Previously I had notices the fiberglass (after climbing up on the roof I'm wondering if it is some kind of plastic?) piece that forms the cab over and comes up to meet the rubber roof is a bit "wavey" on the top at the seam, like this (look to the left side of the picture):Since it was like that since new I hadn't thought anything of it. Today, while trying to get rid of the evidence of my attempt to reduce the bug population of WA, ID, and MT, I noticed for the first time that the piece right in front of the seam could be "pushed down" on and would flex:At first I had a moment of panic that I had some delamination but the seals are good, they have been checked regularity over its short life and it seams you can flex it over the entire roof seam except the corners. This leads me to believe it is designed to be "free floating." I was wondering if anybody know how Northwood constructs that part of the camper and joins the "cap" to the roof?

That's typical delamination. AF Filon is backed by cardboard. Any moisture causes just what you are seeing.

I've got the same thing on mine and I live in Vegas....hard for me to believe its moisture caused. My guess is their was not enough bonding material applied for the long haul. My 2012 AF990 ripples showed up two months ago in the heat of summer.

Nothing to worry about. My AF 1140 was like that from new. Every AF I ever looked at has a few "waves" along that top edge where the filon meets the rubber roof. Uusally you have to look down along the seam to see it as its not noticeable from down below. You might want to be safe though and when you get time run some Eternabond along that seam. I made two runs using 4" wide Eternabond and laid it out over the factory dicor. slightly over lapping the two pieces.

Kerry getting off this subject is there some way I could see your second TV location.

Gary3 I'll send you a PM with some pics. Dont want to hijack this thread

Arctic Fox front roof seam construction | Good Sam Community

anutami
Explorer III
Sep 05, 2014
Here is Northwoods response

"Nolan, I can see that your problem is caused by excessive heat that has distorted the glass, in short it has got to "HOT" under the cover that you are using, you might want to check with the folks that made the cover but this is not covered under the Northwood Warranty and is really just cosmetic at this time and really should not change much, but i would get ride of the cover for the summer and maybe use it when the weather changes.Thanks Matt"
Super_Dave
Explorer
Aug 19, 2014
The cap is clearly mechanically fastened to the roof frame as evidenced by the dicor on the screw heads. The dimple areas you are all pointing out are where the filon was asked to bend in a very sharp manner. Not like possible if it was backed with anything very rigid. That's why the Eagle Cap fiberglass caps have been the Cadillac in cap construction. I would compare this with the equivalent of putting weight on the hood of your truck.
joeshmoe
Explorer
Aug 19, 2014
I certainly wouldn't want to put ANY weight, really, no more than two or three fingers worth of pressure on that entire section. When I installed the roof vent, I made sure not to get near that seam or forward of it. Other than that, for anyone not sure about getting up on their rubber roof, it felt very solid. I'm not exactly a lightweight.

On a related note, If you're going to be up there for any length of time doing work (wink, wink, Nolan), I would bring a nice thick moving blanket to lay/sit/stand yourself and your tools on. That EPDM is rather thin.
joeshmoe
Explorer
Aug 19, 2014
A little. Kinda hard to tell. Towards the middle it definitely feels stiffer. As I move closer to the moulding toward outside edge is where it seems more vulnerable.
brholt
Explorer II
Aug 19, 2014
joeshmoe wrote:
Mine seems pretty straight. But it is flimsy up there. Wouldn't take much to puncture or indent it.

Is yours attached to the substrate up there or when you push on it will it indent?
joeshmoe
Explorer
Aug 19, 2014
Mine seems pretty straight. But it is flimsy up there. Wouldn't take much to puncture or indent it.
joeshmoe
Explorer
Aug 18, 2014
Yeah, but there are plenty of things that CAN be seen and foreseen during the inspection process, but they pass anyway.
Super_Dave
Explorer
Aug 18, 2014
joeshmoe, when the quality inspector is looking at contact paper on the walls and cardboard underlayment, there isn't a lot they can do. Campers seem to be put together with a lot of adhesives. Heat and adhesives don't seem to be a good mix. I know that adhesives have taken a big hit with States outlawing a lot of the chemicals that make them work well to meet EPA guidelines. I've developed a lot of air bubbles on my ceiling carpet because the heat has allow it to come apart. On 100 degree days, it is probably 140 - 150+ degrees inside my camper.
joeshmoe
Explorer
Aug 18, 2014
Very poor construction at best and so revealing and so far from 4 season claimed or real quality type acceptable design/construction!
anutami
Explorer III
Aug 18, 2014
RICKIM wrote:
Is it the image or does that look like it has been hit by something? The molding looks like it has a slight bend in it and the ProFlex has been compromised.
Might be just the angle or a reflection?
Either way that would be unacceptable to me.
You should definitely have it looked at.

Good Luck, and happy camping.

Rick

Its just the picture and the reflection. Here are some of the other defects. Thanks for all the feedback and posting this thread. I guess I'm a pretty mellow easy-going guy but this is crazy and getting me upset. Will be contacting apache camping center and see what they say. It's beginning to look like I got another lemon!!!!!