solar domes

[mjbord]

This subject may have been covered in the past but, rather than sorting thru all that I thought I would broach the subject anew. I'm the proud owner of a 1977 Excella 500. Everything works, including the original braking system, however, there is one problem. The solar domes. My Airstream has three and they are all cracked and leaking. Are replacements available or do I need to replace the whole assembly, fans and all? Or, can I just purchase a flat piece of acrylic and replace. There's an aluminum frame around the dome and it looks like the plastic is flat but it's hard to tell with all the discoloration and silicone caulk on them. Help!

[john hd]

you will be hard pressed to find ones as nice as the aluminum ones you have. not to mention the difficulty you would have adapting new ones to your opening levers.

replacing the acrylic sections and new seals would be the least expensive and easiest to do.

john

[davidz71]

Originally Posted by mjbord

This subject may have been covered in the past but, rather than sorting thru all that I thought I would broach the subject anew. I'm the proud owner of a 1977 Excella 500. Everything works, including the original braking system, however, there is one problem. The solar domes. My Airstream has three and they are all cracked and leaking. Are replacements available or do I need to replace the whole assembly, fans and all? Or, can I just purchase a flat piece of acrylic and replace. There's an aluminum frame around the dome and it looks like the plastic is flat but it's hard to tell with all the discoloration and silicone caulk on them. Help!

My '77 vents had cracked years before I bought the trailer. The PO had someone rivet a sheet of aluminum, radiused on the corners, where the dome had been before on all 3 vents. It worked fine. I had Vista View windows so I never though the trailer was dark.

[mjbord]

I think rather than using acrylic again I'll try to find some UV resistant Lexan. I believe that it will last alot longer than acrylic. Thanks for the input!

[mjbord]

As an update, you can't believe the amount of silicon caulk that was on my solar domes. I would guess the P.O. used at least 10 tubes to stop the leaks rather than doing it right. It took longer to get the old stuff off than it did to do it properly. I guess some folks are just lazy or just looking for a quick fix.

[william Haym]

For your solardoms you can get new ones from Inland Rv , I put new ones on my 1969 sovereign 31' trailer.
They will have them in stock, and could ship them directly to your home!!!!!
Check there website !!!

[lewster]

Originally Posted by mjbord

As an update, you can't believe the amount of silicon caulk that was on my solar domes. I would guess the P.O. used at least 10 tubes to stop the leaks rather than doing it right. It took longer to get the old stuff off than it did to do it properly. I guess some folks are just lazy or just looking for a quick fix.

It's amazing how many people use silicone to seal leaks on RV's! Everytime I get called on an exterior leak, the first thing I ask is 'did you try silicone?' When they answer yes, I say 'You should have called me first 'cause now it will be double! First to remove what you did and then do it properly. As my labor rate says:

Labor rate:.......................................$50/hour
If you watch.....................................$75/hour
If you help.......................................$100/hour
If you worked on it first......................$150/hour