RV tech. help on what sealant to use?

[NanciL]

I am going to be cutting a hole and installing a new cable entry port on the side of my brand new travel trailer.
What do the factories use for a sealant when they install them ?

Jack L

[myredracer]

ghiotom wrote:
The Proflex sealant is a great product, but wish it came in small tubes for touch up. Bought a 10 0z tube for a caulking gun and ran about 18 inches. One month later, the rest was unusable.

Def. agree on that. The Proflex caulk has a shelf life of 1 year (per their website). The tubes have a lot no. on them somewhere that will tell you. You could have been sold some about to expire or already expired caulk. I guess you've gotta ask before you buy it or get a money back agreement first. 😞

It helps to plug the tip or put some tape on the end when finished. Sometimes I've pushed a long screw down the tip of various caulks and yanked out the hardened stuff in the tip to get some good stuff still in there.

[ghiotom]

The Proflex sealant is a great product, but wish it came in small tubes for touch up. Bought a 10 0z tube for a caulking gun and ran about 18 inches. One month later, the rest was unusable.

[lots2seeinmyrv]

Thanks westend

I can use a hair dryer to heat the tube and I think the hole was too big. Soo globby coming out 😞

We have been using Denatured Alcohol to prep surface.

Someone recommended PrepSol? TEC90 Adhesive Remover instead. Have you used this?

[westend]

lots2seeinmyrv wrote:
I have been using the Geocel ProFlexRV clear sealant on the outside seams. It is a sticky, gooey mess every time.

Has anyone used, or have input on, Rock River 100% RTV Silicone Sealant? Is this a special formula for RVs?

Thank you.

You don't want any silicone on the exterior of your trailer. It will eventually fail and be worse than nothing at all.

If you're having a problem with the Geocel sealant, I'd suggest to mildly heat the tube before use and only cut the dispensing spout to a small hole. The amount of sealant dispensed is the number 1 problem my guys have with getting a good bead onto a surface. A small bead of sealant can be struck and look good, giving all the protection a guy needs.

[lots2seeinmyrv]

I have been using the Geocel ProFlexRV clear sealant on the outside seams. It is a sticky, gooey mess every time.

Has anyone used, or have input on, Rock River 100% RTV Silicone Sealant? Is this a special formula for RVs?

Thank you.

[Veebyes]

Watched the video. What a mess!

There are tricks to using silicone or a decent sealant. Tape it off both sides for a start so that you don't get the disaster in the video. Also, a few minutes after applying take a cube of ice & run it over the seam. Don't use your fingers. Take the tape off before hardening so that the material can self level to the surface.

3M makes a good line of marine grade sealants.

[jake2250]

mowemech: That is correct, got a neighbor up the street thats a airline mechanic.
Recent storm dropped a branch on the roof of his PUP, poked a hole thru the aluminum roof.
He brought some of that stuff home and I helped (mostly watched and drank a beer),But yeah, that stuff he used is pricey and he had the gun already!
Cut a piece twice the size of the hole and sealed it good with that airplane stuff. Its On and NOT coming off! He also had some sealant that he uses on the radar panel on the front of some aircraft, he uses it if the plane has had a bird strike and cracks that nose piece! Its a brush on sealant and it is very tough! And very very expensive!! He used that to seal the edges of the panel he put on the PUP..

[mowermech]

If you want "forever" sealant, go to your local airport and visit the parts department at the FBO (Fixed Base Operator). Ask for Proseal or PRC. that is the sealant that is used on aircraft, often on lap joints for pressurized cabins.
It comes in various types, depending on the intended use. there is even a type approved by the FAA for use in fuel cells!
I glued a Pratt and Whitney badge to a nickel silver belt buckle in 1970, using the white sealant.. It is still there, and the sealant shows no deterioration at all.
Of course, being an aircraft product, it isn't inexpensive. The special gun for the tubes is also pricey.
It is paintable, and forever, if properly applied.

[MrWizard]

So you want to seal the trap door flange ?
Or a connector housing ?

[NanciL]

MrWizard wrote:
Geocel
Good stuff, but it's just re-branded polyurethane
You can buy 3m band or generic polyurethane at local hardware or big box store
I'm partial to using 3m myself
Your adding a cable, coax ?
Get one of the wall insert adapters that goes around the cable
This will improve mechanical strength and prevent vibration from wearing or losing the sealant

No, I am adding a 50 Amp cable. It will go right next to my existing 30 Amp one.

Jack L

[Chris_Bryant]

I would use butyl tape under the fitting, which is how the factory would do it.

[westend]

Silicone is an excellent sealant when used in compression between two surfaces and not exposed to UV. Neither is the case when using to eliminate/****** leaks in RV exterior siding and trim. The added injury with silicone is that after the bond fails, it leaves a film that nothing else will adhere to.

I started using Geocel Tripolymer 2300 construction adhesive when I restored my RV. I now use it in a variety of projects for my customers.

[blofgren]

myredracer wrote:
How to caulk RV exterior with silicone. Enjoy!



There are caulking products made specifically for RV exterior use. Why would anyone not use the correct product for the application? There are some alternatives to RV exterior caulk (like Geocel) if you do your research.

LOL that was great, thanks for posting and the laughs! :B

[MrWizard]

Geocel
Good stuff, but it's just re-branded polyurethane
You can buy 3m band or generic polyurethane at local hardware or big box store
I'm partial to using 3m myself
Your adding a cable, coax ?
Get one of the wall insert adapters that goes around the cable
This will improve mechanical strength and prevent vibration from wearing or losing the sealant