Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
RV Trip Planning Discussions

Go Back   iRV2 Forums > MOTORHOME FORUMS > Class A Motorhome Discussions
Click Here to Login
Join iRV2 Today

Mission Statement: Supporting thoughtful exchange of knowledge, values and experience among RV enthusiasts.
Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on iRV2
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 03-30-2016, 07:54 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
Iwillbeit's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Brooksville FL
Posts: 199
Fiberglass Roof

I have a 2009 Itasca Ellipse. Can anyone tell me what maintenance or roof coatings are required periodically. It's stored outside and I live in Florida. I appreciate any help here. Thank you.


Randy W
Iwillbeit is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 03-30-2016, 08:21 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
FIRE UP's Avatar


 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Out there, somewhere
Posts: 9,867
Quote:
Originally Posted by Iwillbeit View Post
I have a 2009 Itasca Ellipse. Can anyone tell me what maintenance or roof coatings are required periodically. It's stored outside and I live in Florida. I appreciate any help here. Thank you.


Randy W
Randy,
Other than a periodic washing with good soap and water, not much is needed. About once to twice a year, if you're energetic enough, a good waxing with regular automotive wax is good for it. Yes, it will make it a bit more slippery but, just pay attension while up there and it's wet. Check your seals/caulk joints around all your vents, front and rear caps, fans and the lot every once in a while to make sure they're in good shape.
Scott
__________________
2004 ITASCA HORIZON 36GD, 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 4x4 Toad '20 Honda NC750X DCT
Retired-29.5 yrs, SDFD, Ham - KI6OND
Me, Karla and the Heidi character, (mini Schnauzer)!
FIRE UP is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-30-2016, 08:26 PM   #3
Community Moderator


 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 6,182
This is great stuff to seal any leaks

Click image for larger version

Name:	ImageUploadedByiRV2 - RV Forum1459391153.447838.jpg
Views:	149
Size:	297.5 KB
ID:	122760
pasdad1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-30-2016, 08:27 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
Mr_D's Avatar
 
Country Coach Owners Club
Solo Rvers Club
iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Vancouver, WA
Posts: 37,725
I'll do mine with Dry Wash N Guard when it gets a little nicer here, although today was 72° but I had to take the DW in for an iron infusion then get to work so no time.
__________________
2009 45' Magna 630 w/Cummins ISX 650 HP/1950 Lbs Ft, HWH Active Air
Charter Good Sam Lifetime Member, FMCA,
RV'ing since 1957, NRA Benefactor Life, towing '21 Jeep JLU Rubicon Ecodiesel
Mr_D is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-31-2016, 06:09 AM   #5
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Apollo Beach & Key West , FL
Posts: 3,803
Wash and wax is what I do, plus check all the seams. When necessary, peel off old dicor and reapply new.
For waxing, I no longer use a paste wax on the roof. It was just too much work, especially on the non-slip surfaces. Instead I use Optimum spray wax. Just spray it on, and a light wipe and that's it. It has UV inhibitors and is good for 5-6 months. It only takes a few minutes to apply once the roof has been washed.
__________________
2013 DS 4338
2015 F-150 toad with kayaks,bicycles and a Harley in the back
PanJH is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-31-2016, 06:16 AM   #6
Moderator Emeritus
 
Gary RVRoamer's Avatar


 
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: West Palm Beach, FL. USA
Posts: 27,519
The seams and openings (vents, etc) need the same maintenance as any other roof type: a periodic check of the caulk to make sure the seal is tight.

The fiberglass sheet is probably painted, so may eventually begin to chalk or get stained. Re-painting is fairly easy once you have it cleaned up. Dicor makes a paint especially for fiberglass roofs and I re-did mine two years ago (at age 10). Did a nice job.

Other than that, routine washing is all that is desirable. If you want to wax it, I suggest a floor wax product. Less slippery than a car or boat wax.
__________________
Gary Brinck
Former owner of 2004 American Tradition and several other RVs
Home is West Palm Beach, FL
Gary RVRoamer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-31-2016, 08:01 AM   #7
Senior Member
 
Lv2Roam2's Avatar
 
Winnebago Owners Club
Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Somewhere On the Road
Posts: 1,210
Also give your A/C shrouds and other vent covers a look - I don't know how the leaves get inside but they do. Proceed carefully - my most interesting find was the hornet's nest ...
__________________
Steve
2015 Itasca Ellipse QD | 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Lv2Roam2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-31-2016, 10:07 AM   #8
Senior Member
 
Inthe70s's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Castle Rock, CO
Posts: 490
I scrub mine down once a year with a brush on a pole, using oxy clean and lightly power wash it off. I then coat it with the Zep floor polish to control the oxidation and elimination of the white streaking. Every few years, I'll strip the wax and re coat. Pretty easy and doesn't take much time. My roof looks like new.
__________________
'07 Holiday Rambler Navigator 45 PBQ 525 Cummins
'74 F350 44K,'79 11' Mitchell Camper, MINT All Original
'05 Gulf Stream Atrium 8411, SOLD
Inthe70s is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-31-2016, 10:19 AM   #9
Senior Member
 
AFChap's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: ...East Texas
Posts: 5,324
Very little maintenance required on a Winnebago figerglass roof. BUT, the absolutely critical thing on a Winnebago roof is the sealant at the seam along each side where the roof meets the sidewall. That is a mandatory annual check/repair as needed to maintain the Winnebago roof warranty. When you push inward on the roof fiberglass at the sealant, if a gap opens that sealant needs to be removed and replaced. It is a urethane based sealant/adhesive ... NOT silicone. The result of completely ignoring this sealant can be the roof peeling off while driving or during a strong wind storm.
__________________
Paul (KE5LXU) ...was fulltimin', now parttimin'
2022 Coachmen Leprechaun 319MB
towing 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited
AFChap is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-31-2016, 12:55 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
530ktm's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: High up in Arizona
Posts: 2,050
Quote:
Originally Posted by AFChap View Post
Very little maintenance required on a Winnebago figerglass roof. BUT, the absolutely critical thing on a Winnebago roof is the sealant at the seam along each side where the roof meets the sidewall. That is a mandatory annual check/repair as needed to maintain the Winnebago roof warranty. When you push inward on the roof fiberglass at the sealant, if a gap opens that sealant needs to be removed and replaced. It is a urethane based sealant/adhesive ... NOT silicone. The result of completely ignoring this sealant can be the roof peeling off while driving or during a strong wind storm.
This is a great diagram, thanks for posting.
__________________
2019 Allegro Bus 37AP towing a Jeep JK Rubicon Wrangler
530ktm is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-31-2016, 01:35 PM   #11
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 48
A bit off topic .. but how many of you stand on your roofs? Knowing those foam channels are in there for the air returns, I'm terrified I'm going to break the fiberglass.
bkervaski is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-31-2016, 02:59 PM   #12
Senior Member
 
HerbZilla's Avatar
 
Nor'easters Club
Fleetwood Owners Club
Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Lake Katrine, NY
Posts: 269
I am 230 lbs and go up there often enough. I wash it a couple times a year and while I am up there I check the caulk and mounted fixtures. The fiberglass roof is plenty strong on a Winnie.


Sent from my iPhone using iRV2 - RV Forum
__________________
Herb, Anna and Lil Herb
2018 Fleetwood Discovery LXE 40G

[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
HerbZilla is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-31-2016, 03:07 PM   #13
Senior Member
 
530ktm's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: High up in Arizona
Posts: 2,050
Quote:
Originally Posted by bkervaski View Post
A bit off topic .. but how many of you stand on your roofs? Knowing those foam channels are in there for the air returns, I'm terrified I'm going to break the fiberglass.
I am 215 lbs on good days and I walk around up there often. I do feel some soft spots and I know right where they are so I avoid them. I always wear tennis shoes and step lightly, never had any issues with this coach or the last one.
__________________
2019 Allegro Bus 37AP towing a Jeep JK Rubicon Wrangler
530ktm is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-31-2016, 09:12 PM   #14
Senior Member
 
FIRE UP's Avatar


 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Out there, somewhere
Posts: 9,867
Quote:
Originally Posted by bkervaski View Post
A bit off topic .. but how many of you stand on your roofs? Knowing those foam channels are in there for the air returns, I'm terrified I'm going to break the fiberglass.
bkervaski,
Those fiberglass roofs, along with the underlayment and roof rafters that are spaced a certain distance apart, are designed to be walked on. The manufacturers of coaches with fiberglass roofs know that there will be, at various times, people getting up there for maintenance, repairs, additions, washing and possibly waxing and more. Now, walked on and dancing on with multiple people at one time is different.

Common sense is the name of the game here. Get up there, do whatever business is necessary, and, hop (uh, that's "CLIMB") down and, you're done.
Scot
__________________
2004 ITASCA HORIZON 36GD, 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 4x4 Toad '20 Honda NC750X DCT
Retired-29.5 yrs, SDFD, Ham - KI6OND
Me, Karla and the Heidi character, (mini Schnauzer)!
FIRE UP is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
roof



Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Fiberglass Roof Damage kscouple52 Winnebago Industries Owner's Forum 62 03-02-2010 06:23 AM
Fiberglass roof - Question about a crack Komvee Winnebago Industries Owner's Forum 11 10-27-2008 08:43 AM
Roof repair questions--fiberglass roof, not rubber & Eternabond tape glfprncs MH-General Discussions & Problems 5 01-29-2008 04:59 PM
Caulk roof gutter seam for fiberglass roof Pap, Penna Winnebago Industries Owner's Forum 5 09-22-2007 03:50 PM
Caring for your Fiberglass Roof Gadget Man MH-General Discussions & Problems 11 06-08-2005 07:55 PM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 08:59 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.