Best sealant for side of fifth wheel

[billy79]

So we picked up our brand new fifth wheel last month, and though I don't think my wife is happy about it I already plan on poking holes in it 🙂

I am going to mount a cell booster antenna on the side and so I need to poke a hole through the side of the rig to run the antenna wire through.

The question though is what is the best sealant that I should use on the side of the 5th wheel to seal up that hole I just created.

Thanks for your time.

[RVcircus]

Victory402 wrote:
Proflex or non sag Dicor. Most of us try to avoid silicone.

+1

I use Proflex, but either are great.

[billy79]

Thanks for the great feedback everyone. I am going to order something this week and hopefully knock this project out 🙂

[LarryJM]

coolbreeze01 wrote:
Barney's marine through hole fitting is a good idea. For just sealing screw holes etc. I use 3M 4000 or 5200 depending on what I'm sealing.

I agree and also use the 3M Marine adhesive adhesive/sealants. In general I like the 4000 UV since the 5200 is more permanent and not UV protected. However, I have some 5200 that is 5+ years old and still looks new.

Larry

[coolbreeze01]

Barney's marine through hole fitting is a good idea. For just sealing screw holes etc. I use 3M 4000 or 5200 depending on what I'm sealing.

[westend]

Barney's marine through hole fitting is the best, allows a user to vacate the wire in the future and provides good sealing. If the OP just wishes to drill a hole in the siding, Geocel sealants are the best, IMO. I use Tripolymer 2300 which is almost the same recipe as Proflex RV but has better elongation and strength. The 2300 is available through my local roofing distributor for less than $10/tube.

Another way to accomplish the through-wall access is to use a plate and mount coax fittings on the plate. Seal the plate to the exterior of the RV. I did this for TV and radio antenna leads and used 1/8" polycarbonate. I did have to attach my antenna wiring inside the wall to the exterior coax fittings but I have permanent antenna runs that are now accessed by interior wall plates.

Picture of plate:

[Jim-Linda]

Another option without holes is... mount the antenna on a pole, clamp the pole to the edge of the extended slide, run the coax through the edge of the slide(a couple of inches from closing), when the slide is closed, the bulb seal will prevent intrusion of bugs, water etc. The seal also will not damage the coax. Takes about 5 minutes to install/remove.

Jim

[jasult]

3M makes the best marine product for this.
I just did "minor repair" and used this and good for underwater on boats. Lowes has this in stock for around 14 dollars a tube 3m 5200




3M 5200

[BarneyS]

I would use a Marine waterproof through-deck fitting and butyl tape to seal it.
Barney

[Old_Days]

Proflex from amazon is about 15 bucks a tube,free shipping.

[noteven]

I had to remove an attachment to make a minor repair and I did not have any proper Dicor or similar product on hand.

I grabbed some household silicone and used that.

6 months later the silicone was flapping in the breeze and falling off.

2007 factory proper sealant beside it was perfect as the day it was put on.

Proper sealant is not cheeper.

[mbopp]

Victory402 wrote:
Proflex or non sag Dicor. Most of us try to avoid silicone.

What he said.

[Victory402]

Proflex or non sag Dicor. Most of us try to avoid silicone.