We are starting our research into Class A's for my retirement 8 years away. We'll probably purchase in 5 years or so when our current TT is 7 years old. One of the items that has caught my eye with Class A's is the roofs. It appears that the lower end/base models have a rubber and/or TPO roof while other models, including all Tiffin models and Winnebago models we have looked at, have a molded fiberglass roof. Based on my travel trailer roof experience (I have sealed all my roof seams with Eternabond tape for longevity purposes), it seems like going with a fiberglass roof is a big deal if we plan on keeping whatever Class A we buy for 8-10 years or longer. But I'm assuming there are still roof seems to maintain on a fiberglass roof?Am I seeing this issue correctly?

If you look at Newmar they have a Brite-Tek roof that has a 13 year warranty. That is tough stuff. My '03 coach was kept the longest of any I owned and it was also the most trouble free. Previous Pace Arrow and Jamboree both had roof leaks after a few years. The Eternabond is always a great preventive measure. You will find problems on the fiberglass roofs also.

MHs with fiber glass roofs have front and rear end caps. Not sure about the MHs with rubber roofs. The end caps have to be watched. I like my fiber glass roof but it is probably just personal opinion. The rubber roofs are getting better. Winnebago has had some problems with their roofs. Leaks on the sides. If I were buying another MH I would be looking at Tiffin or some of the other better brands. Keep in kind the best roof can turn out bad with sloppy workmanship.

Doesn't matter who build it, anybody salesperson, or manufacturer, who uses a selling point of a "12 year roof warranty" or similar, is busy lying to you. With few exceptions, roof materials do not fail within that time period. Roofs leak because penetrations and seams leak, period. A warranty on TPO or EPDM sheeting is a product warranty, not a roof warranty. Over the years there have been thousands of RV owners who have gotten the bad news that their relatively new RV has a leaking issue and needs expensive repairs. Many are even more shocked to discover that the magical "12 year warranty" that their salesperson assured them they had, is nothing but a worthless lie.Having owned ten RVs in my lifetime, my experience has been that fiberglass is far superior, but it's just my personal experience and opinion. I currently own a Winnebago Class A with a fiberglass roof. When it's time to replace this rig, the next one will have to have the same. It's true that fiberglass roofs can have issues, so can any other material. Material selection and costs have a lot to do with product choices. See any fiberglass roofs on $15K aluminum sided, entry level trailers? See any rubber roofs on $6-800K motorhomes? It's not because the high end class A builder wanted to save money, and install a inferior product, by using fiberglass, instead of rubber or plastic fabric.

I think Winnibago had some problems as did Tiffin with the roof radius.

A well maintained roof is going to hold up very well no matter if it's fiberglass or TPO (non-TPO rubber is a different matter). There are two important things to keep in mind:1) A fiberglass roof will provide better resale value down the line. Just as you are looking at it now, others will surely key in on it later when you go to sell your coach. If it doesn't add to your resale value, it would at least make it easier to sell.2) You have to get up on the roof once a year and check all your seams. It doesn't matter what kind of roof you have, the seams will usually fail first. Both fiberglass and TPO are relatively strong and resistant to UV rays. It's the joints, penetrations and seams that work loose and let in water.

Roofs-Fiberglass vs. Rubber/TPO | Good Sam Community

mike_brez
Explorer
Dec 03, 2015
WyoTraveler wrote:
MHs with fiber glass roofs have front and rear end cap.

Not to sure about that. We have no front or rear end caps on our fiberglass roof. Maybe some low end low budget rvs with fiberglass roofs have what you describe.
barmcd
Explorer
Dec 03, 2015
msmith1199 wrote:
barmcd wrote:
msmith1199 wrote:
barmcd wrote:
msmith1199 wrote:
I've only owned two RV's and both have had fiberglass roofs so I can't speak to the rubber. My current national RV is over 10 years old and the roof is still holding strong. It is very sturdy to walk on, even though I try not to walk on it except when necessary. One thing that I've heard is a problem for rubber roof is low hanging trees. I've heard stories from other RVers of tearing their roof on tree branches. I can tell you I have hit my share of tree branches including one time when I completely ripped off the vent cover over the bathroom, and none of them did any damage at all to the roof.

It's hard to tear a rubber roof because the rubber is bonded to the decking.

I'd be willing to bet that the tree branch that I ripped my bathroom vent off with would have put a hole in a rubber roof.

I said hard, not impossible. It would probably have put a hole in a fiberglass roof too.

I guess you missed the point of my post. I have a fiberglass roof, the branch did not damage it at all. All it did was tear the vent cover off the bathroom vent. Less than $20 damage. I have seen damage to rubber roofs caused by tree branches. Yes they are tough, but not as tough as fiberglass. That was the entire point I was trying to make.

I did.
msmith1199
Explorer II
Dec 03, 2015
barmcd wrote:
msmith1199 wrote:
barmcd wrote:
msmith1199 wrote:
I've only owned two RV's and both have had fiberglass roofs so I can't speak to the rubber. My current national RV is over 10 years old and the roof is still holding strong. It is very sturdy to walk on, even though I try not to walk on it except when necessary. One thing that I've heard is a problem for rubber roof is low hanging trees. I've heard stories from other RVers of tearing their roof on tree branches. I can tell you I have hit my share of tree branches including one time when I completely ripped off the vent cover over the bathroom, and none of them did any damage at all to the roof.

It's hard to tear a rubber roof because the rubber is bonded to the decking.

I'd be willing to bet that the tree branch that I ripped my bathroom vent off with would have put a hole in a rubber roof.

I said hard, not impossible. It would probably have put a hole in a fiberglass roof too.

I guess you missed the point of my post. I have a fiberglass roof, the branch did not damage it at all. All it did was tear the vent cover off the bathroom vent. Less than $20 damage. I have seen damage to rubber roofs caused by tree branches. Yes they are tough, but not as tough as fiberglass. That was the entire point I was trying to make.
barmcd
Explorer
Dec 03, 2015
msmith1199 wrote:
barmcd wrote:
msmith1199 wrote:
I've only owned two RV's and both have had fiberglass roofs so I can't speak to the rubber. My current national RV is over 10 years old and the roof is still holding strong. It is very sturdy to walk on, even though I try not to walk on it except when necessary. One thing that I've heard is a problem for rubber roof is low hanging trees. I've heard stories from other RVers of tearing their roof on tree branches. I can tell you I have hit my share of tree branches including one time when I completely ripped off the vent cover over the bathroom, and none of them did any damage at all to the roof.

It's hard to tear a rubber roof because the rubber is bonded to the decking.

I'd be willing to bet that the tree branch that I ripped my bathroom vent off with would have put a hole in a rubber roof.

I said hard, not impossible. It would probably have put a hole in a fiberglass roof too.
msmith1199
Explorer II
Dec 03, 2015
barmcd wrote:
msmith1199 wrote:
I've only owned two RV's and both have had fiberglass roofs so I can't speak to the rubber. My current national RV is over 10 years old and the roof is still holding strong. It is very sturdy to walk on, even though I try not to walk on it except when necessary. One thing that I've heard is a problem for rubber roof is low hanging trees. I've heard stories from other RVers of tearing their roof on tree branches. I can tell you I have hit my share of tree branches including one time when I completely ripped off the vent cover over the bathroom, and none of them did any damage at all to the roof.

It's hard to tear a rubber roof because the rubber is bonded to the decking.

I'd be willing to bet that the tree branch that I ripped my bathroom vent off with would have put a hole in a rubber roof.
larmcintsh
Explorer
Dec 02, 2015
I have a 1994 Monaco Dynasty, 30' bought new. It has the full fiberglass roof. I does not have a seam on the back or front caps. It has never leaked. I has been always been stored with heat since new. We still travel three months each year, and the RV has 145,000 miles on it. I have always kept it clean and waxed. I am very happy with fiberglass. If you keep it maintained, it will last. Merry Xmas. Larry
barmcd
Explorer
Dec 02, 2015
msmith1199 wrote:
I've only owned two RV's and both have had fiberglass roofs so I can't speak to the rubber. My current national RV is over 10 years old and the roof is still holding strong. It is very sturdy to walk on, even though I try not to walk on it except when necessary. One thing that I've heard is a problem for rubber roof is low hanging trees. I've heard stories from other RVers of tearing their roof on tree branches. I can tell you I have hit my share of tree branches including one time when I completely ripped off the vent cover over the bathroom, and none of them did any damage at all to the roof.

It's hard to tear a rubber roof because the rubber is bonded to the decking.
Chowan
Explorer
Dec 02, 2015
Andy F wrote:
Thanks everyone for the insights. Very helpful.
Good discussion
msmith1199
Explorer II
Dec 02, 2015
I've only owned two RV's and both have had fiberglass roofs so I can't speak to the rubber. My current national RV is over 10 years old and the roof is still holding strong. It is very sturdy to walk on, even though I try not to walk on it except when necessary. One thing that I've heard is a problem for rubber roof is low hanging trees. I've heard stories from other RVers of tearing their roof on tree branches. I can tell you I have hit my share of tree branches including one time when I completely ripped off the vent cover over the bathroom, and none of them did any damage at all to the roof.
GREGORYJ
Explorer
Dec 02, 2015
I've owned 2 RVs, one with a EPDM roof , one FG roof. As many have mentioned , vents, skylights, joints,etc sometimes needed re-sealing. To do a good job you need to remove the old caulking. This is more difficult with the rubber roof as it can tear and as the manufacturer says don't use "petroleum solvents, harshabrasives or citric based cleaners. You may cause irreparable damage to your roof". FG is much easier to strip old caulking off and clean before applying new Dicor caulking. Our current RV roof is FG.

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