Delamination - not leak caused?

[LoudDog]

2012 Cougar 27RLS.

When we bought it new there was delam in the front clip and had to have the front panel replaced (under warranty).

5 years later I'm looking at it and pretty much the entire front and back panel (left to right, top to bottom) is delaminated. I can press and pushes in about 1/8-1/4".

There is no hint of visible water damage inside or out (other than the delam...).

I check the roof twice a year, the sealant always looks good (I haven't had to re caulk). Is this a non leak problem or have I not been picky enough on my inspection and I have leaks?

Given that the front was delaminated when new, I'm guessing there was some workmanship issues?

Note: both sides are perfect, no delam.

[drsteve]

Composet

[RVguy77]

weather it is from water damage or not, it is good to fix it. Composet Products offers a lot of good ways to fix it for fairly cheap

[LoudDog]

Any other thoughts on this? I've looked and looked and can't find any water damage. I'm guessing this is a cosmetic issue only?

Is this common?

[LoudDog]

bobndot wrote:
With rv repair, it depends on who performs the repair. I have seen 18 yr olds assigned to jobs that deserved a more qualified mechanic with experience. Work fast, get the job finished and move the unit out of a needed bay is the name of the game.

Do you know if the OEM build used a vacuum bonded filon method ? If it was then your TT should have been returned to the factory for repair.

If the first repair was made by your dealer and NOT the factory (under warranty), then maybe the dealer rolled the filon in place which is a less expensive mode of repair. Vacuum bonded units are usually factory performed due to expensive equipment.

One other thing i forgot to mention when you were checking the roof seams for cracked caulk did you overlook the clearance lights.
They use the cheapest lights on the market and they leak.

I'm pretty sure it was vacuum bonded as I recall them telling us the original problem was a pin hole leak in the vacuum process. And I know they did not send it back to the factory.

[LoudDog]

Is my thinking that it's not leak caused justified? With the whole panel delaminated I'd think it would have to be a heck of a leak? and if the leak was that big there would be other leak evidence?

no stains on the wall or floor, never wet inside, nothing.

The front makes sense. it was delaminated from the factory and they may not have fixed it right. the rear makes less sense.

[colliehauler]

LoudDog wrote:
The back gets pretty good sun exposure, the front not so much.

It could have been like this for a while. It does not look bubbled as the whole panel is one big bubble. The sun was hitting it just right today, so I push tested it and discovered it.

Contrary to popular belief, our summers are pretty nice. We go about 3 straight months of no rain and mostly sunny skies with a week or two in the 90's. Don't tell anyone though, we use the rain thing to keep people away 🙂

Mine started out as two dinner plate size spots towards the top front corners. My comment about the sun was where your at the sun is not as intense as it is in the south, no 110+ degree temperatures.

[bobndot]

With rv repair, it depends on who performs the repair. I have seen 18 yr olds assigned to jobs that deserved a more qualified mechanic with experience. Work fast, get the job finished and move the unit out of a needed bay is the name of the game.

Do you know if the OEM build used a vacuum bonded filon method ? If it was then your TT should have been returned to the factory for repair.

If the first repair was made by your dealer and NOT the factory (under warranty), then maybe the dealer rolled the filon in place which is a less expensive mode of repair. Vacuum bonded units are usually factory performed due to expensive equipment.

One other thing i forgot to mention when you were checking the roof seams for cracked caulk did you overlook the clearance lights.
They use the cheapest lights on the market and they leak.

[LoudDog]

The back gets pretty good sun exposure, the front not so much.

It could have been like this for a while. It does not look bubbled as the whole panel is one big bubble. The sun was hitting it just right today, so I push tested it and discovered it.

Contrary to popular belief, our summers are pretty nice. We go about 3 straight months of no rain and mostly sunny skies with a week or two in the 90's. Don't tell anyone though, we use the rain thing to keep people away 🙂

[colliehauler]

Sometimes if they are parked in the sun the glue will let go, usually happens when new though. Happened to a little Sidekick TT I had parked under a car port but the sun baked the front of the unit. Where your at the sun and temperature shouldn't be a issue.