Observed a Nasty Failed Roof Membrane

[WTP-GC]

Was traveling south on Friday on US 19 pulling my boat. At the moment, I was in the little town of Chiefland (north central FL). In my mirror, I saw a rig coming that looked very strange. As it approached, I could tell the entire front half of the roof membrane was flopping in the wind. It was a 36ish foot late model 5er being towed by a blue (I think) F250 and had Ontario plates.

We came up to a light where I was going to say something, but the light changed and they sped on past me before I could get their attention. I thought I would catch up to them, but they were traveling significantly faster than I was willing to go at the moment.

Literally, the entire front half of the membrane, perhaps the only keeping it from peeling off was the AC unit. For several miles, I watched the thing flap all around, little piece by piece coming off and fluttering along the roadway.

I've seen the billowed up membranes right behind the front cap, but I've never see anything like this going down the road.

[travelnutz]

🙂 Must be what is meant when you hear "they are not there yet but they are on the bubble"

[janstey58]

I saw a 5th wheel northbound on I29 just north of Council Bluffs, IA Sunday afternoon with the "big roof bubble." I hope they new it was there!

[Deb_and_Ed_M]

We saw a class C with a massive bubble on the cabover area due to a loose roof.

I think one that's barely hanging on, would be a hazard if it ever broke loose and landed on a vehicle, blinding the driver? Or even just hitting it, as it sat in a pile in the road.... I'd probably call 911 to report it?

[jnharley]

And that bubble is easily fixed. We had one on our previous 5th wheel. We had a repairman come out and he loosened the guttering and the bracket that held the roof down on the front, peeled the roof back, re glued it, and put everything back in place all for less than $200. It was fine after that. By the way, the roof was only 4 years old and it was a replacement because the original rtoof failed in less than 3 years. The original roof material was defective and no, the roof material warranty would not pay for the replacement.

[WTP-GC]

I see the roof bubbles all the time. Makes me a wonder what I look like, but then again, I noticed my roof was well adhered when I did my coating job on it.

This person was headed south, and as I said with Ontario plates.

Not to say that it couldn't happen to any of us, but in the event that it did and we were aware of it, I'd like to think that I'd at least stop and get a staple gun and tack it down. At that point, you wouldn't be hurting anything.

I kept waiting for the whole thing to fly off. I honestly believe that the AC unit was the only thing keeping it on.

[Laman]

I was traveling south on I-75 just out of Ocala this past Sunday and saw a FW traveling north with a huge roof bubble, from the front at least half-way back along it's length. I wonder how long that one lasted?

[Bumpyroad]

I thought it was only Winnebagos that had the roof fly off.
bumpy :s

[gbopp]

I wonder how much the extra drag would impact the MPG?

That would be the least of the owners worries. Maybe he was trying to get home as quick as possible?

I doubt he was unaware of the situation.

[azrving]

.

[Old-Biscuit]

Most likely had a 'Balloon' (huge bubble) for a long time and it finally ripped loose.

That RVr probably knew it was flapping....had to hear it.....and was just so frustrated he figure 'why stop...hope it rips completely off'