A couple of solar panels going £120 cheap(er)

[64 SPLIT]

PPF you can 'float' in to position with a water spray unlike most wrapping vinyls but tends to be a fair bit pricier per sq. metre.
Applying wrapping vinyl isn't that difficult if you use a decent air-release film, take your time and generally work from the centre outwards. Apply a small amount of tension to it to avoid creasing as you apply with a foam block or rubber squeegee.

 

[Skyliner33]

PPF you can 'float' in to position with a water spray unlike most wrapping vinyls but tends to be a fair bit pricier per sq. metre.
Applying wrapping vinyl isn't that difficult if you use a decent air-release film, take your time and generally work from the centre outwards. Apply a small amount of tension to it to avoid creasing as you apply with a foam block or rubber squeegee.

I appreciate its more expensive. If you could get wrap in clear I would use that. Thats why I will go for PPF. Plus I will onlt put it on top of the ridges where the panel will be attached.

 

[Stay Frosty]

All this talk of sticking down some wrap to protect the paints assumes that the panel won't try and tear itself off the roof in normal use.
I've used Tiger seal and various adhesives suggested on here and the main problem is water getting under the flexi panels and turning into a steam engine to lift the edges.
Leave the trailing edge unstuck and unless you leave your pop top up the rain gets in there and sabotages the adhesive from beneath and behind the panel.
Maybe it's the fibreglass of my gloss black pop top as there's a similar issue with paint over longer periods of time.
Mine are holding on, just but did lift up at speed going on holiday last year and high enough to leave stress marks in one of the plastic sheets but luckily not enough to break any tracks.

 

[markc84]

Yeah have to say I'm a bit nervous about drilling a hole in my pop top but it has to be done!

Oh, snap. In fact I've had a panel in its box since before this thread started. I just can bring myself to drill a hole in the pop top. I need to take some man-up tablets and sort it out.

When I do grow some cajunas I will be using a layer of ppf (as its will be inpossible to see and then the velcro like I used on last van and @Dellmassive used as he posted earlier on this thread.

Yeah have to say I'm a bit nervous about drilling a hole in my pop top, and also the roof of the van! But it has to be done or else this panel will have perament residence inside of the box! Kind of wished I had done this earlier though when the weather was a bit warmer!

Cast Vehicle Wrapping Vinyl is the best, it's a bugger to fit (need 6 hands) but it has proved itself so useful when a panel has needed to be removed with as little damage to the roof as possible.
A felt block and a hot air gun is best, the vinyl needs to be set with high heat to finally glue it to the surface.

Thanks. Seems there's differing opinions about PPF versus vinyl, some say vinyl is harder to apply, but others say it’s easier.

It also seems vinyl only comes in coloured options. My pop-top is painted Indium Grey and colour coded to the van, so if I went with vinyl, I’d probably have to choose either black or something close to that colour.

Then there’s the matt versus gloss question - is gloss a better option, and then keying the surface where the adhesive bonds for it to stick better?

Being honest, I'm more confused than before.

For now, my intention is just to wrap the section where the solar panel will sit, extending slightly beyond its footprint. Just not really sure where to start with the wrap!

 

[Skyliner33]

Yeah have to say I'm a bit nervous about drilling a hole in my pop top, and also the roof of the van! But it has to be done or else this panel will have perament residence inside of the box! Kind of wished I had done this earlier though when the weather was a bit warmer!

Thats exactly whats in my head also.

Being honest, I'm more confused than before.

For now, my intention is just to wrap the section where the solar panel will sit, extending slightly beyond its footprint. Just not really sure where to start with the wrap!

Im not sure where to start the wrap either. Another reason for PPF as if you extend it a bit it wont show.

 

[Grim Reaper]

I've used matt black on mine, have the vinyl an inch bigger all round the panel, and use sikaflex 221 or 252 not CT1,EB25 or SticksLikeSh!t.
I used EB25 for my second fit and although it didn't come off, It did something to the vinyl that I wasn't happy with.

 

[64 SPLIT]

As mentioned - PPF is typically easier to apply as you can spray a light film of water onto the bodywork first which allows you to slide the film around and get the position exactly where you want it before squeegee-ing out the water and sticking it down. Vinyl wrap really isn't as bad to apply as many suggest. If you apply a section larger than the panel you can always trim it back. You can use magnets or tape to hold one edge in place whilst you remove a section of backing material - once that is stuck in place just slowly work your way across, removing a section of backing at a time, working from the centre of the film towards the edges to avoid trapping air (most decent vinyls will have air-release technology anyway). If you do get any air bubbles you can either pop them with a pin (it's going to be underneath the panel anyway!) or just lift the vinyl, apply light tension and reapply.
Once it's down you can go over it and warm it LIGHTLY with a hot air gun / the mrs' hairdryer to help set the adhesive.
Similarly if you get creases, just pull it up, apply a small amount of heat to relax the vinyl and then allow it to cool and it will return to it's original shape. Don't try apply it whilst the vinyl is warm otherwise it will stretch and you'll end up with an excess of material.