managed to run my TT along a large, low hanging branch THE FIRST TIME I HAD IT OUT yesterday. It could have been much worse, but basically, the branch ran along the corner of the rubber roof, and caused a few pulls in the rubber creating several small holes along the edge from about halfway back all the way to the rear.I called the RV shop, and of course they said if insurance would cover it, they would replace the roof at a 5K cost. It didn't seem that bad, so I bought 4 rolls of the DICOR rubber tape,and put that along the entire left side and coated over that with silicon sealant. I don't see how any water can get through there.the A/C unit seems to drain on this side of the TT though, so I wonder if the water will pool where the tape and sealant are at, and if I should cut a small drainage path, since the damage at this point of the roof was pretty much cosmetic, but I taped it anyway just in case there was a hole I couldn't see.Any other idiots out there who have done similar roof repairs? If I did end up having issues, I think I would have a 3 year window to turn it in for insurance purposes.Any insight to a newbie would be helpful.Of course, a huge rainstorm came by 10 minutes after this happened. :)

WOW!! Your luck seems pretty similar to ours. We have not experienced the same things with our travel trailer but in other areas of our toys we have. I guess that is where we have to take the good with the bad. Even when it is our own doing! UGH.

I have friend who has been RV'n for many more years than me, who had nearly the exact same thing happen a few months ago with his then brand new TT. He scraped a low hanging branch pulling into a CG trying to stay off to one side and leave room for traffic on a busy Friday evening. He told me he didn't even concern himself with insurance / dealer repair - just sealed it up and kept on camping.As to the point of A/C drain -- that may vary depending on how it gets parked / leveled up. It may lean a slight bit either way and drain to any end / side on most units.

If the tape is good you should have NO problems. I myself have eternabond tapeon mine for similar issues. Been 3 years with no leaks.Brian

Don't feel bad...when we lived on Long Island I used to park the TT along the fenceline:There was just enough room next to the split rail fence to open the door:Backing in required coming in at a steep angle and cutting the wheel at just the right moment to spin the TT into place. With some practice I got pretty good at getting that 34' Sunnybrook parked, and never got a scratch on it.Fast forward to 2007, the brand spanking new Terry that is 2 FEET SHORTER than the Sunnybrook....you guessed it, backed it right into the fencepost and crumpled the metal skirt and crushed the back clearance light. Perfect end to our first camping trip in the new TT!!I banged out the tin as best I could, got a new clearance light and caulked the seam. You should be fine with the Dicor tape. I use Eternabond and keep a roll in the TT in case of accidents like this!

Sorry to hear about your bad luck. I don't think silicone is the best sealant for your RV, I'm about 100% assured it will separate from your roof rather quick. Dicor makes a lap sealant, Dicor self leveling that is recommended by a lot of folks for sealing EPDM roofs.Good luck with the repairs, don't beat yourself up too bad about the situation, we all have a story like that.

So like an idiot, I..... | Good Sam Community

16 Replies

SULTINI
Explorer
Aug 02, 2014
As previously mentioned don't feel like an idiot we all have them stories. I did the same thing and ruined the awning. Matter of fact all my vehicles have battle scars do to misjudgment.
NanciL
Explorer II
Aug 01, 2014
Big mistake using silicon sealant !

Jack L
hddecker
Explorer
Jul 31, 2014
bfast54 wrote:
PAThwacker wrote:
My wife backed me right into a woodpile with our new pup. I pierced the tailight into the back wall of pup. Step one, yell at wife, and ban her from guiding duty.
Step 2: patch with eternabond
Step 3: call insurance
Step 4: trade in damaged pup at site performing insurance repair

Step one.....BAD IDEA ......:E:E...:W

Step two pick self up and dust your self off after she pops you one on the beak.
bfast54
Explorer
Jul 31, 2014
PAThwacker wrote:
My wife backed me right into a woodpile with our new pup. I pierced the tailight into the back wall of pup. Step one, yell at wife, and ban her from guiding duty.
Step 2: patch with eternabond
Step 3: call insurance
Step 4: trade in damaged pup at site performing insurance repair

Step one.....BAD IDEA ......:E:E...:W
Gene_Ginny
Explorer
Jul 31, 2014
buckeyekj wrote:
... so I bought 4 rolls of the DICOR rubber tape,and put that along the entire left side and coated over that with silicon sealant. ...
Dicor = OK
Silicone = bad idea.
SprinklerMan
Explorer
Jul 31, 2014
Thats called the 1 year curse . Every car , truck, camper or boat I buy something happens to them the first year I have them .
PAThwacker
Explorer
Jul 31, 2014
My wife backed me right into a woodpile with our new pup. I pierced the tailight into the back wall of pup. Step one, yell at wife, and ban her from guiding duty.
Step 2: patch with eternabond
Step 3: call insurance
Step 4: trade in damaged pup at site performing insurance repair
eichacsj
Explorer
Jul 31, 2014
New TT, covered by insurance, why wouldn't you get it fixed. Why wait until it is not covered to fix it to sell it. Beside it only needs a tiny amount of water to leak into the TT or behind that skin and kick off the delamination process on the sides.

I understand if it is a new to you (used) TT, or not covered by insurance the patching. I have done some of that.
beemerphile1
Explorer
Jul 31, 2014
The direction of water draining will vary each time based on the accuracy of leveling. When parking adjust for that and the condensate will run in the desired direction. I would leave the patch alone.
_tiredTeacher
Explorer II
Jul 31, 2014
We become so focused on what's going on at ground level, we forget to look up. I knicked my Sunline's awning (rolled up) by a combination of road crown and leaning power pole. Since that moment I've kept an eye out for leaning traffic signs on medians, power poles sagging under the weight of lines as well as trees.
On main roads, tractor-trailers will usually have "pruned" the trees for you.
On Virginia's section of Rt. 58 near Grayson Highlands S.P., there is a rock outcropping about 9 feet above the very edge of the highway. It is covered with paint and aluminum scrapings. Yassuh, I saw that one.

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