Skylight cooks RV like a Sauna

[ricktrow]

I recently purchased a Forester 2401R. There is a skylight above the dinette with no shade on the glass. The heat from the skylight is so intense that it cooks the interior to where the A/C can't keep up with it. Hold a thermometer above the dinette table and it reads 100+ degrees! And that's with the A/C on! I cut a panel of fiberboard to insert over the glass - and the heat warped it in minutes. Then I covered the fiberboard with the reflective screen you see on parked car windshields, and the narrow space between the glass and the screen got so hot in just ten minutes that I burned my hand taking it down. I finally gave up on the design in fear I would set the coach on fire or at least melt the plastic frame. I have looked all over the web for a solution to this and am hoping to find one among you folks.

The dimensions of the skylight are:

Inside frame 30 x 22
Outside frame 33 x 25

[valleyduo]

I would cut a piece of Styrofoam insulation to fit inside the opening, and then cover the opening itself with a reflective insulator. We do this to all of our vents and skylights when in hot environments and it works well.

[DaGrinch]

I just take down the interior section of the sky light and cut a piece of reflectix and put it up under the dome that is left and then put the interior section back up.... kind of like a reflectix sandwich. Does wonders!

[Radio]

I once put a piece of parchment paper, the kind bakers use, between the bubbles of my shower skylight. Later i replaced the outer bubble with a dark smoke tinted bubble.

Here's a thread about the replacement with a link (that no longer works) to the source for skylight bubbles of all kinds and shapes. Looks like you'll need some help finding a dark bubble.

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...nge-81711.html

[Steve-W]

FR prior to the 2019 models had a blind installed on the skylights. It is a standard blind as well as a seperate section that is a darker sunshade. I do not believe they have changed the dimensions of the skylight. You should be able to order one from your dealer. The two in my coach work very well.

[Boomerweps]

Paint it white.
Or use it as a solar oven

[aceinspp]

They do make foam insert that will fit up into the sky light to block out the sun. Later RJD

[Brewhedd]

Paint the top with white paint. Still lets light in and keeps a lot of heat out.

[Desertsquid]

Does your skylight have a two stage accordian shade on it? It seems to help with the heat but I'm thinking of adding a piece of reflective shade between the skylight and the shade.

[Duckogram]

Partial solution: http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ml#post1735840

Final solution:
http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ml#post1834580

I have been in 90* + direct sun for two weeks now and my single A/C has no problem maintaining 74*F

Edit: If you want a shade, here are some sources:
http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ml#post1832042

[riverforest]

my 2851SLE has a skylight above the shower. is yours like a doomed opaque white, or clear glass ?

[tfmdgm]

I bought a piece of 2" polyfoam from Hobby Lobby. More flexible than Styrofoam. Cut it slightly larger than the inside opening. Put a piece of reflective foil on top of the foam and push it into the opening. It holds itself in place and easily removed.

[fonzie]

Here are some fixes....

https://www.google.com/search?q=skyl...iverforums.com

[Kirk S]

There is an old thread that is at least 2 years old where people came up with various solutions for the skylight issue.
I had searched and couldnt find it but it popped up the other night when someone posted a recent comment.

If it's true Forest River no longer installs the double shades then they should just stop with the skylights.

I have 3...the heat is awful even with the shades and I'll be painting them white before our next outing.

[Henry Barnes]

This is what I did for the Sky light above my shower. I removed the inside ceiling cover and took it to a plastic supply and had them make me a cover out of smoked Plexiglas. I attached it using the same screws that attached the sky light cover. Worked well for the light and helped with the heat some.


Hank

[tom2t]

I removed the interior frame and the flat bottom piece of clear acrylic. I cut a piece of nice, thick cardboard to fit the frame. I then painted the cardboard white with white spray paint. Couple coats, let dry in between. Placed it on the topside of the clear acrylic, small pieces of tape to secure on edges, reinstalled. Nice and dark inside. Very inexpensive, and very efficient.

[jeff64]

On the skylight in my shower, I took down the inner bezel and sprayed the underside of the dome and top surface of the bezel with rustoleum frosted glass spray. It cut the heat and still provides light. Clean the surfaces with alcohol before you paint. Beyond that I have a 2" piece of foam that I can insert if the heat is crazy!

[OldCoot]

This is what I did and it solved the problem.

[Airborne]

I painted mine white on the outside of the skylight above the bathroom. It took a few minutes but reduced the heat by 50 to 60%, maybe even more. Light still comes in. I used rustolium exterior paint for plastic material. I highly recommend it.

[wildcatter]

I used flex seal (roll on, easier and cheaper), I put two coats of white on so it would match the ceiling, then two coats of black to block the sun then two more coats of white to reflect the sun, works great and hopefully it will protect it more in a hail storm, I think it cost me 20 bucks for the white and black flex seal (QT size). MHO skylights on a camper is one of the stupidest things they thought up. If you decides to use paint or flex seal, make sure you lightly sand it and clean it to help the adhesion. I did the outside, I didn't even want the heat to come into the sky light.