Summer has arrived! You’ve probably already spotted the many camper vans on the roads. But surely many camping enthusiasts have experienced the following problem: the winter has left its mark, and the old skylight in your camper van is leaking. A new one has to be installed. To avoid spending your holiday budget in a repair shop before you’ve even started your camping trip, we will show you how you can glue a camper van´s skylight and seal it at the same time with glue.
Leaking skylight in a camper van – what can I do?
1. Step: apply tape to camper van’s skylight
Before you can glue a camper van´s skylight, we recommend that you take measurements of it and mark them on the roof with adhesive tape. To do this, insert the skylight in advance into the roof hatch and apply tape to the edges around it. This way, excess adhesive does not end up on your camper van roof, but only on the adhesive tape. A helpful tip: make sure that you use adhesive tape that can be easily removed from your camper van roof later without leaving any residue. Important advice: depending on the load-bearing capacity of the roof, it is advisable to place a plywood panel on the camper van roof to distribute the load evenly and prevent dents in the roof.
2. Step: clean the skylight of your camper van
Can I now finally apply glue? Not yet! To ensure that the adhesive adheres properly later, clean the adhesive surface thoroughly beforehand. For example, you can use our Activating Cleaner. The spray is not only perfectly suited for cleaning surfaces, but also serves as an adhesive primer. Spray on the Activating Cleaner and then clean the surface.
Install the skylight of your camper van with the right adhesive
If you wish to install a skylight, it is essential that you choose the right adhesive! Our WEICON Windscreen Adhesive is especially suited for this purpose as it was specifically developed for the installation of glass and windows. It is a 1-component adhesive and sealant that not only offers very strong adhesion but is also elastic. This means that it easily withstands vibrations and shocks thanks to its flexibility, and it provides good torsional rigidity. This is absolutely crucial if you are going on an adventure tour with your home on wheels.
Any other advantages? Since the Windscreen Adhesive is also a sealant, the skylight of your camper van can not only be glued but also sealed at the same time. Another advantage is that our Windscreen Adhesive has excellent ageing resistance and good UV stability.
3. Step: apply Windscreen Adhesive to skylight of camper van
Now, let’s roll up our sleeves! You’ve marked the precise measurements on the roof of your camper van and have cleaned the adhesive surfaces! Then you can now install your new skylight! First, apply the Windscreen Adhesive. You need a steady hand to do this. And please make sure you put on gloves beforehand – the same applies to the earlier step when using the Activating Cleaner. What advantage does this have for you? You not only protect your hands, but also the adhesive surface from contamination through contact with your fingers.
Now insert the cartridge into the Cartridge Gun Special and apply the Windscreen Adhesive in a straight line along the underside of the skylight. Make sure that you do not leave out any spot so that the camper van’s skylight has the best possible support and is well sealed. It’s better to use too much glue than too little, so that all sides of the skylight have enough adhesive. You can easily remove excess glue afterwards with the adhesive tape.
4. Step: insert camper van’s skylight
Now you can insert the new skylight! Please make absolutely sure that you install the window the right way round in your camper van’s roof hatch. Just remember that the hinge side must point in the direction of travel. Now press on the edges a little and screw them to the inner frame of the camper van’s skylight from the inside. Then it’s done! Hooray! All you have to do now is remove the adhesive tape and thus the excess Windscreen Adhesive. If there is still adhesive on the camper van’s roof, you can remove it with an absorbent cloth and our Surface Cleaner. Our Surface Cleaner is suitable for any material.
There is now sufficient initial adhesion to make a short trip to the petrol station. But you should only take another tour after 24 hours, by which time the adhesive has fully cured.
Install camper skylight-here you go to the video tutorial
