01-06-2015, 08:25 PM
Hi All!
Just thought I'd show you the roof light I have put in my 2009 L2.
[Image: 20150517_150834.jpg]
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[Image: 20150521_202913.jpg]
It is an ex-Forestry commission van that I'm gradually converting into a camper.
So far I haven't done much more than have glass put in the rear doors (by van windows direct in West Yorkshire - very good), and put this roof light in. I'm not going to have any more glass than this - I like the fact its a bit discreet. I have been in camper vans before and it can feel a bit like you're sitting in a goldfish bowl!
I have also found a nice piece of carpet (100% wool - and £4 on ebay!) that I trimmed neatly and had a professional edge sewn on. And I have made a thick blind for the back windows, which attaches with poppers - more of this stuff on other posts.
The roof light is an MPK clear one, complete with blind and flyscreen. It is openable in several positions. It also has permanent ventilation - so I hopefully won't need to crack a window open to stop them steaming up. I figured I could block this off or have a big flap secured over it with velcro if it was too draughty.
I cut the 280mm square hole in the roof with an angle grinder. I tried a dremel type thingy but it was far too weak - or maybe its just really good steel? You can see that I had previously stuck 25mm 'ecotherm' insulation to the roof, with some trimming fabric over it. (I have only done the rear portion of the roof so far). I smoothed the cut edges a little with a file, and then put a bit of one coat paint over the bare metal edge (just happens to be white paint - but no one's ever going to see it).
The rooflight then drops in and is bonded to the roof with adhesive/sealant. I used sikaflex EBT from screwfix. Some people say to use the really expensive caravan sikaflex, but I figure £6 a tube should be enough to spend, and EBT is supposed to be good enough to use on roofs and other exposed places. An inner frame inside then mates up to it and screws to it. You need 8 no.6 screws, not countersunk ones. I used A2 stainless. The length of screws you need depends on how thick your roof is - 20mm was perfect in this instance. The minimum thickness of roof you can fix this into is 25mm, but you could mount it to a thinner one if you used battens or something to make the thickness up.
I was a little worried that the slight curvature of the roof would mean I had to make up a curved gasket or something, as the MPK rooflight can only be mounted on a flat surface. The curve is so slight over 28cms though that there was no need. I was a tad more generous with the adhesive/sealant on the sides than on the front and back, and that's been sufficient.
The van inside now is light enough to read the paper, even with no other windows! I think this rooflight is pretty discreet to. At a glance it just looks like a vent or maybe a light.
Just thought I'd show you the roof light I have put in my 2009 L2.
[Image: 20150517_150834.jpg]
[Image: 20150517_161328.jpg]
[Image: 20150517_161338.jpg]
[Image: 20150524_131351.jpg]
[Image: 20150521_202913.jpg]
It is an ex-Forestry commission van that I'm gradually converting into a camper.
So far I haven't done much more than have glass put in the rear doors (by van windows direct in West Yorkshire - very good), and put this roof light in. I'm not going to have any more glass than this - I like the fact its a bit discreet. I have been in camper vans before and it can feel a bit like you're sitting in a goldfish bowl!
I have also found a nice piece of carpet (100% wool - and £4 on ebay!) that I trimmed neatly and had a professional edge sewn on. And I have made a thick blind for the back windows, which attaches with poppers - more of this stuff on other posts.
The roof light is an MPK clear one, complete with blind and flyscreen. It is openable in several positions. It also has permanent ventilation - so I hopefully won't need to crack a window open to stop them steaming up. I figured I could block this off or have a big flap secured over it with velcro if it was too draughty.
I cut the 280mm square hole in the roof with an angle grinder. I tried a dremel type thingy but it was far too weak - or maybe its just really good steel? You can see that I had previously stuck 25mm 'ecotherm' insulation to the roof, with some trimming fabric over it. (I have only done the rear portion of the roof so far). I smoothed the cut edges a little with a file, and then put a bit of one coat paint over the bare metal edge (just happens to be white paint - but no one's ever going to see it).
The rooflight then drops in and is bonded to the roof with adhesive/sealant. I used sikaflex EBT from screwfix. Some people say to use the really expensive caravan sikaflex, but I figure £6 a tube should be enough to spend, and EBT is supposed to be good enough to use on roofs and other exposed places. An inner frame inside then mates up to it and screws to it. You need 8 no.6 screws, not countersunk ones. I used A2 stainless. The length of screws you need depends on how thick your roof is - 20mm was perfect in this instance. The minimum thickness of roof you can fix this into is 25mm, but you could mount it to a thinner one if you used battens or something to make the thickness up.
I was a little worried that the slight curvature of the roof would mean I had to make up a curved gasket or something, as the MPK rooflight can only be mounted on a flat surface. The curve is so slight over 28cms though that there was no need. I was a tad more generous with the adhesive/sealant on the sides than on the front and back, and that's been sufficient.
The van inside now is light enough to read the paper, even with no other windows! I think this rooflight is pretty discreet to. At a glance it just looks like a vent or maybe a light.
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