Should I use caulk with a T-style door holder?

If you put a hole in the side or top of an RV you need to caulk first. Everytime!

Anything attached to the outside of an RV gets a piece of this butyl putty tape under it. Use a piece of this tape under the flange of the door holder and then screw it into the camper. trim the excess tape that squeezes out as you tighten the screws. Caulk around the edges.

BurbMan wrote:
Anything attached to the outside of an RV gets a piece of this butyl putty tape under it. Use a piece of this tape under the flange of the door holder and then screw it into the camper. trim the excess tape that squeezes out as you tighten the screws. Caulk around the edges.

IMHO that SH!T is just that! It doesn't stop creeping out. Use some quality sealant NOT silicone.

Cummins12V98 wrote , "Use some quality sealant NOT silicone."

Such as?

Cummins12V98 wrote:
IMHO that SH!T is just that! It doesn't stop creeping out.

There's a reason that every RV manufacturer uses it on every rig made, all the way from pop-ups to 6-figure busses. Your "high-quality sealant" is always used in addition to, not in place of, the butyl putty tape.

Hedge,

What nobody has explained is that if you leave a small void, water can get in there. If water can get in there, it can freeze in there. If it can freeze once, it can freeze larger the next time.

I boat work, this is called "bedding" something and it is essential to a proper fitting of anything.

Butyl stuff is great because it never hardens and you want it to stay flexible forever.

Matt

I use Butyl tape whenever I can.

Good recommendations thus far. Although for a door latch like you’re replacing, I probably would just use whatever I had around the house for caulking or gasket maker.
Butyl is pretty much dummy proof and also seals the best.
I wouldn’t get hung up on having to have it though. I don’t believe I’ve seen it used under door latches on the campers I’ve had.

Just squirt a little silicone in the screw hole before inserting the screw. No need to Calk all around the latch.

This is what DRV uses on their 5er's.

Laytex adhesive caulking is also good.