Buying a travel trailer with a bit of Delamination

Delamination is due to a leak, period! Leaks are typically small but can cause big damage to the RV. If the leak has caused de lamination it may also have caused rotting on the roof and/or on the side where de lamination is occurring. A new roof, done by a reputable RV dealer, will set you back anywhere between 7-10K. I know because I purchased an RV with de lamination and the experience made me scrutinize my rig. To the point that I pressurized my RV and then sprayed soapy solution to all the seams to detect bubbles. Bubbles, when pressurized, meant leaks. And, yes, I found three more.

Luckily, ( if you call this luck) I was in a bad storm a year after the purchase where a large branch fell and penetrated my roof. My insurance paid for the new roof ($10,000). I was a happy camper!

Bottom line is, delamination, according to the dealer that repaired my RV, is difficult to repair. It will never look the same as when new. Be very careful. Know what you are doing or looking for.

My advise: it all depends on the damage the leak has caused, but be very careful with your purchase. It can cost you a lot of money to repair! Unless you're lucky and a branch falls on your rig.

Having owned an Outback, I can tell you that the looks of the front cap can be deceiving. They ripple like they are doing the wave, but don't leak.

Regarding negotiations on price; we took 50% less than the NADA low retail even though everything in the TT worked and it was in good condition. The delamination was obvious on the exterior and everyone who looked at it was concerned (rightfully so). I had all the paperwork from Camping World's complete renovation of the roof as well. We had just returned from a three month trip to Alaska and felt that the TT had performed well so we were willing to let it go and move on. lizzie

Cancer isn't always a death knell. Same with delamination. Do you have pictures? Is it a small area or large area? Can the source of the leak be determined?

You could use this as a negociation tool. I wonder what percentage we would put on rvs overall in terms of leaks. I think it is 50% or higher but most of us just don't know it is happening.

Maybe it can be repaired for a reasonable price. Is it wood frame construction with batting insulation or aluminum frame with styrofoam insulation?

More information is really needed.

Another vote for ......."DON'T".

Thank you for the advice on what to offer. If he is willing to part with it for that much less I may go for it. Otherwise it will be back to prayer!

I've seen good older bunkhouse trailers go for less than 7k, usually aluminum sided. If I were to consider a delam, it would have to be less than 1/2 the price of the same trailer in good shape. My 2cents, worth what you paid for it as usual.

Another thing is that I was talking to my dad last night, and he is fairly handy. It turns out he successfully repaired a hole in his fiberglass boat, so it may be possible for him to help me do what I have seen on some YouTube videos, which is inject resin into the delaminated area in order to stop the damage from spreading.

Is there anyone who has experience in this sort of thing?

Thank you again for the information, and Lizzie that is my thinking here, 'use it up', this is like replacing a rent payment. I am absolutely shocked at the low cost of this compared to what I've been paying for rent and utilities. Even with maintenance, mishaps, and gas included the budget is far far lower than living in a house. I have no choice in the matter after becoming too sick to work anyway, we have to move, and so this plan is how I hope to make lemonade out of lemons.

I cannot realistically get a TT that is in great condition for the cash I have to spend. Fitznj, the fact that it took a couple years to spread is the type of info I need. Thank you. I need to do the best I can with what I've got, and if I can get a couple of years out of it, then my purpose will have been served well.

De-Lamination is like an ice-berg; you only see the tip and never see what is under the water. We had a small delam (6x6 inches) on our 2nd TT and did not think it was too much of an issue. Big mistake - a couple of years later, it became evident that the front bottom section was totally rotted away.

Personally - i would stay away; I'm still leery of this type of construction (probably unfounded but....). My current TT has the traditional alum/vinyl siding.

gerry