https://a.co/d/eE67UZZ

I also just sent it with a 3/8" impact, my guess would be somewhere around 40-60ft/lbs. Probably way tighter than they were supposed to be lol, but no bending.

I just replaced my clamps with the ones you suggested.

Much better solution. Half of the clamps I used where bending. So would probably come loose eventually.