Community Forums

SantinoDad · 05-14-2023, 04:02 PM

I am recaulking the seam that runs the width of the roof on my 2016 Minnie Winnie 22r. Seam is on the exterior of the downward slope at the nose area for the upper bunk. Built myself a scaffold so I could easily reach the seam and give it a good cleaning and prep before I apply new caulking. Purchased from Winnebago Manus-Bond 75-AM caulking in Champagne color to match the rig. Taped off 1/4-3/8" so it would hopefully have a nice clean bead.

Questions:
1) What temperature is best to apply caulking?
2) Do I pull off the tape immediately once I apply the caulking and feed it into the seam? (Blue painters tape)
3) Or do I wait for a bit before I remove the tape. Let the caulking set up and harden for awhile?

Yes, I have cleaned all the areas with mineral spirits.

I was very surpised how little caulking there was at the seam and how dry the caulking was that I removed. Hopefully this will address my roof leak!

Jim_HiTek · 05-14-2023, 06:50 PM

I like it to be in the 70's before caulking. I always leave the blue tape up as long as the instructions for the caulking says it takes to cure and develop a film. Then play it by ear, if pulling the tape is bringing caulking with it, I wait longer.

But I rarely caulk any more. What I do now is the seams get Eternabond tape covering them that lasts for years and years whereas caulking is supposed to be checked every 6 months and repaired as required...which is often unless everything goes perfectly during application.

So I just avoid that caulking business all together. Some of the E-bond tape seams have been fine for years so far:

SantinoDad · 05-14-2023, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim_HiTek

I like it to be in the 70's before caulking. I always leave the blue tape up as long as the instructions for the caulking says it takes to cure and develop a film. Then play it by ear, if pulling the tape is bringing caulking with it, I wait longer.

But I rarely caulk any more. What I do now is the seams get Eternabond tape covering them that lasts for years and years whereas caulking is supposed to be checked every 6 months and repaired as required...which is often unless everything goes perfectly during application.

So I just avoid that caulking business all together. Some of the E-bond tape seams have been fine for years so far:

Thanks, I'm going to caulk with what I picked up from Winnebago and see what results I get. I am fully prepared to go the Eternabond route next.Unfortunately Eternabond tape does not come in tan color to match my rig. I looked into spray paint for vinyl and am prepared to paint the Eternabond so it matches my rig and doesn't stand out too much. I probably spent 8-10 hours cleaning and prepping the seam. Thanks for the hint on the blue painters tape. I'm trying to get as clean a result as possible. Happy Traveling

SantinoDad · 05-14-2023, 09:26 PM

I found Eternabond 2" in Tan!

Jim_HiTek · 05-15-2023, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SantinoDad

I found Eternabond 2" in Tan!

I was just going to post that I'd read within the last 2 weeks that someone used Tan E-bond on their rig.

What I have done in the past is tape right over old caulking so once you get that caulking job finished, maybe wait a year or two and then put the Ebond tape right over it. Double protection, that you'd rarely need to inspect. Of course there needs to be enough tape overlap for the E-bond to be sticking to the roof as it won't stick to certain types of caulking.

SantinoDad · 05-16-2023, 01:19 PM

I was referred to "Automotive Authority" for the Eternabond Tan cut to order rather than buying a whole roll. (I had already ordered via Amazon $47, manufacture date not sure of) Automotive Authority online had 2" and 4" widths cut to order in tan. I bought both at a much cheaper price with free shipping.
Will most likely be returning my Amazon order.
Completed 90% of my caulking this morning before the sun came out, once the sun peeked out and the roof surface started to heat up the caulking set up too fast to work with.
Used a caulking tool with replaceable plastic angled tip ( Amazon) to work the caulking into the seams and produce an acceptable bead.
Didn't fall off my scaffold once! May wait a day or two to finish areas around the running lights and a couple of other minor areas.
I'm a happy camper!

kleonard003 · 05-24-2023, 07:44 AM

How close to the WB tan is the Eternabond tape you got?

SantinoDad · 05-25-2023, 08:54 PM

Eternabond Tape is very close to the color of My 2016 Minnie Winnie. You can cut to order a length from Automotive Authority. I think a 10" length cost me $14 with free shipping. I ordered 2" and 4" width just I could visualize the area I am considering covering. Gives me more options with the 4"? My caulking job turned out pretty good if you have one eye and are 10' away! I cleaned the areas super well and took my time taping off for caulking. I noticed the longer I left the painters tape on the easier to remove it giving the caulking a nice edge-at least 24 hours in my case. Good luck in ordering your Eternabond if you go that route. $14 is a cheap investment to check out and compare the color.

SantinoDad · 06-01-2023, 10:27 PM

Update on my recaulking of my roof. First of all I really liked working with the product Winnebago sent me, Manusbond 75. It applied fairly easy and set up with a clean bead. Of course I taped off the areas for an extra clean look. I was very surprised to find some areas on my roof that looked like an incomplete caulking job from the factory. One side of the roof line had a heavy bead, the other side looks like someone had a bad wrist or was in a hurry to go to lunch. One section where there is a connecting seam had no self leveling caulking at all whereas the opposite side was done well.