Two days ago I drove from South Beach, OR across the Newport Bridge in driving rain and 45 mph crosswinds, crawling across with everyone else. DW decides she needed a Starbucks on the other side and we pull over and hear CLUNK! Outside on the ground is our Dometic a/c cover! The four screw attachment points had failed. Probably the windward side first. A pedestrian had just walked by seconds before. I sat with chills wondering what would have happened if we were on the highway and it hit a car or worse, a person. I examined the plastic and it was extremely brittle as it crumbled in my hands. My RV is only 8 yrs old. Maybe these things should have better anchors or maybe I should have inspected the screws as part of my spring checkup. I'll certainly include that in the future.So glad to be sitting in a campground right now instead of being interviewed by a coroner!

Makes you stop and think. A couple of weeks ago we had to replace our Propane Detector, it was the original one inside the RV. The one that came with our RV. They suggest replacing them every 5 years. Go figure. Yes you did get lucky.

The RV cover is a plastic of some sort. And like all plastics they dry out and deteriorate over time. The beating elements of nature, the sun especially, UV rays, all the harsh wind, constant exposure, literally degrades everything over time. I owned my Outback for less than 3 months when the rubber cap on the black tank flusher (the strap) simply melted. I ended up getting a replacement and so far that one is ok. But the little cap on my satelite antenna and cable antenna hook up is now soft mush also. At 3 months we took our Outback back to our dealer for a 3 month after purchase re-inspection and any warranty work. I did not catch it, but they did. All the screw holes on my plastic fenders, on both sides were broken out. They ordered new fenders and replaced them. So far, almost 2 years later now, they have not broken out again.Plastics do need special attention, and replaced often, even if they still look OK, they may be brittle or mush.In my Springdale, the bathroom vent fan broke a blade (plastic). When I attempted to replace the fan, the other blades simply crumbled in my hands. Got the fan blades and motor replaced (it failed after 7 years), and all was well again.Yes, I do inspect the plastics on my camper, quite often. I wonder about those plastic covers over the propane tanks? They are already loosing their color. Before they fall apart, I'll replace. Wise advise. Check often!

Yes the Ultra Violet rays from the Sun can do serious damage to plastic. It would be a good idea to apply a UVI (Ultra Violet Inhibitor) to all the plastic surfaces on your RV! Bagman.

We have a 26 year old rig and almost all the exterior plastic is crumbling. I have replaced everything on the roof except the AC cover. I guess I'd better inspect it again.The wheel well flairs are breaking at the screw holes and I repair those but the Tail/Brake light moldings are shot and I'm looking for replacements that will require the least work after they are installed.

Given the UV is breaking-down the Dometic plastic cover, I would paint the new cover. I suggest you pick a darker accent color on the rig to match. I think a darker color will protect better than white paint.Our Dometic cover was painted silver as part of the full body paint option. They painted over the Dometic name decal but it surprisingly has been perfectly fine. It has not flaked off, very well bonded. Our rig is 8 years old now but is stored indoors. I can't see the name from the ground, only when up close on a ladder. The cover is textured plastic, the decal is much smoother, yet it's okay. I would not bother removing the decal before painting unless it comes off easily.Though the Dometic cover still looks perfect, our fridge roof vent was also painted but is not holding up as well for the paint is flaking off by the 4 mounting screws. That cover is very smooth plastic, not textured like the Dometic cover which may be the reason.

Got Lucky This Time | Good Sam Community

12 Replies

DutchmenSport
Explorer
Oct 11, 2015
The RV cover is a plastic of some sort. And like all plastics they dry out and deteriorate over time. The beating elements of nature, the sun especially, UV rays, all the harsh wind, constant exposure, literally degrades everything over time.

I owned my Outback for less than 3 months when the rubber cap on the black tank flusher (the strap) simply melted. I ended up getting a replacement and so far that one is ok. But the little cap on my satelite antenna and cable antenna hook up is now soft mush also.

At 3 months we took our Outback back to our dealer for a 3 month after purchase re-inspection and any warranty work. I did not catch it, but they did. All the screw holes on my plastic fenders, on both sides were broken out. They ordered new fenders and replaced them. So far, almost 2 years later now, they have not broken out again.

Plastics do need special attention, and replaced often, even if they still look OK, they may be brittle or mush.

In my Springdale, the bathroom vent fan broke a blade (plastic). When I attempted to replace the fan, the other blades simply crumbled in my hands. Got the fan blades and motor replaced (it failed after 7 years), and all was well again.

Yes, I do inspect the plastics on my camper, quite often. I wonder about those plastic covers over the propane tanks? They are already loosing their color. Before they fall apart, I'll replace.

Wise advise. Check often!
PatrickA51
Explorer
Oct 11, 2015
Makes you stop and think. A couple of weeks ago we had to replace our Propane Detector, it was the original one inside the RV. The one that came with our RV. They suggest replacing them every 5 years. Go figure. Yes you did get lucky.

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Got Lucky This Time

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