1979 Datsun Sunline Solaris Mini Motorhome - Page 2

mainah · 07-11-2017, 06:21 AM

Check the opening size it should be 14X14" if so than any RV store will have one.

Islanders · 07-11-2017, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mainah

Check the opening size it should be 14X14" if so than any RV store will have one.

The size is -> 17" x 24"

At least that's how big it is from the inside. We've been able to find several skylights that are 18" x 24", so that should work. But we're not sure how much "flange" are there should be when making a decision on the right part.

**Sunline Fan** · 07-11-2017, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mainah

I think I would take the effort to fix the skylight it gets pretty hot inside with no vent.

Agreed, plus it would be a good idea to have that as a fire escape.

mainah · 07-11-2017, 05:05 PM

Yeah that is escape hatch size must be over the bed.

Islanders · 07-11-2017, 07:46 PM

Yes, this skylight sits directly over the forward berthing area. Although it could be used as an escape, since the stove is in front of the camper door, I would think we could just drop down into the truck cab to escape if the camper door were blocked.

So, I have the skylight removed from the camper and that wasn't an easy job. That elastomeric sealer seems to be a permanent type of compound, not really supposed to be removed, even by force.

Here's the skylight on the bench, this corner and edge are the top side, where the screws went through to the camper roof, before I've done anything to clean it up

This next series is the side I worked on for 20-30 mins trying to get the sealant off the frame.

Hee is a pic from the inside, showing the inner frame....

...and again from the inside, showing the sealant all along the frame

It looks like its going to take an hour or so to get the sealant scrapped away from the frame enough to see the frame and know if its solid. Is this skylight worth the time/effort, or should we just find another skylight as a kit that includes the outer dome?

Side note, if you look closely at any corner shot, you will see an empty screw hole along the very edge of the vertical part of the frame. I removed 4 screws from those spots, thinking it was holding the frame together. I think there must still be a lot of sealant on the frame though as even with the 4 screws removed I wasn't able to move the frame edges.

mainah · 07-12-2017, 05:02 AM

Those vents are not cheap but the frame on that thing looks to be in good shape and maybe salvageable. One of the best tools for that project is a multi tool with a scraper blade.

**JohnB** · 07-13-2017, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Islanders

The size is -> 17" x 24"

At least that's how big it is from the inside. We've been able to find several skylights that are 18" x 24", so that should work. But we're not sure how much "flange" are there should be when making a decision on the right part.

This came up once before. The escape hatch is also used on truck campers.

I have never bought from these folks but they do list the 17 x 24 escape hatch

https://rvandvansurplus.com/escapeha...Vehicletype=RV

And this one on E bay but no dimensions, That Heng's 48621-C2 1724 may be a lead to follow
roof vent ESCAPE Hatch white lid metal frame rv bus Heng's 48621-C2 1724 | eBay

Or do a web hit on 17 x 24 escape hatch which is what I did to find these

Hope this helps

John

**JohnB** · 07-13-2017, 08:30 AM

This post may help http://www.sunlineclub.com/forums/f7...ver-12972.html

mainah · 07-13-2017, 09:04 AM

Pretty much every MH or truck camper had one.

Islanders · 07-13-2017, 06:54 PM

Thanks Team!

The posts made me question the application of this skylight, in regards to an actual escape hatch. I started pouring over the few pics I could find online about this RV and it seems to me that this location typically has an escape hatch installed and not a skylight. Since there was a skylight in place, I'm guessing a previous owner might have installed it.
That being said, and after looking over the ads posted for them by members, I think putting an escape hatch in this spot makes the most sense.

So now I'm shopping for an escape hatch of the approximate size and will be making an order shortly.

Just an FYI, you might not see updates from me for a few days to a week or so. My other ride is ready for a new engine, and I'll be focusing my efforts on that task for the next week (or so).

Here's my other ride, 1983 AMC Spirit GT....getting another 258 (4.2l) in it shortly....

**Sunline Fan** · 07-13-2017, 10:12 PM

Cool! You don't see many of those around! How long have you had it?

Islanders · 07-14-2017, 04:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sunline Fan

Cool! You don't see many of those around! How long have you had it?

Yea, at the cruise-ins around here, I spend most of my time educating people about America's 4th car company.
I picked up the GT in summer of 2014, bought 3 more of them over the next year. A couple of them I scrapped for parts, the third is a '79 AMX (which I'm now selling). The AMX is a total project vehicle (roller) although almost complete, but I don't see myself getting to it anytime soon with the '79 Datsun sitting in my driveway.

mainah · 07-14-2017, 07:08 AM

The escape hatch and sky light were one in the same they were big enough for a person to fit through all of the others were 14X14" I had a 87 Toyota MH version of yours it had a escape/skylight about that size in the cabover bed area.

Islanders · 07-19-2017, 04:09 AM

Went back to work on the inside of the skylight area. Removed all the rotten wood pieces of the ceiling frame. Found some pieces screwed together, some nailed together and many of them stapled. I'm guessing the staples were factory based off their location as it wouldn't be possible to get them inserted after the camper was built. Since there are also screws and nails, it seems obvious this area has been repaired at some point, just not sure which fasteners would have been used by the factory. That is, the driver side of the structure was screwed together and the passenger side has nails (along with some screws).
At any rate, it looks to me like someone did a repair up here at some point in the past. That might explain why I have a skylight and not an escape hatch.
With everything removed, we got an exact measurement of the hole, which is 17.5" X 24.5", an odd size. Since there isn't any structure around that opening now, I can pretty much make it whatever size needed moving forward, so I'm off to start shopping for an escape hatch assembly.
Also, it looks like there are two different styles of siding on the roof. The section forward of the opening is smooth, rearward from there is textured. Again, lending me to believe it has been repaired.
I took pics, but not until after we already had the tarp over the RV, so everything has a blue tint. I'll get some better pics taken and posted shortly.

**JohnB** · 07-19-2017, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Islanders

Also, it looks like there are two different styles of siding on the roof. The section forward of the opening is smooth, rearward from there is textured. Again, lending me to believe it has been repaired.

Not being able to see it yet, Sunline did change the siding/roof of the front of many of the campers to smooth and then transitioned to a different pattern.

Does the smooth part at the front also wrap down along the angled part over the cab?

Point being, it may be the way Sunline did it.

Hope this helps

John

Islanders · 07-27-2017, 07:44 PM

Hi Team,

Here are some pics of the inside now that I have everything stripped back and ready to repair.

Here's a shot showing the different siding styles, textured to smooth:

Here's where we are now, with everything disassembled so we can see what's what and hopefully ready to put back together:

The left and right sides have a bit of water damage as well:

**JohnB** · 07-27-2017, 09:21 PM

Hi,

Quote:

Here's a shot showing the different siding styles, textured to smooth:

The smooth siding that has slight creases about every 3" looks the same as Sunline used on the front and rear of many of the travel trailers. They would join that front top piece to the rest of the siding.

In this case, is the rest of your metal roof textured?

Thanks for sharing this pics. They go a long way in showing a good number of things Sunline did or a prior owner.

John

Islanders · 08-02-2017, 06:00 AM

The new roof vent/escape hatch arrived yesterday. We did a quick test fitment and its almost exactly the correct size for the existing hole. Maybe 1/4" to 1/8" shorter on width, not really any at all to be worried about (at I don't think it is).
I'm sorry i didn't take pics, but will get some posted shortly. We had to get the tarp back on the RV as we're forecast for rain over the next few days.
Also, I'm still pulling the engine from my GT this week, so it will be a few more days before I can get started installing the vent and putting the roof back together.

Hey John, Yes, the textured roof goes back from the seam in the front as far as I can see at this point.

**JohnB** · 08-02-2017, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Islanders

Hey John, Yes, the textured roof goes back from the seam in the front as far as I can see at this point.

Yes, what you see is more then likely original from Sunline. They used that very wide curved creased aluminium siding on a lot of the travel trailers to transition from the roof to the wall siding. In some cases it was to create the knee turn down the front of the camper wall or in the back of the camper maybe more for a design looking thing.

This shows you the front transition on a 2006 Sunline TT.

And this one is the back wall. More for looks back here or the fact they may not have wanted to cut a curved top outline from the standard siding to not deal with the top siding joint.

Islanders · 08-03-2017, 08:12 PM

We found a parts vehicle locally for us here, same '79 Datsun, but looks like it's not a Sunline.
Going to check it out Saturday, but for the asking price of $300 I think I'll get the parts I need (sheet metal and bumper) and maybe a few more items.
Seller tells me the camper roof leaks and might not have much use left.