Gel coat cracking

[mielock]

I've noticed this crack just over a year ago, and probably should've dealt with it earlier, but it's grown since to about 3.5". I now keep it covered with blue tape which seals it nicely, but I believe it keep growing and the surface is slightly raised, so I assume some moisture has penetrated. I'm hoping someone can tell me a way to resolve this problem, and I'm probably not as concerned with post-repair looks as others might be. What should I do?

[Veebyes]

To get an idea of frame flex look closely at the crack as unit is removed or placed on the truck transferring weight to the legs. Also try to listen for frame movement.

We won't mention who most likely built the frame.

[Retired_JSO]

I had a 2004 FR Sandpiper that cracked in the same exact place. turned out to be frame flex. I had to remove the bottom of the overhang and beef up the frame under that area. The cracked filon was removed. 2 fiberglass mats along with several coats of resin solved the problem.

[dblr]

I would get this looked at soon, we had the same type of crack on a Open Road 5th wheel in the same area and had to have new supports added and the skin patched but the patch job cracked on the first trip, returned to repair place to look farther and the pin box welds were broken. Got this repaired and got rid of this unit, have seen other Open Roads with the same crack and I warn the owners, I would hate to hear of a accident because of a pin box failure. Good luck and keep us posted.

[tatest]

That's not gelcoat, it is structural, penetrating through the reinforcement fibers of the outer skin. You might be able to patch the outer skin, but I would want to know if there has been a failure of the underlying metal frame around that opening, which might call for replacement of the entire laminated wall.

[Hondavalk]

Dave and Sue wrote:
"It is a weak point where the bottom of the bed slide is applying pressure against the bottom, and added movement in the bedroom will cause it start this process."

Oh I can remember those days! LOL

:B:p:B

[Dave_and_Sue]

"It is a weak point where the bottom of the bed slide is applying pressure against the bottom, and added movement in the bedroom will cause it start this process."

Oh I can remember those days! LOL

[Veebyes]

Frame flex at best. Frame failure at worst. Not an uncommon fault.

The usual fix is to cut from BR corner, where it started, down to bottom of the overhang area & put in a spacer so that it can move. Fixing the crack without fixing the cause of the crack will only get the crack right back.

For crack repair carefully grind out just a little & use a very strong product like Marine Tex. Available in white.

[westend]

At the least, I'd drill the crack and sand/fill with resin. If you can get at the back of that panel, I'd also suggest to reinforce it. Resin/mat and a perforated steel piece would be a good reinforcement. If you can attach the steel to any frame member, things get a lot stronger, quickly.

Good luck with the repair!

[chesterb]

I've seen this type of cracking in other instances with slides. It is a weak point where the bottom of the bed slide is applying pressure against the bottom, and added movement in the bedroom will cause it start this process.

[camp-n-family]

the bear II wrote:
An old aviation trick is to drill a hole in the fiberglas at the end of the crack to stop it from spreading. Just penetrate the fiberglas and then seal it until a permanent repair can be made...I agree with the freezing water theory.

This is what I was thinking too. I'd guess stress crack based on location at the corner of slide opening which may have worsened from water intrusion.

[Hondavalk]

looks like a stress crack that they typically use H molding to repair

http://www.crossroadsowners.com/forums/f25/what-is-this-10764.html

[the_bear_II]

An old aviation trick is to drill a hole in the fiberglas at the end of the crack to stop it from spreading. Just penetrate the fiberglas and then seal it until a permanent repair can be made...I agree with the freezing water theory.

[mielock]

This area is the corner of the bedroom slide, which is what you see in the picture. Sure, it's easy to get to the inside and I can say there is nothing adverse to report. I suspect if the outer layers were pealed back, you'd see minor water intrusion. I guess the thing to do is a procedure similar to removing skin cancer - start cutting until all the bad has been removed, then start re-building. My question is rebuilding the fiberglass portion.

[Tom_Barb]

To me, that looks like water intrusion that has frozen swelled and cracked the glass structure.
Is there anyway to get to this area from the inside? just to see what is happening ?