please help.. real newbie.... Im graduating finally from tent camping.. found a 2011 jayco 17c hybrid.. awesome looking camper.. person selling it to get the loan paid off and to get out of the payments..He is asking $10,000 for it.. I have no idea what im looking at as far as inspecting.. I went up Saturday to look at it.. it looked awesome as far as I can tell.. being a real novice though I only checked the celing inside camper...it didn't look like any water damage from the inside... i went ahead and struck the deal yesterday and paid him for it... i almost pulled a trigger on a brand new 2014 2514g popup from rockwood, but this camper looked much more practical with the full bathroom and i just love the layout.. anyways im going up this week to tow it home.. and now im reading online that jayco says to reseal roof every 12 months. I just sent him email asking him if he did this, but im not sure if he is really gonna be honest about it.. i already paid him but now im worried that he didn't reseal it. what kind of waterdamage will happen from a 2011 model camper? if he hasn't resealed then am i likely to have beginning water issues? im stuck with camper now.. is this easy for a novice like myself to just seal when i receive it this week? im real worried now that this camper was not resealed and is a ticking time bomb.. sorry if im worrying about nothing, but i just paid 10 grand for this.... maybe i should have got the new pup with full warranty..ARGGGHH.. btw i live in upstate NY where we do get a ton of snow.... anyways, from the look of it inside it looked in mint condition.... but i didn't relize that i had to walk ontop of roof and check for soft spots, i didn't even touch roof... such a beginner....arghhhh..thanks

well, it's kinda too late at this point. if you'd bought from a dealer, i would've advised you to cancel the sale.you could've bought a new 2014 Jayco from RVDirect, for not much more money. and it would have come with a 2 year warranty.$10k for a 3 year-old 17' HTT is too much, IMHO, since you live in RVDirect's area. sounds like it was a very impulsive purchase, without doing any research before buying it.the roof is secondary to possible leaks around the two bunk ends. that's where you should be focusing first, then the roof.

I personally think you worry a little too much. I doubt very much the roof would have water issues after 2 years. As Dan said, you should focus more on the bunk end doors.If not done, resealing the roof could be a nice project for you to do.Wanna hear about an impulsive purchase. In November 2011 I saw on Craigslist a 2011 Palomino Stampede S-238. The owner had it for a year, and was selling it $11,500.I live in Maine and the HTT was in Pennsylvania. After working things out with my bank and his bank, I drove the 400 miles, looked at the interior 5 minutes, paid the seller, pinned the HTT and drove back. Never worried about anything and that was the best buy I have ever done.Dre

now im worried like dan said that I paid a bad deal.. I had a deal on table with local dealer for a brand new 2014 rockwood 2514g pup for the same exact price, but thaught the hybrid was a better deal... I might be able to ask for the money back, but doubt I can... and he wrote me back, they never resealed the roof at all in the two years of ownership... crap, maybe I should have stayed with the PUP..manoman

Personally, have never heard of "resealing" the roof every 12 months. Inspecting, yes. Recaulking if needed, yes. Cleaning and conditioning, yes. But not resealing. Suggest you call Jayco directly, not a dealer, but the manufacturer, and get the straight information. And I'd guess getting your money back is probably not gonna happen.OK, so you've bought a hybrid that you love over a PUP. You had good reasons for making the choice. I'd bet that you're not the only one on this forum that may have paid too much for something....we're definitely guilty. And, yes, maybe you needed to do more homework, but that's old news now. So, my thought is to just move on and start camping and enjoying your purchase.....after you get the roof and the bunk seals checked out. I'd be interested if the manufacturer truly means reseal or to just apply some type of conditioner after cleaning the roof, and that is something you can do yourself without a major cost. In any event, start planning your first trip and enjoy!

thanks dan, im sure I will be on this site a lot asking questions. I guess we all learn the hard way... oh well... I called jayco today and she said once or twice per year you have to recaulk or reseal the roof..not sure what she meant... and as far as bunk ends, I admit, I didn't check a thing, once again, too late now, but when I get the camper home, where would water damage be from the bunk ends? the tent ends looked alittle dirty when opened but I was thinking that was just from camping.. now I hope it wasn't from leaking..LOL... probably wasn't though... beds looked super dry inside...I cant worry about it now..oh well...cant wait

2011 featherlite 17c. how to tell if water damage?

happybooker1
Explorer
May 05, 2013
drenjoey wrote:
I personally think you worry a little too much. I doubt very much the roof would have water issues after 2 years.
Dre

Not to be a wet blanket but my floor is now totaled in a '10 HTT I bought new. And the insurance guy said the cracked caulking was almost certainly 8-10 months old.

I so wish someone would have told me to recaulk my NEW HTT. So get yourself some Eternabond (best stuff made) and redo ALL the roof seams the minute you get it!
AuntEthel
Explorer
Apr 29, 2013
I agree with Rick! It's all about making the memories, they're priceless! We picked up our Jayco 17c in Indiana and drove to Myrtle Beach for 3 days and then down to Charleston for another 3 days. I guess we didn't follow the 'one hour away maiden voyage'!
RICK-ards_Red
Explorer
Apr 29, 2013
I own a Jayco 17C and you and your family will love the experience. Over paid? its all relative (people think I over paid when bought new - who cares!) its the fun and memories that is priceless.
Maybe take it to a dealer to inspect the entire unit - water damage, gas lines - fittings tight, fridge works, water lines for leaks etc.
I store mine at a RV dealer (not a Jayco dealer) for the winter and I have them summerize it before I pick it up.
SuperiorBound
Explorer
Apr 29, 2013
Many people think I overpaid for my little camper but it was the right price and camper for me and that is all that really matters. I am betting after you get it home and all cleaned up check everything out you will have a great time using it.
luckyscroller78
Explorer
Apr 23, 2013
Dont worry, chances are it will be fine, give it a good looking over after you get it, and enjoy it!
go_wild
Explorer
Apr 22, 2013
Hope this helps...Here's what Jayco states on page 87 of the 2010 Jay Feather owner's manual:

"Water is a RV’s worst enemy when it enters where it is not intended. Sealants perform a very important function; they must be inspected closely and be regularly maintained. We incorporate many different types of sealants, including butyl/putty, black butylencapsulated
foam, silicone (clear and colored), roof sealant, foam, etc. In general,sealants do not have “set” lifetimes. Varying environmental factors affect the pliability and adhesiveness of sealants.
Sealants can be affected by ultraviolet exposure, air pollution, extreme temperatures and exposure to other elements. Conditions
such as rain, salt, dust and pollution may increase the need to maintain your RV’s sealants. Checking the sealants is considered
customer maintenance. It is recommended that you or your dealer
Inspect all sealants a minimum of every six months. Make sure to check the roof and all four sides of the RV including all moldings,
windows, doors, vents and exterior attachments. Reseal as necessary and at least one time each year as preventative maintenance."

So by "reseal" they don't mean reseal the entire roof surface, just go around and check the caulking. Wash the roof with Spic N Span periodically too, to get rid of the tree sap, etc that can damage seals.
mbopp
Explorer
Apr 22, 2013
When you get around to inspecting the roof caulking, there are 2 acceptable materials to use: Dicor self-leveling caulk for horizontal surfaces, or Eternabond tape. Home store silicone caulk has no place in a RV.
sh410
Explorer
Apr 22, 2013
You'll be fine! The Stienbrenners have overpaid way more than you.:)
bikendan
Explorer
Apr 22, 2013
drenjoey wrote:
yankeeslover wrote:
I called jayco today and she said once or twice per year you have to recaulk or reseal the roof

recaulk or reseal TWICE a year !!!!! Who does that !

that's just a corporate "Cover Their A**" statement.
drenjoey
Explorer
Apr 22, 2013
yankeeslover wrote:
I called jayco today and she said once or twice per year you have to recaulk or reseal the roof

recaulk or reseal TWICE a year !!!!! Who does that !