Eternabond on a four year old Kodiak Travel Trailer

[Canuck_Travelle]

I repaired a leak last summer along the seam of the Skylight on my 2013 Dutchmen Kodiak 210 RBSL with Eternabond. It worked so good that now I am thinking of doing all the seams that have been caulked with Dicor.

I cleaned the area well & applied Eternabond rubbing it in real good and caulked the ends with Dicor.

Has others did this on a Trailer or Fifth Wheel a few years old?
Seems like an easier way to avoid leaks even though the Eternabond is a bit expensive. I just don't trust the Dicor after a few years being in the sun and the elements.
Any comments are very much appreciated, thenks......Ernie

On edit the "Eternabond" was a knock off but the RV Service claimed to be "As good as".....if I do the whole RV it will be Eternabond....a bit more expensive.

[soren]

I used a ton of Eternabond tape on a project recently. I need 2", but I bought 6" and cut the roll into three 2" strips. It was a lot cheaper.

[realebill]

I used it on all vents and around the A/C. Also used 4" wide strip along the top of my rolled up awning to cut down the effect of UV on the awning fabric.

[westend]

Atlee wrote:
Did you remove any excess caulking before applying the Eternabond? Or did you just apply the Eternabond over top what was there?

Reason I ask, my current trailer gobs and gobs of caulk around all the seams, and places like skylights, etc.

westend wrote:
I installed Eternabond on every seam and all the through holes on my roof. It is still applied like the day I did it and no leaks after three years.

My roof was unusual in that I had years of different sealers on it to try to stop leaking--silicone, acrylic house caulk, RTV silicone, roofing tar, etc..

I removed all that I could, mechanically, with a wire cup brush on a grinder (aluminum roof). I then went over each seam with mineral spirits and lastly, lacquer thinner. This left a very clean surface for the Eternabond. I used Eternabond Roof tape on standing seams, vent openings, and vent pipes. On the edge trim, I covered the plastic screw cover and all of the edge trim with Eternabond Webseal, a more conformal tape. The finishing was two coats of elastomeric roof paint. It still looks like a million $$$.

The tricks for using the tape are---hospital clean surface and pressing the tape with a hand roller. The roller bursts the microencapsulated adhesive in the tape. Pressing by hand is no good. You need to put pressure on the tape with a roller.

Another thing I learned about Eternabond tapes is that they make excellent screw sealers. When I mounted my solar panel, I screwed through the tape and it follows up the screw thread and covers the head. Marvelous stuff!

[Canuck_Travelle]

poppin_fresh wrote:
My trailer is less than one year old to me, but has already seen one winter, based on the build date. I was not impressed with factory caulk job on the seams so I cleaned well with acetone and covered with eternabond.

This spring I will probably do around the other roof items since I have plenty of the 50 foot roll left.

Nice job and great pictures....."A picture is worth a thousand words"

[poppin_fresh]

My trailer is less than one year old to me, but has already seen one winter, based on the build date. I was not impressed with factory caulk job on the seams so I cleaned well with acetone and covered with eternabond.

This spring I will probably do around the other roof items since I have plenty of the 50 foot roll left.

[TurnThePage]

CopilotCompanion wrote:

westend wrote:
I installed Eternabond on every seam and all the through holes on my roof. It is still applied like the day I did it and no leaks after three years.

X2. I used the real stuff, Eternabond. No leaks from that point forward.

x3. And I went right over the old caulk with no trimming or levelling (as long as you have adequate coverage on either side). I used 4" on all locations. Mine has held up for 12 years now.

[Huntindog]

hohenwald48 wrote:

Atlee wrote:
Did you remove any excess caulking before applying the Eternabond? Or did you just apply the Eternabond over top what was there?

Reason I ask, my current trailer gobs and gobs of caulk around all the seams, and places like skylights, etc.

westend wrote:
I installed Eternabond on every seam and all the through holes on my roof. It is still applied like the day I did it and no leaks after three years.

Good question. Hope somebody weighs in with an answer. Removing the old caulk will considerably complicate the job for sure.

The little bit I have worked with it, I noticed that it likes to lie flat. It just doesn't conform very well.. So yes, IMO, gobs of caulk, or even a normal amount will be a problem.

I also am skeptical of using it here in Phoenix due to the intense sun we get... I don't think it will hold up.... But nothing does here.

[hohenwald48]

Atlee wrote:
Did you remove any excess caulking before applying the Eternabond? Or did you just apply the Eternabond over top what was there?

Reason I ask, my current trailer gobs and gobs of caulk around all the seams, and places like skylights, etc.

westend wrote:
I installed Eternabond on every seam and all the through holes on my roof. It is still applied like the day I did it and no leaks after three years.

Good question. Hope somebody weighs in with an answer. Removing the old caulk will considerably complicate the job for sure.

[Community Alumni]

Canuck Travellers wrote:

FWIW....you have to wonder why RV Manufacturers continue to build and design RV's using caulking around all openings that breakdown after only a few years, in this technology age surely there are better methods......or do they do it on purpose or it is just cheaper to get them out the door and continue to do it "The way we always did it"

As with most components of RVs, it's all about money. Self leveling caulking costs next to nothing and it can be laid down rather quickly on the line by even unskilled workers. The faster you can pump them out the more money you can make. Installing Eternabond tape correctly requires things like careful preparation, precise installation, and attention to detail. Three things that lots of manufacturers struggle with already.

[Atlee]

Did you remove any excess caulking before applying the Eternabond? Or did you just apply the Eternabond over top what was there?

Reason I ask, my current trailer gobs and gobs of caulk around all the seams, and places like skylights, etc.

westend wrote:
I installed Eternabond on every seam and all the through holes on my roof. It is still applied like the day I did it and no leaks after three years.

[CopilotCompanio]

westend wrote:
I installed Eternabond on every seam and all the through holes on my roof. It is still applied like the day I did it and no leaks after three years.

X2. I used the real stuff, Eternabond. No leaks from that point forward.

[spoon059]

I have an almost 2 year old trailer and wanted to Eternabond the seams already, I just haven't gotten around to it.

On my old trailer I used 2" wide tape for the sidewalls and 6" wide for the front and rear seams.

[Canuck_Travelle]

hohenwald48 wrote:
OK, you guys convinced me. I've been thinking of taking on this project for some time and currently have a lull in my project schedule to fill. However, in looking at Eternabond on the internet there seems to be a plethora of choices in different tapes. I see that most of the variations are simply the size of he roll. Is there a particular type or specification of Eternabond I should look for?

The little bit I did was the 4" wide Tape and it was not Eternabond but a comparable type that the RV Service Center said was "As good as" and they sold it by the foot, however in doing my whole RV it will be Eternabond this time.

FWIW....you have to wonder why RV Manufacturers continue to build and design RV's using caulking around all openings that breakdown after only a few years, in this technology age surely there are better methods......or do they do it on purpose or it is just cheaper to get them out the door and continue to do it "The way we always did it"

[hohenwald48]

OK, you guys convinced me. I've been thinking of taking on this project for some time and currently have a lull in my project schedule. However, in looking at Eternabond on the internet there seems to be a plethora of choices in different tapes. I see that most of the variations are simply the size of he roll. Is there a particular type or specification of Eternabond I should look for?