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Old 01-18-2018, 05:23 PM   #1
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Replace Emergency Exit with skylight

So my wife, who is in charge of the skoolie layout, just told me that one of the emergency exits will be a skylight. I am good with that because I don't have to patch it over now.

Here's the rub, I have no idea how to do this. Does anyone know or have seen anything like this being done?

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Old 01-18-2018, 06:01 PM   #2
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Go to Sojourner's thread and start at post 571.
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Old 01-18-2018, 06:27 PM   #3
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Perfect time to ask, because he just completed 4 great looking ones!
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Old 01-18-2018, 07:12 PM   #4
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Not to argue with SWMBO, but a skylight also lets in heat during the summer months. At least the E-hatches are somewhat translucent rather than transparent.
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Old 01-18-2018, 08:26 PM   #5
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And in the winter when you need it! I can always put up a curtain to knock down the sun in the summer!
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Old 01-18-2018, 08:29 PM   #6
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And in the winter when you need it! I can always put up a curtain to knock down the sun in the summer!
I like RV roof vents. VERY functional and they draw very little current so they're great for cooling down without a lot of battery drain.
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Old 01-18-2018, 08:33 PM   #7
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Perhaps they use curtains over the skylights during the summer. I'd put insulation panels in the skylights for thermal purposes, which of course cancels the original purpose of the skylights.


I've found I don't like the strong sunbeams coming in through the ceiling during the summer, and I'm only using the hatch. The sunbeams are like a spotlight aimed in through the ceiling making it difficult to see anything that isn't hit by the beam of light.
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Old 01-18-2018, 09:12 PM   #8
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Perhaps they use curtains over the skylights during the summer. I'd put insulation panels in the skylights for thermal purposes, which of course cancels the original purpose of the skylights.


I've found I don't like the strong sunbeams coming in through the ceiling during the summer, and I'm only using the hatch. The sunbeams are like a spotlight aimed in through the ceiling making it difficult to see anything that isn't hit by the beam of light.
I'm okay with the rigid foam plugs for the skylights, that way you can have the light come when you want and closed when you're trying got cool. My only experience living in a tin can happened in 1975 when I first moved back to southern Calif and stayed with my brother. he had no bed space in his crammed house so I had to sleep in his converted van. Let me tell you, once that sun came up you didn't need an alarm clock, you started baking before 8 am.
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Old 01-18-2018, 09:56 PM   #9
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If you strip down the interior of a bus, you'll definitely feel the heat if you're in the sun. I'm in a colder climate and this bus was unbearably hot with just the outer skin for sun protection in the early summer before it got insulated. Having my head near the ceiling was like standing under a broiler.
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Old 01-19-2018, 03:25 PM   #10
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I've found I don't like the strong sunbeams coming in through the ceiling during the summer, and I'm only using the hatch. The sunbeams are like a spotlight aimed in through the ceiling making it difficult to see anything that isn't hit by the beam of light.
I hadn't even considered that. That's gonna make me rethink the idea.
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Old 01-19-2018, 03:59 PM   #11
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We will have two fantastic fans along with the skylight
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Old 01-31-2018, 09:45 AM   #12
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I skinned over my exit hatches with 20ga galvanized steel, as they were leaking quite badly. Ended up putting a Maxxair fan in the forward hatch. Now I'm thinking I want a skylight where the rear hatch was.

What do you think of this?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/PREMIUM-Hea....c100677.m4598

I think if I paint the bezel white it will hide the butyl caulk and screws along the seam. Other than hiding the seam I think this should work great. Thoughts?
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Old 01-31-2018, 02:22 PM   #13
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I love this idea, I am not sure about the mechanics of it but I do indeed like the idea! Good luck doll!
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Old 02-06-2018, 03:28 PM   #14
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I like what Sojourner has done for skylights.

I want to replace my escape hatch with a skylight as well. Major caveat: Since I do plan to use mine for people-hauling, I think it would be a good idea to keep it usable as an escape route. So ... any suggestions for a skylight that still meets the requirements for getting-out-in-a-hurry?

An emergency roof escape is one of those things like a parachute or fire extinguisher. It's one of those things you hope you never need, but if you do, nothing else will really do the job and you need it *RIGHT NOW*.
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Old 02-06-2018, 04:27 PM   #15
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I'm sure glad I bought this parachute. I actually did buy a surplus parachute that I use to partition the bus or for privacy as needed. I can still use my roof hatch.

You could make a hole between any ribs throughout the bus to make into a skylight. It's just sheet metal. Cut the hole, frame it with steel and install the plexiglass the same as you would if you were using the roof hatch.
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Old 02-06-2018, 05:17 PM   #16
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I'm sure glad I bought this parachute. I actually did buy a surplus parachute that I use to partition the bus or for privacy as needed. I can still use my roof hatch.

You could make a hole between any ribs throughout the bus to make into a skylight. It's just sheet metal. Cut the hole, frame it with steel and install the plexiglass the same as you would if you were using the roof hatch.
I'm not sure if I conveyed my thought clearly. I already have an existing roof hatch which either is beginning to leak, or is likely to soon. Before that happens, I want to remove the original one. I could rather easily replace it with flat lexan and I wouldn't need to ask if this was what I planned.

I want a skylight designed to open and close, which can still serve as an emergency exit if needed. Preferably something with a low profile.
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Old 02-06-2018, 05:20 PM   #17
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I'm not sure if I conveyed my thought clearly. I already have an existing roof hatch which either is beginning to leak, or is likely to soon. Before that happens, I want to remove the original one. I could rather easily replace it with flat lexan and I wouldn't need to ask if this was what I planned.

I want a skylight designed to open and close, which can still serve as an emergency exit if needed. Preferably something with a low profile.
There is a User here, I forget his name??? He just installed a real nice boat hatch, looked like exactly what you need. He got if off ebay, had trouble finding right screws....
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Old 02-06-2018, 05:22 PM   #18
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Here is what he bot:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Maxwell-Alu...S/172531862526
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Old 02-06-2018, 05:49 PM   #19
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They are flat, but not exactly a skylight.

I drive on brushy roads so the low profile marine hatch would work well.
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Old 02-06-2018, 08:24 PM   #20
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Hey! That was me

I was trying to read more about leaking windows and ended up here.

I just replaced my emergency hatches with a plug and play skylight option that still allows roof access: a boat hatch. They are expensive but after a couple sessions scouring the web I found some good options for me. Even found some that could be custom made on alibaba.com I'm really happy with them. BTW they DO lock from the inside (or at least mine do. make sure yours will too!!)

Rusty linked to the one I bought above.

One thing to note: your hatch is fiberglass I suppose which bends a bit and these are typically a rigid metal so you need a flat or almost surface. My bus happened to have that, but yours might not.

Yes I'm still pondering what screws to use. My SS screws recommended by the manufacturer sheered off or broke off, what a mess.

I will upload a youtube video about the install in the following days which will show up on my build thread: http://www.skoolie.net/forums/f11/gi...n-20183-7.html
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