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stripit's avatar
stripit
Explorer
Jul 13, 2016

Billowing roof covers

In the middle of a trip going from Phoenix to Detroit running along at about 60 mph. I watch the traffic running west and started to count the vehicles I see with what looks like a huge pillow sitting above the drivers area on motorhomes, or above the front bedroom area on 5th wheel trailers. Seems the roof materials have come loose along the leading edge letting air to get under the top and ballon up. It must lay back down when the vehicle slows or stops and you never seem to see anything like that while walking around the rv parks. Looks like a lot of us might want to give that area a check over. In three days of driving 3 newer looking motorhomes and 15 5th wheels spotted, on just the road I'm on.
Add another 3 5th wheels today, and it was raining, hope they don't find a lot of water in their rigs tonight when they get into a park.
  • We see trailers and 5th wheels on the highways and the wind is pushing in the outsidet skin on the front of their RV. It appears there is no support behind the area.
  • It is not always about air getting in , the air moving over the roof causes lift and pulls the roofing material up off the roof , I would think if the original roof had become detached that it should be re-glued before anything is applied to it
  • RAS43 wrote:
    edatlanta wrote:
    Another good reason to replace the rubber roof with This before it blows off, premature fails like mine did or caulking starts leaking (which it will and there is a lot of it to check/replace). I will never live with another rubber roof longer than it takes to get it sprayed by RV Flex Armor. I no longer want to have to worry about that leak that I don't know about that is destroying my rig and turning it into salvage value.

    Would I spray a brand new rubber roof? Not only yes, but before I ever moved in and would just consider the cost part of the initial purchase price.


    But if the rubber membrane isn't glued to the roof how will this product prevent the lifting? Just curious.


    RV Flex Armor is sprayed on at 200 degrees F and covers all of the rubber roof area and over a portion of the front and rear caps and down the drip rail all the way down the sides. No place for air to get it. Here is a picture of mine just before I hooked up and drove off. You can clearly see how well the original roof is covered up including all caulking. The new roof material is 3/16" thick.


  • had this problem with our roof in 2008, manufacturer had the dealer repair it under warranty .they pealed the roofig back and re-glued it , they think it was defective adhesives . I found mine when washing the trailer and saw the ripples in the roofing.
  • RAS43's avatar
    RAS43
    Explorer III
    edatlanta wrote:
    Another good reason to replace the rubber roof with This before it blows off, premature fails like mine did or caulking starts leaking (which it will and there is a lot of it to check/replace). I will never live with another rubber roof longer than it takes to get it sprayed by RV Flex Armor. I no longer want to have to worry about that leak that I don't know about that is destroying my rig and turning it into salvage value.

    Would I spray a brand new rubber roof? Not only yes, but before I ever moved in and would just consider the cost part of the initial purchase price.


    But if the rubber membrane isn't glued to the roof how will this product prevent the lifting? Just curious.
  • I noticed it a few weeks ago on what appeared to be a newish Class C. At first I thought they had a white storage pod on the roof - then realized it was the bright white roof!! It didn't appear to be flopping - probably made no noise, and once stopped, would lie down. I'd bet the Class C owners had no clue what was happening?
  • That is far out. i think it has been 2 years since I saw one of those.
  • Another good reason to replace the rubber roof with This before it blows off, premature fails like mine did or caulking starts leaking (which it will and there is a lot of it to check/replace). I will never live with another rubber roof longer than it takes to get it sprayed by RV Flex Armor. I no longer want to have to worry about that leak that I don't know about that is destroying my rig and turning it into salvage value.

    Would I spray a brand new rubber roof? Not only yes, but before I ever moved in and would just consider the cost part of the initial purchase price.
  • I think if the roof rubber was loose at the leading edge allowing air in, it would tear the rubber off.

    My guess is, the glue holding the rubber to the roof is not holding. As the vehicle goes down the road the pressure differential pulls up on the loose area. When the vehicle stops the rubber drops back on the roof.

    There is lower pressure going over the top of the roof, the higher pressure under the rubber pushes up.

    Same thing that gives airplane wings lift.

    Didn't you pay attention in high school science class? :B

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