Looking at buying a used toy hauler. Only issue I noticed on the trailer is a bubble on the driver's side going between a window the tire on the fiberglass. Current seller is the second owner and says there's never been any leaks. Any way of knowing if this is water damage or bad adhesive from the factory?

Will be water seaping into the wall damage. Likely from a leaky seal from the window above. I would move on...

+1. The owner may not know but it's a leaker. Delam at that point is from water intrusion. Only way I'd buy it is if the price is low ball. You will at some point, have to repair it.

Sounds like "delamination", that is the outer fiberglass thin layer coming loose and unglued from the under layer. If that's what it is I would pass because of the potential for it to worsen and appear in other areas. It's not just a looks issue. We bought a used MH with delam and didn't notice it. My son got a kit and repaired a really bad area by a corner. So far the other small areas aren't worsening but I just wouldn't take the chance on one that it shows on.

These problems are more related to no not enough glue that water intrusion. I have see whole sides loose and no water intrusion anywhere.

Fiberglass wall bubble | Good Sam Community

IB853347201
Nomad
Jul 06, 2019
Will be water seaping into the wall damage. Likely from a leaky seal from the window above.
I would move on...
SidecarFlip
Explorer III
Jul 06, 2019
+1. The owner may not know but it's a leaker. Delam at that point is from water intrusion. Only way I'd buy it is if the price is low ball. You will at some point, have to repair it.
pianotuna
Nomad III
Jul 06, 2019
run away
Jayco-noslide
Explorer
Jul 06, 2019
Sounds like "delamination", that is the outer fiberglass thin layer coming loose and unglued from the under layer. If that's what it is I would pass because of the potential for it to worsen and appear in other areas. It's not just a looks issue. We bought a used MH with delam and didn't notice it. My son got a kit and repaired a really bad area by a corner. So far the other small areas aren't worsening but I just wouldn't take the chance on one that it shows on.
cavie
Explorer
Jul 06, 2019
These problems are more related to no not enough glue that water intrusion. I have see whole sides loose and no water intrusion anywhere.
joelc
Explorer III
Jul 06, 2019
Don't touch it. You will be fighting a lost cause, unless you rip the entire section out and rebuild it. NOT WORTH IT.
theoldwizard1
Explorer II
Jul 07, 2019
cavie wrote:
These problems are more related to no not enough glue that water intrusion. I have see whole sides loose and no water intrusion anywhere.

Maybe (but probably not likely) !

The problem is, until it is opened up, you won't know ! If it is a leak, and has been leaking for sometime, the cost of the repair could be huge ! The substrate is likely "organic" (luan plywood) which rots and mold when exposed to water.

Worst case, peel of some/most/all of the fiberglass, replace the rotten plywood, replace the roof. $$,$$$ !
3_tons
Explorer III
Jul 07, 2019
cavie wrote:
These problems are more related to no not enough glue that water intrusion. I have see whole sides loose and no water intrusion anywhere.

Wishful thinking - JMO
valhalla360
Navigator
Jul 07, 2019
Funny thing is...you will be hard pressed to find a used unit over 5yr old that doesn't have at least a small delam spot. If you look while walking around campgrounds, almost all fiberglas

If it's a small area (say under 1sft) with no other obvious water intrusion issues, I might ask for a discount and plan on repairing it.

If it's a large area or multiple areas, walk away.
pianotuna
Nomad III
Jul 07, 2019
So how do you fix delamination??????