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

dlos
Explorer
Oct 20, 2015
PatrickA51 wrote:
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.

I have replaced the LP/Propane detector 2x in my unit since 2011. First time right after we bought it and then again this year.

It is recommended they be changed every 5 years like any C02 detector, but I am not even getting 5 years out of them before they fail.
mgirardo
Explorer
Oct 14, 2015
nightshift wrote:
Really? A large plastic cover with sharp edges flying at 55mph wouldn't seriously harm a person?

Who said anything about 55 mph? You said you pulled over and it fell off the roof. So I don't think it was going 55 mph. I don't think a plastic cover falling off your roof as you come to a stop would do any serious harm to a person. I'm sure they'd be mad, but seriously harmed, no.

If you were driving down the street at 55 mph and it flew off your roof and hit someone, I would say it could harm them. I don't think it could kill them. Keep in mind, even though you were traveling at 55 mph, once the cover left your roof it wouldn't continue to travel at that speed.

-Michael
nightshift
Explorer
Oct 13, 2015
mgirardo wrote:
nightshift wrote:
I examined the plastic and it was extremely brittle as it crumbled in my hands.

If it was brittle enough to crumble in your hands then it probably wouldn't have done any serious damage to a person or vehicle.

-Michael

Really? A large plastic cover with sharp edges flying at 55mph wouldn't seriously harm a person?
Bordercollie
Explorer
Oct 13, 2015
Good post, when having roof inspected/seals maintained, have them check all plastic parts including vent lids and covers for cracks/other sun damage. OEM vent lids are usually cheap thin plastic and don't last long.
mgirardo
Explorer
Oct 13, 2015
nightshift wrote:
I examined the plastic and it was extremely brittle as it crumbled in my hands.

If it was brittle enough to crumble in your hands then it probably wouldn't have done any serious damage to a person or vehicle.

-Michael
j-d
Explorer II
Oct 12, 2015
If it's Coleman Mach, the MaXXair replacement is far better than OEM and LT warranty.
ronfisherman
Moderator
Oct 12, 2015
Our 2004 MH has OEM AC covers. They are slowly dying. Have 2 new one to replace them. Like Ron's idea of painting them before putting them on. I have repainted all other plastic items on MH with Krylon Fusion. Makes a old RV look like new.
ron_dittmer
Explorer III
Oct 12, 2015
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.
D_E_Bishop
Explorer
Oct 12, 2015
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.
bagman
Explorer
Oct 12, 2015
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.

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Got Lucky This Time

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