Forum Discussion

gvgeode's avatar
gvgeode
Explorer
Sep 15, 2021

Contracting out for re-caulking

I’m trying to decide how to approach the storage of our 2009 Lance 1055. I’m no longer able to climb on top or access high up the sides or nose to re-caulk it. I also can’t put on and take off a cover. Recently I had posted a question about putting up a carport thinking that would do away with the need for a cover. The area where the camper lives gets only partial sun and we don’t have severe winters. But now I’m wondering about not putting up a cover at all, leaving it exposed to the elements and just having it re-caulked more frequently. Up until now it's lived under a cover when not in use and is in good shape.

So I’m looking for advice from anyone who has paid to have their rig re-caulked. What type of place did you use (RV dealer/service center, independent company, other), what, if any issues did you have with the quality of the job or the company you hired, what recommendations do you have for proceeding with this plan?

Thanks for your thoughts.
Truck Campers
  • mbloof's avatar
    mbloof
    Explorer
    Sep 16, 2021
    A few years ago I had my Northern Lite resealed at a dealer. Cost was ~1000.00.

    I was told that most of that cost was the time involved scrapping off the old calk.


    YMMV


    - Mark0.
  • jimh406's avatar
    jimh406
    Explorer III
    Sep 16, 2021
    I don’t have a recommendation for you other than if you visit places that have a lower standard of living than CA get it done while you are there. At $1000, it seems you could take a good trip for half of that.
  • JimK-NY's avatar
    JimK-NY
    Explorer II
    Sep 16, 2021
    I would ask around and try to find a good handyman. I think you will have better luck finding someone who will do a good job at a reasonable cost.

    Also how much re-caulking do you think is needed? Dicor and other quality sealants should last for decades.
  • jmckelvy's avatar
    jmckelvy
    Explorer
    Sep 16, 2021
    I second the recommendation to find a mobile RV tech. They are generally more competent, less costly, and more responsive than RV dealers. My use of one years ago in Oklahoma City (Price Mobile RV service) with a wheel bearing issue on a fifth wheel was outstanding. Great service!
  • mellow's avatar
    mellow
    Explorer
    Sep 16, 2021
    I just redid my 08 1191 at the beginning of the year, if you are doing it right it is no joke. I would say I had over 16 hours into it doing 1 side per day on the the weekends and the roof took over 4 hours since I was just cleaning the old caulk and putting new dicor overtop the old caulk. I totally stripped all the old caulk off the rest of the camper and cleaned it and applied new geocell proflex. All in all it took about 4 tubes of Dicor on the roof and 6 tubes of Geocell for the vertical surfaces.

    I would say $1000.00 + materials is a very fair price if done correctly, but with the ways things are today that is probably $2000.00 if you can find someone that can fit it into their schedule.
  • towpro's avatar
    towpro
    Explorer
    Sep 16, 2021
    I guess it depends on the definition of "re-caulking".
    you have the one where someone looks for cracks, or failing caulk, and remove if needed or just recover.
    or where they remove everything and reseal it.

    I had a 2011 Open Range and the factory told me "every 5 years that every piece of trim needs to be removed and re-caulked".
    (which surprised me because they never caulked it from factory, they sealed everything with double sided foam tape that they used to attach the trim)
  • NamMedevac_70's avatar
    NamMedevac_70
    Explorer II
    Sep 16, 2021
    I have successfully for years used white Eternal bond tape in various widths to cover seams, small tears and road debris damage to my TT with only limited recaulking needed where I could not afix the tape in other areas. The tape is very durable, thick and last a long long time AND IS quick and easy to use and absolutely mess free. I applied it over the old caulk in many places and it looked nice and white like rest of the TT. In addition I used Dicor liquid rubber roof to cover the whole roof and tape. Glad I bought a white TT. Never any leaks from harsh wx elements always out in the open with no covers or carports. This method should also work on TC.

    For me the tape was almost like caulk and very malleable with no time constraints once exposed to air unlike caulk. Your mileage may vary.
  • gvgeode's avatar
    gvgeode
    Explorer
    Sep 19, 2021
    Thank you all for your suggestions. I did not know that such a thing as a mobile RV tech existed and I will definitely look into that. I like the idea of traveling to a nearby state where cost of living is lower and combining a re-caulking with a vacation, great thought.

    The caulking is the original Dicor, and that's what I'll have put on after all the old is removed. I've used Eternabond tape for small dings from road debris and a hole from a branch when I overestimated my ability to maneuver under a tree but will stick with Dicor for the seams.

    I feel much better about the approach I'm considering after hearing from you all, thanks again. Good trails to you all.
  • adamis's avatar
    adamis
    Nomad II
    Sep 19, 2021
    As others said, this is a very labor intensive job just to remove the old stuff and is where you will spend the majority of your budget. Applying the new stuff once everything is prepped is much easier. A mobile tech is probably charging between $50 to $100+ an hour I would suspect. Before you call that guy, find someone and pay them $25 an hour to remove the old caulking. You only need the experienced guy for the re-application part.

    Finally, I highly recommend getting the carport regardless. The thing that does the damage is the sun and keeping the camper covered will extend the life of the new caulk for many more years.

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