B+ motorhomes
I just bought a Trail Lite B+ 211s with 8.1 Chevy engine. This is my fifth motorhome (others range from an old 20' Vagabond, and three Winnegagos, from 19 to 32'. This vehicle is fantastic. I am...
Forum Discussion
Gene, you might be seeing the caulk overlay based on the appearance you described.
Here is a video showing putty tape in use
(Don't use silicone! See next video)
A nice overview of seam maintenance
I didn't know about the foam tape. Sounds like bad stuff.
EXCELLENT primer on roof maintenance
My roof is in good shape except the front seam. There is an obvious gap there which could be letting water in. I don't see any damage. But as the video shows, I will be covering the entire seam with Eternabond tape. I will probably do the rear roof seam while I'm at it. Those, and the outer seam on slide rooms, seem (pun) to be the seams which fail most readily and with the worst consequences. OTOH, the garden variety roof objects such as vents etc., seem to do quite well with simple maintenance of the dicor sealant.
One place not mentioned is the big lag bolts used to mount the awning at the top. You will observe they just run right into the vinyl trim strip, with no caulk. Unless someone already did something to remedy this. Anyway, caulk around those things! Our first trailer had a bunch of water damage from one of those bolts leaking water into the wall. Again, NO SILICONE CAULK!!! Go to the RV dealer and buy Proflex or SikaFlex or something similar. Sure, it might be ten bucks for the tube.
These are not the best built RVs. (They have a lot of company!) Take some time to do the inspections and maintenance shown above and you will extend the life of the RV tremendously. Take it from someone who has owned a water-damaged unit. (stepping off soapbox now)
Here is a video showing putty tape in use
(Don't use silicone! See next video)
A nice overview of seam maintenance
I didn't know about the foam tape. Sounds like bad stuff.
EXCELLENT primer on roof maintenance
My roof is in good shape except the front seam. There is an obvious gap there which could be letting water in. I don't see any damage. But as the video shows, I will be covering the entire seam with Eternabond tape. I will probably do the rear roof seam while I'm at it. Those, and the outer seam on slide rooms, seem (pun) to be the seams which fail most readily and with the worst consequences. OTOH, the garden variety roof objects such as vents etc., seem to do quite well with simple maintenance of the dicor sealant.
One place not mentioned is the big lag bolts used to mount the awning at the top. You will observe they just run right into the vinyl trim strip, with no caulk. Unless someone already did something to remedy this. Anyway, caulk around those things! Our first trailer had a bunch of water damage from one of those bolts leaking water into the wall. Again, NO SILICONE CAULK!!! Go to the RV dealer and buy Proflex or SikaFlex or something similar. Sure, it might be ten bucks for the tube.
These are not the best built RVs. (They have a lot of company!) Take some time to do the inspections and maintenance shown above and you will extend the life of the RV tremendously. Take it from someone who has owned a water-damaged unit. (stepping off soapbox now)
