Check Your Solar Panel Fasteners 2022 Micro Minnie 1708FB

[Gunny Rio]

I thought I saw a recall notice on this, or something in previous posts. In either event this is a reminder of what I see as a potential safety issue.
Yesterday I looked out my second story office window down at the roof of out 2022 1708FB. The factory installed solar panel didnt look right. Upon inspection I found the front curb side mount bracket was missing the fasteners. The bracket was tightly attached to the roof, but the two fasteners that attached the panel to the bracket were gone. The panel was just loosely resting on the roof.
I'm glad I saw this before we take off for windy Wyoming tomorrow! Wind could have easily ripped that from the roof and could have landed in someone's vehicle behind me.
The factory used 1-inch long self drilling sheet metal screws. The problem is that there is not enough meat in the aluminum panel frame to hold those screws. Although a real PITA, I replaced all the fasteners with stainless steel #10 cap screws with nylon lock nuts.
I would recommend that folks include a quick visual of those panel attachment bolts before they head out on the open road. Very glad I spotted this before we left.

[Gitgo]

Hi Gunny Rio,

Thanks for posting the heads up on this issue. Gonna get up on top and inspect my solar panel. Can you post an "after" picture of your repair retrofit?

Thanks,
Michael

[Gunny Rio]

Two pics for ya. The diagram shows the issue and the challenging blind install (I made up some new 4-letter words getting this done). Ultimately I went with #10-24 3/4-in long cap screws, washers and a nylon lock nut - 2 per backet.

[Jay Tea]

Nice drawings, Gunny! Yes, there was a past recall, but who knows if Winnie's "repairs" were as well engineered as yours? We should all check our solar panel installations, and replace any sheet metal screws with SS bolts, washers, & nylok nuts!

[Jay Tea]

Just found Winnie Recall Notice 23V-311, dated May 2023, and their suggested repairs:

"Winnebago is implementing the use of butyl adhesive tape between the solar panel and mounting bracket, which will act as a thread locking adhesive. Later production will use additional adhesive tape between the solar panel and mounting bracket."

Wow ... "butyl adhesive tape" (electrical tape?) vs stainless bolts & nyloc nuts!

[Gunny Rio]

Nice find Jay! I thought I had read that somewhere. You have confirmed that Im not loosing it - at least not yet anyway.