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Sunroof bad idea?

15314 Views 26 Replies 14 Participants Last post by  surly Bill
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Sunroofs are not a manufacturer option nor do they seem very popular any more.

Are Sunroofs no longer considered a good idea?
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I wonder if there is a translucent skylight-type panel available for something like the Amazon vans? :unsure:

131982
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I really like that Dometic Freshlight. Too bad they don't sell it in North America yet.
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The request was brought up some time ago but Santa has not delivered yet (to USA).
In Europe the Transit has this option
I really like that Dometic Freshlight. Too bad they don't sell it in North America yet.
That video is from 2012, so I'm guessing it'll be never.

Dometic must not see the opportunity, because they only sell their obscenely tall 110v units here.
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We just received the CR Laurence Autoport 15” x 30” (AP1530B5H). Haven’t installed it yet, but it looks like the curvature of the sunroof is probably going to work out OK with a little extra butyl tape on the sides. 🤞🤞

Here are some photos of the interior trim ring sitting on top of the roof:
Tree Road Botany Woody plant Infrastructure


Land vehicle Vehicle Car Automotive exterior Luxury vehicle


Tree Road Botany Woody plant Infrastructure


The instruction book is terrible. There are different options for the trim ring, which I didn’t realize until after it arrived, so if you want to order one, check if “universal, molded, or van trim ring” is best for your application.

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We just received the CR Laurence Autoport 15” x 30” (AP1530B5H). Haven’t installed it yet, but it looks like the curvature of the sunroof is probably going to work out OK with a little extra butyl tape on the sides. 🤞🤞

The instruction book is terrible. There are different options for the trim ring, which I didn’t realize until after it arrived, so if you want to order one, check if “universal, molded, or van trim ring” is best for your application.
One thing I considered with a sunroof installation was making my own tapercut fillers out of PVC/ABS/Polyethylene or some other plastic. Like a large bespoke version of Hein's vent adapters.

There are solid plastic trim boards at lumber stores that would work, and so would plastic decking boards but NOT Trex, which has sawdust filler.

If you have a tapercut jig for your tablesaw, you can make the wedges for the exterior and interior with repeatable accuracy. If not, a steady hand and guides with a circular saw might work. A jigsaw would be my tool of last resort. The end piece would just be a flat strip. You need something rigid so you can screw the sunroof to the trim ring without screwing up the roof sheetmetal or bowing the sunroof or trim ring. Once in place, a layer of Dicor or sealant tape would keep it all sealed up nicely.

I'm eager to see how it turns out, I've been considering the same thing. What are the depths the trim rings will accommodate? I think my ceiling is about 2" thick.
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