Rubber roof bubbles or blisters
I have a new Heartland 5th wheel and the roof has bubbles/ blisters/air pockets, in it. Does anyone else have this issue? Is it normal to have them, will they cause any problems in the future. They va...
Forum Discussion
I recently had a similar problem that started small (multiple areas 2-3 inches in diameter) and grew over the course of a year to long (3 to 5 FOOT) strips of loose material.
The problem was compounded by the fact that the wave of air that passes over the front of the fiver when towing creates a low pressure zone and pulls the roof material up off the decking.
Eventually I had a "bubble" forming every time I towed at freeway speeds. This led to the EPDM tearing from around the front attic vent and A/C unit.
I too asked around when the areas were small and spread out and was told it was "normal". Fortunately I took photos and notified the manufacturer right after I noticed the problem. When it became a "bubble" and tearing issue, the trailer was a few months out of warranty but since I had already documented the issue, Forest River replaced the entire roof (EPDM only) under warranty. 5 months later it's still adhering properly with no bubbles whatsoever.
I watched the process at the dealership and noticed that the original EPDM was laid down by apparently spraying glue onto the plywood decking. Unfortunately the spraying technique didn't completely or evenly cover all the decking, leading to sections that had no glue on them at all. I figure this is where the 2-3" sections started and they eventually migrated together to form the 3-5 foot sections.
When my dealer replaced the EPDM, they *ROLLED* the glue onto the plywood (similar to how you would lay down a laminate countertop). More work and personnel than simply waving a spray gun, but complete coverage for a job apparently well done.
In short, based on my experience I would say NO it's not normal and you should move to have it repaired. Whether it can be repaired in a section or the entire roof has to be replaced is a matter for your dealer and manufacturer to determine.
The problem was compounded by the fact that the wave of air that passes over the front of the fiver when towing creates a low pressure zone and pulls the roof material up off the decking.
Eventually I had a "bubble" forming every time I towed at freeway speeds. This led to the EPDM tearing from around the front attic vent and A/C unit.
I too asked around when the areas were small and spread out and was told it was "normal". Fortunately I took photos and notified the manufacturer right after I noticed the problem. When it became a "bubble" and tearing issue, the trailer was a few months out of warranty but since I had already documented the issue, Forest River replaced the entire roof (EPDM only) under warranty. 5 months later it's still adhering properly with no bubbles whatsoever.
I watched the process at the dealership and noticed that the original EPDM was laid down by apparently spraying glue onto the plywood decking. Unfortunately the spraying technique didn't completely or evenly cover all the decking, leading to sections that had no glue on them at all. I figure this is where the 2-3" sections started and they eventually migrated together to form the 3-5 foot sections.
When my dealer replaced the EPDM, they *ROLLED* the glue onto the plywood (similar to how you would lay down a laminate countertop). More work and personnel than simply waving a spray gun, but complete coverage for a job apparently well done.
In short, based on my experience I would say NO it's not normal and you should move to have it repaired. Whether it can be repaired in a section or the entire roof has to be replaced is a matter for your dealer and manufacturer to determine.
