RV tech. help on what sealant to use?

I would use butyl tape under the fitting, which is how the factory would do it.

Silicone is an excellent sealant when used in compression between two surfaces and not exposed to UV. Neither is the case when using to eliminate/****** leaks in RV exterior siding and trim. The added injury with silicone is that after the bond fails, it leaves a film that nothing else will adhere to.

I started using Geocel Tripolymer 2300 construction adhesive when I restored my RV. I now use it in a variety of projects for my customers.

myredracer wrote:
How to caulk RV exterior with silicone. Enjoy!



There are caulking products made specifically for RV exterior use. Why would anyone not use the correct product for the application? There are some alternatives to RV exterior caulk (like Geocel) if you do your research.

LOL that was great, thanks for posting and the laughs! :B

Geocel
Good stuff, but it's just re-branded polyurethane
You can buy 3m band or generic polyurethane at local hardware or big box store
I'm partial to using 3m myself
Your adding a cable, coax ?
Get one of the wall insert adapters that goes around the cable
This will improve mechanical strength and prevent vibration from wearing or losing the sealant

Dave H M wrote:
I do not hesitate to use quality silicone.

It will probably be there when some anthropologist digs it up. :W

Don't they even use that stuff to put aquariums together?

oops I forgot to mention that I am not an RV tech, just an old retired pfazrt. :W

I agree, I've never found anything that seals and holds better than 100%e clear silicone. But it has to be used correctly.
Make sure the area is cleaned with a solvent and put the silicone between the two surfaces. Then remove any silicone you can still see. (the worst enemy to silicone is sun light, which turns it yellow and will eventually break it down.)
I've siliconed doors and all kinds of things on the outside of my TT and it's still water tight after 12 years.

If someone did that quality of a caulking job on one of my jobs I would have beaten him to near death with the caulking gun, THEN fired him.

Unreal someone would actually publish this.

my, that video is something one has got to see.

yes i did enjoy it. nuf said. :B

How to caulk RV exterior with silicone. Enjoy!



There are caulking products made specifically for RV exterior use. Why would anyone not use the correct product for the application? There are some alternatives to RV exterior caulk (like Geocel) if you do your research.

Basic silicone should be avoided! Pic from DRV's stock.

I agree with the "no silicone" contingent. There are many good sealants available. Use a good poly urethane, tri-polymer or even a polyether or silane terminated polymer.

My current favorite is Bostik 1100FS followed by Sika 505UV and Chemlinks M1. Tremco has some good ones as well but are difficult to locate.