What sealant to use?

LarryJM wrote:

plasticmaster wrote:
I've used Dicor self leveling lap sealant on the roof of my TT in the past around vent pipes and such. I want to seal the outside corner moldings, around the windows, water heater, stove vent, etc. What caulk or sealant should I use? My camper is an aluminum sided travel trailer. Thanks.

Instead of the run of the mill regular just caulks/sealants which IMO Pro-Flex falls in I prefer the "ADHESIVE"/sealants designed for submerged/marine type applications such as the 3M UV4000. IMO they have superior adhesive properties along with all the desirable sealant type properties.

Larry

I just used 3M UV4000 this fall on a troublesome spot on my TT that nothing else worked. Proflex kept splitting with temperature changes and so far this winter the UV4000 has not. I agree with Larry and plan to remove all of the old split and peeling proflex and dicor to replace it with UV4000.

Rob

plasticmaster wrote:
I've used Dicor self leveling lap sealant on the roof of my TT in the past around vent pipes and such. I want to seal the outside corner moldings, around the windows, water heater, stove vent, etc. What caulk or sealant should I use? My camper is an aluminum sided travel trailer. Thanks.

Howdy. try to use liquid rubber waterproofing materials http://liquidrubber.ca/ they would be helpful i hope. About 2 years ago it was raining cats and dogs and my 1992 Coachmen Classic 35' RV roof leaked. And I fixed it with it.

plasticmaster wrote:
I've used Dicor self leveling lap sealant on the roof of my TT in the past around vent pipes and such. I want to seal the outside corner moldings, around the windows, water heater, stove vent, etc. What caulk or sealant should I use? My camper is an aluminum sided travel trailer. Thanks.

IMO any of the ones mentioned will work fine.
I found Proflex sealant on vertical surfaces has worked great on my '97 30' 5th wheel trailer.
I caulked the front and rear corners/tops and sides of windows and doors sometime in '03-'04 era. No cracks in the sealant so far.

One thing I learned (many times the hard way) when I had a mobilehome/rv repair business was whatever type of product you use as a sealant just keep in mind you may be the one to have to remove it to make a repair.

westend wrote:

LarryJM wrote:

plasticmaster wrote:
I've used Dicor self leveling lap sealant on the roof of my TT in the past around vent pipes and such. I want to seal the outside corner moldings, around the windows, water heater, stove vent, etc. What caulk or sealant should I use? My camper is an aluminum sided travel trailer. Thanks.

Instead of the run of the mill regular just caulks/sealants which IMO Pro-Flex falls in I prefer the "ADHESIVE"/sealants designed for submerged/marine type applications such as the 3M UV4000. IMO they have superior adhesive properties along with all the desirable sealant type properties.

Larry

Larry,
Have you checked the properties of these sealants, the 3M product you use and the Geocel sealants? They are real close in most respects, the 3M product having superior elongation but about the same bond strength on similar materials as the Geocel sealants.

If you have those numbers please do provide them along with where you got them so that your claim they have about the same bond strengths can be verified. I tried to find the Geocel numbers, but couldn't and there seems to be an issue with see the details product specs on the Pro-Flex on the Geocel site now. Also, provide the information saying that the Geocel is recommended for submerged type applications (i.e. waterproof which the UV4000 is).

Larry

Great question, one I was wanting to ask myself. I also wondered why I always read about "no silicone". I got both questions answered. Awesome.

TNRIVERSIDE wrote:
I see the "do not use silicone" statement repeated on this site. But other then the roof my Coleman by Dutchmen uses silicone on most outside metal to metal and metal to plastic unions. I have used silicone on a lot of touch up areas and it has worked great for me. I do respect others opinions. Just my experience.

The problem with silicone is that nothing will bond to it including more silicone. When you need to reseal a silicone seam you'll need to clean off ALL silicone to reapply any sealant.

I see the "do not use silicone" statement repeated on this site. But other then the roof my Coleman by Dutchmen uses silicone on most outside metal to metal and metal to plastic unions. I have used silicone on a lot of touch up areas and it has worked great for me. I do respect others opinions. Just my experience.

As a retired commercial fisherman the only one I ever used on the Wood, Aluminum or Fiberglass boats was 3m 5200. Sticks to anything(including your clothes) cures in 24 hrs or you can get a quick cure product from them. We relied on this to stand up to salt water and 50 plus foot seas and was never let down. It is all I use unless it is on my epdm roof.

LarryJM wrote:

plasticmaster wrote:
I've used Dicor self leveling lap sealant on the roof of my TT in the past around vent pipes and such. I want to seal the outside corner moldings, around the windows, water heater, stove vent, etc. What caulk or sealant should I use? My camper is an aluminum sided travel trailer. Thanks.

Instead of the run of the mill regular just caulks/sealants which IMO Pro-Flex falls in I prefer the "ADHESIVE"/sealants designed for submerged/marine type applications such as the 3M UV4000. IMO they have superior adhesive properties along with all the desirable sealant type properties.

Larry

Larry,
Have you checked the properties of these sealants, the 3M product you use and the Geocel sealants? They are real close in most respects, the 3M product having superior elongation but about the same bond strength on similar materials as the Geocel sealants.

plasticmaster wrote:
I've used Dicor self leveling lap sealant on the roof of my TT in the past around vent pipes and such. I want to seal the outside corner moldings, around the windows, water heater, stove vent, etc. What caulk or sealant should I use? My camper is an aluminum sided travel trailer. Thanks.

Instead of the run of the mill regular just caulks/sealants which IMO Pro-Flex falls in I prefer the "ADHESIVE"/sealants designed for submerged/marine type applications such as the 3M UV4000. IMO they have superior adhesive properties along with all the desirable sealant type properties.

Larry