j-d wrote:
Based on my experience with an old Holiday with front and rear caps, the current Jayco with neither, and conversation with an RV repair shop:
Front Cap is an Essential (or on the flip side, Deal Breaker)
Rear Cap would be Nice to Have. As Ron Dittmer points out, a Five-Sided Cap (picture a shoe box lid and count the surfaces) provides better sealing AND moves stress away from the square corners. That said, the rear of the RV is more stable than a Class C overhang, and we don't drive backwards into a rainstorm.
I agree with j-d.
For me, a seamless front cap is absolutely essential. But I do understand that not everyone can or is even willing to spend a lot extra to get such a unit. If buying a new unit with seam work up front, be very watchful throughout your ownership. If buying an older such used unit, beware, be paranoid, do a very thorough & detailed inspection, both with the eyes as well as the nose. If it looks great but smells moldy, be kind but walk away.
The older the unit, the more prone to seam breaching. I have read on this forum of a few people who have hit an extremely bad bump in the road to find the jolt separated the rear seamed wall from the base or sides. The 5 sided rear cap reduces that threat significantly.
It's all about long term shell integrity.
