fiberglass, Filon, roof

pnichols wrote:
Hmmm ... I wonder what's up with Winnebago consistency??

My 2005 Itasca has a one piece fiberglass roof that is nicely crowned (unlike what I am seeing in some Winnebago photos of their 2014/12015 line) and rolled over edges (can't tell about this from 2014/2015 Winnebago photos).

:h

is this a difference between Cs and As?
bumpy

Hmmm ... I wonder what's up with Winnebago consistency??

My 2005 Itasca has a one piece fiberglass roof that is nicely crowned (unlike what I am seeing in some Winnebago photos of their 2014/12015 line) and rolled over edges (can't tell about this from 2014/2015 Winnebago photos).

:h

Snowman9000 wrote:
I agree with Mich F that the type of roof is less important than the construction and maintenance of all the seams/ fittings/ atttachments. Although we have had a rubber roof torn by a tree branch.

Thank you. :B
Over 25 years I've had 6 different RVs and not one has had a fiberglass roof. Perhaps I've just been lucky, but none have had issues related to the rubber roof.
On my 1997 Coachmen my sons did replace the rubber roof a little over 2 years ago only because it just looked like it was time to do that. It was 15 years old at the time.
About a month ago I bought my 7th RV, a 2001 Itasca which does have a fiberglass roof. Like yours it doesn't wrap over the side, but the trim piece that covers the transition is secured on the side walls and not on the top, which makes more sense, than putting a bunch of screws on the top.

I agree with Mich F that the type of roof is less important than the construction and maintenance of all the seams/ fittings/ atttachments. Although we have had a rubber roof torn by a tree branch.

homer1959 wrote:
Snowman, i trust that more than the rubber roof, but what do i know ! Wont be damage by tree branches like a rubber roof will be i would guess......that dicor stuff, do you apply that with a caulkin gun or a paintbrush ? It is becoming really hard when it gets old or it is easy to renew let say every 2 to 3 years if its needed ?

It applies with a caulking gun. It's very easy to use. You don't scrape off the old stuff, you clean it with lacquer thinner and put the new stuff on top of the old. Inspection means checking for cracks or flaws in the caulking. It's pretty good stuff if you maintain it. Most people do not maintain it.

Mich F wrote:
Sure plenty of people have water leaks, but usually at transition points, like roof to wall, or around windows and vents and such, not through or because they have a rubber roof. In all those cases it doesn't make any difference whether the roof is rubber or fiberglass.

Probably the transition points between a smooth fiberglass roof and plastic vent edges, metal A/C bases, plastic bathroom skylight edges, metal antenna bases, etc., are easier to seal (using Eternbond, self-leveling sealants, etc.) than trying to get some material to adhere to porous rubber in those transition areas.

Also ... regarding even RVs with one-piece fiberglass roofs ... I wouldn't buy one unless the fiberglass roof also had rolled edges all along each side (in addition to a nice crown). Rolled edges eliminate another two-times-the-roof-length of leak prone seams.

With all this talk of how horrible rubber roofs are, I can't recall any posts of anyone having a problem with leaks because they have a rubber roof. Sure plenty of people have water leaks, but usually at transition points, like roof to wall, or around windows and vents and such, not through or because they have a rubber roof. In all those cases it doesn't make any difference whether the roof is rubber or fiberglass.

homer1959 wrote:
I'll stick with fiberglass then :-) I've watched a few video on youtube where you can see the damage done by water...man its scary !! Rest assure that I'll be on top of the roof maintenance schedule.

If someone had water leaks , tell me it is obvious when you inspect a RV if leaks are present . even a small one ? is the water migrate easily on the panel board inside ? The more I look at it the more loosing money on depreciation on a new Class C make sense now......at the very least you are buying some sort of peace of mind

yep all you have to do is check out posts by folks here who had problems with their RV and the answer is to sell it. somebody has to buy that lemon.
bumpy

I'll stick with fiberglass then :-) I've watched a few video on youtube where you can see the damage done by water...man its scary !! Rest assure that I'll be on top of the roof maintenance schedule.

If someone had water leaks , tell me it is obvious when you inspect a RV if leaks are present . even a small one ? is the water migrate easily on the panel board inside ? The more I look at it the more loosing money on depreciation on a new Class C make sense now......at the very least you are buying some sort of peace of mind

Cousin_Eddie93 wrote:
Lessons learned; don't buy a rig with a rubber roof if you can avoid it.

gee, my sediments exactly.
One Trick Pony :)