Do trees damage roof mounted solar panels?

[HarmonicaBruce]

I have a high roof Sprinter van. Many times I've had low tree branches scrape the roof. It happens in the woods, and also in residential neighborhoods, since my roof is 9 feet high. This has made me leery about mounting solar panels on the roof. Comments?

 

[akrvbob]

First, let me say I spend every summer in the National Forests and I like to go where most people won't go. I also can't mount any kind of antenna on my rigs because I'm always knocking them off. Just last May I forgot to take my Wilson Truckers antenna off the roof and broke it off in Coconino NF just outside of Flagstaff, AZ

I had solar panels on top of my 4x4 truck camper and never damaged the panel in any way and it was over 9 feet tall. I now have solar panels on top of my 6x10 cargo trailers which must be over 10 feet tall and I take it some really nasty places in the forest. Never damaged them ever.

I don't think it is a big worry.
Bob

 

[rvwandering]

Our experiences are similar to Bobs. We've had two of our solar panels for about twenty years so they're been through a lot without any damage. There's more of a risk of damaging your roof, vents, antennas or anything else that's mounted up there.

 

[blars]

Leaves, branches, needles, cones, sap, etc. will reduce their output until removed. Sap can be particularly nasty, I've got some on my windows and sides of my RV that has been there for years. (It pre-dates my solar setup.)

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

While branches are usually not a problem, keep your eyes out for any low hanging wires that cross the road. They can do a number on anything on your roof.

Regards
John

 

[psytechguy]

A couple weeks ago I got into a situation on a heavily forested mountain road where I had to stop because of my high clearance, 10'6"

Couldn't go forward, and couldn't back up!

Had to climb up on top of my rig with an axe and clear the way, otherwise my solar panel and AC would have been wiped out.

45 minutes later I was clear and proceeded until I could turn around.

Decided I was going to buy a chainsaw! ;-)

 

[Willy]

Ain't worried 'bout tree limbs but.. [video=youtube] ..Willy.

 

[sephson]

Sap can be particularly nasty, I've got some on my windows and sides of my RV that has been there for years.

I'm not sure if it works on other types of sap, but isopropyl alcohol works well on pine pitch. I discovered this quite by accident. One of my lighting positions in the amphitheater happens to be under a pine tree so pine pitch on my lighting equipment is an issue. I use 99.9% isopropyl alcohol to clean the lenses and reflectors on my stage lights at work. One day, a dozen or so years ago, while cleaning and servicing some of my lighting equipment, I happened to try an alcohol soaked cloth on some of the pine pitch on a light. It worked beautifully, hardly any effort at all and did not damage the paint.

 

[Zil]

A quality bow saw is a must have for a boon-docking tool kit.

 

[caseyc]

Remind me to never park where you guys park. Dang!

 

[Willy]

May I suggest that rather than a chainsaw you look into getting a 'quality' Bow Saw. They are cheap, light, don't require fuel, always work, are quiet and are surprisingly efficient cutting tools.

Guy

A pruning saw is often better, and many can be pole mounted. ..Willy.