Mercedes vario 814 self build bus to FLT palace

[berni109]

Having second thoughts about fitting solsr panels on it as i wouldn't trust them just being glued on.

How about a couple of flexi panels directly stuck to roof. Body mounting tape holding the middle down and toolstation's sika alternative all around the edge. If it's got a corrugated roof make sure the long edges are on a raised bit.

 

[Phill D]

My choice, may not be yours would be to paint the top half of the door thw white. Then maybe consider a few graphics..

 

[tonyidle]

Having second thoughts about fitting solsr panels on it as i wouldn't trust them just being glued on and i dont know if rivnuts and bolts would be strong enough so im considering just buying a fold up portable kit ....

I've used 50x50x2mm alloy angle x 150mm lengths glued on 3 vans now - it doesn't move without help from a lump hammer and bolster. Glue it/them on - nothing will shift. I would not on the other hand trust the plastic corner brackets with glue.

 

[Lenny HB]

I've used 50x50x2mm alloy angle x 150mm lengths glued on 3 vans now - it doesn't move without help from a lump hammer and bolster. Glue it/them on - nothing will shift. I would not on the other hand trust the plastic corner brackets with glue.

Same here.

 

[Dutch 68]

Same here.

Yip you can hang a washing machine on the wall and turn it on if you have the right glue, the strength of modern industrial glue applications is astonishing.

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[Northernraider]

My choice, may not be yours would be to paint the top half of the door thw white. Then maybe consider a few graphics..

Yes im still considering painting the top half of the door ...i have plenty of white spray paint .

Just been and got a colour match done on the blue which is apparently a toyota colour ...so i have a touch up tin of that i can do with a brush. .it wont win any beauty pageants but from 100 yards it will look alright

 

[Northernraider]

I've used 50x50x2mm alloy angle x 150mm lengths glued on 3 vans now - it doesn't move without help from a lump hammer and bolster. Glue it/them on - nothing will shift. I would not on the other hand trust the plastic corner brackets with glue.

Problem is i dont trust the paint on the van to stick the glue to

 

[tonyidle]

Problem is i dont trust the paint on the van to stick the glue to

Just make the brackets (surface area) bigger.

 

[Northernraider]

I've used 50x50x2mm alloy angle x 150mm lengths glued on 3 vans now - it doesn't move without help from a lump hammer and bolster. Glue it/them on - nothing will shift. I would not on the other hand trust the plastic corner brackets with glue.

Same here.

Yip you can hang a washing machine on the wall and turn it on if you have the right glue, the strength of modern industrial glue applications is astonishing.

Yep and i glued the ones on my frankia and the hymer with no probs ...but these self build groups have regular posts about solar panels having been blown off and thats planted the seed of doubt on my head . Last think i need is an insurance claim

 

[tonyidle]

Yep and i glued the ones on my frankia and the hymer with no probs ...but these self build groups have regular posts about solar panels having been blown off and thats planted the seed of doubt on my head . Last think i need is an insurance claim

It might depend on the quality of application - there are people out there I wouldn't trust with a wheelbarrow.

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[Dutch 68]

Yep and i glued the ones on my frankia and the hymer with no probs ...but these self build groups have regular posts about solar panels having been blown off and thats planted the seed of doubt on my head . Last think i need is an insurance claim

It’s all about using the right product and the right preparation but you know that, don’t use a cheapo glue with bad prep.

 

[mitzimad]

Have you seen the state of some self builds most of the builders i wouldn't trust with a dog kennel

 

[Guigsy]

I previously used plastic corner brackets with Sika on my previous PVC. A large 280w panel. Did 30k miles over 3 years. 85mph on the Autobahn. No issues.

Made sure the surface was fully degreased first. Applied the goop to the feet in a snaking pattern to allow the air to escape. Then just dropped the panel on and applied a bit of pressure and wiggle. Tidied up the seam. Left it a day.

They way I see it, they have a similar surface area to the van as an angle bracket, but there's more allowance for flex, so less levering off, peal type forces.

For the new van, I had VanBitz fit a panel. They've used corner feet too. But they have dropped a single screw through each one too. Not sure if this was partly so I didn't have to hang around for the glue to fully cure?

 

[Lesanda]

Yip you can hang a washing machine on the wall and turn it on if you have the right glue, the strength of modern industrial glue applications is astonishing.

Didn't Soviet once hang Henry Cooper to a wall with paper paste?

 

[Lesanda]

Should be solvite not Russians!

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[Northernraider]

Well i have to say im well impressed with the colour match .... and considering i touched up all the blue paint with a 5mm artists paintbrush im impressed how its turned out .

 

[Drexxer]

Can't you buy a decent solar setup, victron regulator etc

then when you're finished with this van fit the decent kit to you Vario?, that way you already know how good it'll be?

 

[Northernraider]

Can't you buy a decent solar setup, victron regulator etc

then when you're finished with this van fit the decent kit to you Vario?, that way you already know how good it'll be?

Not really as anything i fit on this would then be noticeable if i removed it ...i couldn't fit 2 x 250w panels on the roof of this anyway. Id rather just buy a cheap kit to fit on this and leave it on when i sell it ...same with the LPG bottle ...it will add some value and appeal anyway so ill get the money back for it.

I dont want to spend a lot on this van as whilst im hoping to turn a profit on it next year theres never any guarantees.



When i buy my victron kit for the vario ill be buying the whole kit in one go as ill get the best deal that way .

 

[Northernraider]

My mum obviously thought she'd capture the moment

 

[Mousy]

Tam, you’ve done a brilliant job there, that won’t look out of place under some trees on a beach somewhere. I’m so glad you will be going away and we can follow your adventures. It definitely cheers up our Welsh dark wet afternoons.

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[The Dotties]

Looking at the condition now of the van, when’s the Vario going on the market?

 

[namwaldog]

Tam,
Has the Iveco got gutters on the roof that you could mount a roof rack on and then panel(s) on that.

Perhaps a wind deflector on the forward edge to press the panels down when driving rather than try and blow them off?

 

[gus-lopez]

Yes im still considering painting the top half of the door ...i have plenty of white spray paint .

Yes good idea it is annoying me

Problem is i dont trust the paint on the van to stick the glue to

Neither would I .Sand it off ,use 50x50 ali angle bolted to the panel, & glued to the roof using a decent glue. I also use 3mm tile spacers so that you cannot overcompress the joint . You could also put in a self drilling hex headed bolt at either end of the angle to the roof to be on the safe side. There should be sufficient clearance for a short screw on the inside.
While we are at it that spare wheel will drop through the bottom when you inadvertanetly hit the speed hump. I'd leave the bike runner off & screw a piece of ply wood either straight across ,so making wheel a bit higher, or use some ali sheet screw one side & form the curve for the wheel under before screwing to the other side.

 

[Northernraider]

Looking at the condition now of the van, when’s the Vario going on the market?

Not a chance of that happening

 

[Northernraider]

Tam,
Has the Iveco got gutters on the roof that you could mount a roof rack on and then panel(s) on that.

Perhaps a wind deflector on the forward edge to press the panels down when driving rather than try and blow them off?

It does but a set of roofbars is around £180

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[Badknee]

Those red seats are growing on me.

If I didn’t know your T total Richard I’d swear you were pi$$ed

 

[Northernraider]

Yes good idea it is annoying me

Neither would I .Sand it off ,use 50x50 ali angle bolted to the panel, & glued to the roof using a decent glue. I also use 3mm tile spacers so that you cannot overcompress the joint . You could also put in a self drilling hex headed bolt at either end of the angle to the roof to be on the safe side. There should be sufficient clearance for a short screw on the inside.
While we are at it that spare wheel will drop through the bottom when you inadvertanetly hit the speed hump. I'd leave the bike runner off & screw a piece of ply wood either straight across ,so making wheel a bit higher, or use some ali sheet screw one side & form the curve for the wheel under before screwing to the other side.

The wheel will never fit through there lol that's why the one bike runner is on as it keeps the two stainless steel bars of the bike rack in line.


I think im just going to glue a flexible panel on it ...after all i only need it to do me 4 months max ill put it on with tigerseal that should hold it and as it will be behind the skylight it shouldn't get the wind ...any solar is better than no solar and to be honest im not running that much off it .

 

[Northernraider]

If I didn’t know your T total Richard I’d swear you were pi$$ed

The seats are better in person i have to say ..

 

[Jamesh]

Tam I have a lwb roof rack for Renault master van.

If it fits it's yours

it's fully adjustable and attaches via 2 bolt uprights bolts are approx 4" approx can measure tomorrow.

I should have thought and you could have picked up when you brought it!

Cheers James

 

[Minxy]

If I didn’t know your T total Richard I’d swear you were pi$$ed

You trying to tell me after all this time that he's called Richard (aka Dick?)????

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