Forum Discussion

bc3309's avatar
bc3309
Explorer
Jun 05, 2019

Fiberglass blistering

I have a 2015 Keystone Outback 5th wheel I purchased new. It has blistering on the sides. It looks like spot welds that have popped under the fiberglass coating. Getting it fixed is not going well. Anybody else having this issue ?
  • In the marine world it is referred to as boatpox. Various causes ranging from resin used to air temp at layup. The remedy usually is to grind each blister out, fill it, fair it, & regelcoat it. Simple but labour intensive.
  • The dealer has told me Keystone is not standing behind it. I have coverage for this but the process the dealer has used on some other campers with the same issue is not working out
  • Sounds like what we just had repaired on our Triple E. They had to cut out the sections that were affected and replace them. Not cheap. But looks much better.
  • Its not a boat. The fiberglass layer is @ 1/16" thick and boded to a layer of 1/8" thick luan plywood, which is bonded to the center structural layer composed of aluminum tubes infilled between with beaded foam, followed by the inner layer which is more 1/8" luan plywood with vinyl wall-covering. Keystone does not vacuum bond their wall panels, they pinch roll.

    Are you sure you are not seeing too long of screws used to mount interior items such as cabinet cleats, which in turn pushed out the outer layers braking the adhesive bond? Its fairly common and easy to find examples on any dealer lot.

    Repairing defects or delamination on a laminated wall is problematic. Epoxy injection can work depending on where the area is located and done by someone who knows how. "Cutting Out" sections is a shoemaker type band aid repair. A good body man may be able to get it sort of non noticeable, but it's always going to be visible as a repair, especially given some time and expansion and contraction.

    It's not unheard of for manufacturers to take rigs with lamination defects back to the factory and replace the entire wall panel. Unfortunately you are dealing with Keystone, and I know what that is like from owning one. They'll do everything they can to get out of a warranty repair. Good Luck.
  • BillyBob Jim wrote:



    Unfortunately you are dealing with Keystone, and I know what that is like from owning one. They'll do everything they can to get out of a warranty repair. Good Luck.


    There’s the quote of the day and how true it is!
  • Rwake901 wrote:
    BillyBob Jim wrote:



    Unfortunately you are dealing with Keystone, and I know what that is like from owning one. They'll do everything they can to get out of a warranty repair. Good Luck.


    There’s the quote of the day and how true it is!
    2x above, my advice, which I will follow next time, is to try and not buy another keystone product if I can find something else. their c.s. sucks!!
  • 4x4ord's avatar
    4x4ord
    Explorer III
    What is happening to your trailer is called osmosis blistering. It is the result of a small amount of moisture getting into your wall. The moisture wicks it way out through the slightly porous fiberglass by osmosis until it reaches the impermeable layer of gel coat. The blister is formed and pops to let the moisture through. The first step in the repair is to reseal the window or roof or wherever the moisture is finding it's way behind the Filon. The next step is insure the Filon has thoroughly dried. Finally the damaged surface can be repaired.
    If the source of moisture getting to the back of the panel is not eliminated the problem will reoccur.