Delamination

[ThreeToGo]

Our 2006 fiberglass camper has some serious delamination in the nose cap. This started about a year and a half ago. It now looks like it has a very bad acne problem. Obviously, the camper is long out of warranty. The manufacturer is unable to repair it and suggested we take it to any "reputable service center". Has anybody else had experience with this problem? If so, please recommend a repair facility. Of course, we'd rather have it repaired locally but we are willing to drive some distance.
Incidentally, we have no idea as to the cause. I don't see anyplace where moisture could have gotten in from either the outside or inside of the camper.
We live in the Bay Area with some of the most ambient weather in the country. The camper has never been subjected to extreme heat or cold as we are fair weather campers. When not in use, the camper is stored under an ADCO cover. (We are on our second cover.)

[TCcamper]

Delamination is the biggest problem with RV's. I would look at the gutter drain area as I had a similar issue that was caused by the water draining off the roof and the underside seam from the overhang where the gutters ran down the side of the camper was where the leak was. It cost a lot of money to fix and this keeps the RV industry in business fixing these issues. I can't understand why they aren't able to come up with a better method to seal these things. If I had known all this BEFORE I bought a Camper I would have bought a van or something else.

[jerry101jlh]

ThreeToGo wrote:
Our 2006 fiberglass camper has some serious delamination in the nose cap. This started about a year and a half ago. It now looks like it has a very bad acne problem. Obviously, the camper is long out of warranty. The manufacturer is unable to repair it and suggested we take it to any "reputable service center". Has anybody else had experience with this problem? If so, please recommend a repair facility. Of course, we'd rather have it repaired locally but we are willing to drive some distance.
Incidentally, we have no idea as to the cause. I don't see anyplace where moisture could have gotten in from either the outside or inside of the camper.
We live in the Bay Area with some of the most ambient weather in the country. The camper has never been subjected to extreme heat or cold as we are fair weather campers. When not in use, the camper is stored under an ADCO cover. (We are on our second cover.)

Unfortunately we are too far away to recommend the shop that did ours. Fortunately we suffered no moisture damage, but cost was around 2K. Worth it I guess as we plan on keeping the camper for a long time.

[jimh406]

I think our weather in Western WA might make a cover work differently. It's not very hot during the rainy season but can be windy. I had a cover that was designed to breathe that lasted a few years but during this Winter, it shredded. 🙂

Also, I'd say our vehicles bodies have a much longer lifetime than most every other part of the country. It's common to see really old vehicles with almost no damage due to rust.

[ScottG]

mobilefleet wrote:
fabric covers indeed DO trap moisture and promote mold and mildew. Try it out for yourself by putting on a jacket and then go lie on your driveway for 6 months in the off season under rain and snow. Have a friend lie under an rv carport for that same 6 months. Who stays drier?

A real world test is to actually use one - which I do.
I live in one of the dampest parts of the country and use a DriZair in my TT. Using the ADCO, the traps fill up half as fast and the trailer stays dry and clean on the outside. If the cover was letting in moisture and holding it against the sides then it would be heavily covered in moss and mold like everything else here.
Every spring I uncover the trailer to find it just as clean and dry as the day I covered it. It also hasn't faded and the stickers still look like new.
Not everyone can have a carport for their RV. A cover provides a good alternative.

[Jeepers92]

The first place to check is the clearance lights. Check for cracks in the lens and remove them and inspect the mounting aera for water intrusion.

[mobilefleet]

fabric covers indeed DO trap moisture and promote mold and mildew. Try it out for yourself by putting on a jacket and then go lie on your driveway for 6 months in the off season under rain and snow. Have a friend lie under an rv carport for that same 6 months. Who stays drier?

[KKELLER14K]

Unfortunately this will be the beginning of the end as it is for many of the older TC campers that had early laminated siding. As the years tick away, it is apparent that these laminated sided RV's are not standing up to the test of time. I can tell you for a fact(and back it up with pictures), that once a "bubble" occurs, that moisture will proliferate the area as a cancer and will only grow larger. That pocket will only trap more and more moisture from heating and cooling and if it ever freezes your even more screwed. Your hell is just beginning and I'm sorry to tell you that you have a lot of work ahead of you.

[jimh406]

Obviously, a 2006 is not under warranty from any manufacturer. It would be nice if all products had lifetime warranties though. I think you got good advice from Host. Having someone who's done the fix before is a good idea.

I haven't had significant issues, but the owner of Host has answered every question I've had. That's all I thought I was entitled to.

[bobndot]

I can see not using a plastic tarp in certain areas . Im not sure about ADCO covers except they tend to need replacement more often than a more expensive cover like a Calmark.
If it's a breathable fabric cover like a Calmark , why wouldn't it work ? I always leave my roofvents open with Maxx vent covers on them.
I always thought the main reason was to help with potential uv damage rather than waterproof protection.
I would think a breathable fabric would be ok to use.
However you can't beat a barn or solid rooftop cover.

http://calmarkcustomrvcovers.com/MOST_FREQUENTLY_ASKED_RV_COVER_QUESTIONS.pdf

[ScottG]

The guy at Lance was wrong or worse, a liar. Covers don't trap moisture (that was the first clue he had no idea what he was talking about). He's perpetrating a lie that holds no merit and he's doing this to get out of explaining the real reason for delam in his products and also to get out of being responsible for it warranty-wise.
Any RV will last indefinitely if you keep the elements off it.

[sleepy]

Sorry about your problem.

I have reported the following before before... in 2005 I was told by Jim Allen, customer service manager at Lance Campers factory when I asked for recommendations for a cover for my 2003.

He told me "Do not use a fabric cover at all" He went on to explain that the covers trap moisture, mold, dampness, etc causes filon failure.... and chaffing or abrasion in the wind.

I told him that I had read the cover manufacturer's claims... Jim said "Sure, they are selling covers"

I have reported this a few times on the forum... I don't know of anyone that ever paid any attention to it... except me.

I saved up and built a carport... 18' X 37', 12' high... $3500 total tax and all.

I wish everyone would take Jim's advice...

Chet

[BuckBarker]

Francesca Knowles wrote:

ThreeToGo wrote:
I don't see anyplace where moisture could have gotten in from either the outside or inside of the camper.
We live in the Bay Area with some of the most ambient weather in the country. The camper has never been subjected to extreme heat or cold as we are fair weather campers. When not in use, the camper is stored under an ADCO cover. (We are on our second cover.)

Maritime climates, though often very mild, are also pretty wet, air-wise. Especially if the walls are luan/composite, it's possible that inadequate ventilation during storage could have created interior condensation that penetrated the walls and lifted the outer skin. Sort of a leak-from-the-inside-out.

Absolutely correct call. The backside of my refrigerator is badly rusted and rusty condensation drips out of the fridge wall vent. I live 2 miles from the ocean and the moisture migrates through the fridge roof vent. I now cap that vent during storage and no more condensation drips.

[3_tons]

Sorry to hear of your difficulties. For major repair work, you could try Cordelia RV Service Center near Fairfield, CA. 707.863.9102 I stopped in to get a slide-out wiper gasket and got a interesting mini-tour of their 45k sq/ft repair facility - all types of repair and restoration work in progress including filon delamination repairs of all types (incl, camper front cap)...Good Luck!

Best Regards,

3 tons

[Francesca_Knowl]

ThreeToGo wrote:
I don't see anyplace where moisture could have gotten in from either the outside or inside of the camper.
We live in the Bay Area with some of the most ambient weather in the country. The camper has never been subjected to extreme heat or cold as we are fair weather campers. When not in use, the camper is stored under an ADCO cover. (We are on our second cover.)

Maritime climates, though often very mild, are also pretty wet, air-wise. Especially if the walls are luan/composite, it's possible that inadequate ventilation during storage could have created interior condensation that penetrated the walls and lifted the outer skin. Sort of a leak-from-the-inside-out.