Community Forums

Souljourner · 05-19-2022, 08:48 AM

In the RV Life newsletter that came into my inbox today, one of the articles made the statement that it is recommended to reseal your RV's roof every year. Really? Is this true?

Here's a link to the article I'm referencing:
https://www.doityourselfrv.com/camper-roof-sealant/

Also - I'm looking to keep my RV looking and working in excellent condition, and not sure if I know all the maintenance items, and their schedule, to maintain my fiberglass TT and all its systems. It still looks and smells brand new and I'd like to keep it that way. I've tried looking at "Maintain my RV" for guidance, but it seems like that app is a pretty blank state.

I'd love to know how others use the Maintain my RV app and the items you include, as well as the answer to how best to maintain the roof. Can someone provide me with a yearly maintenance checklist?

And while I'm asking, I've been wondering if these two cleaning products do similar things, although one is waterless:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...e?ie=UTF8&th=1
(I've been using this one regularly)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00X04JRMU...jaz10cnVl&th=1

Thank you!

**pasdad1** · 05-19-2022, 08:59 AM

Reseal roof every year is mostly a recommendation to get up and examine your roof every year. You may find cracks in the caulking that you will need to clean and re-caulk.

If you use eternabond tape instead of caulking, it lasts much longer.

wildtoad · 05-19-2022, 09:04 AM

Roof inspection annually as mentioned above at a minimum to find and issues before they become problems. At that time if you have a crank up tv antenna lube the gears, follow manuals maintenance procedures.

dizcom · 05-19-2022, 09:10 AM

Your going to get a lot of different opinions on the roof sealing thing. It'll vary by type of roof a bit, but most of us take a look up there every year. Some seal every little crack they find and others wait until it looks a little more problematic. If you have Dicor, Dicor says their product will last for many years without the need to reseal when it's properly installed. Eternabond is also supposed to last many year when it's properly installed.

Like others, I take a good look at least twice a year, at commissioning and just before putting her away for the winter. I'm not in the seal every little flaw crowd and have never had a problem. For the first time, I added Eternabond last season to the front and end caps and like it so far, but haven't added it everywhere yet.

Your other question about the wash and wax, Wash Wax All is not the same as a liquid wash and wax, although it can be used with water. We use it without water on our coach and like the results, but we also give her a good wax at the beginning and end of the season. Regular wash and wax is just that, a product you mix with water to wash your rig and put a small amount of wax on it.

DutchStarJez · 05-19-2022, 09:34 AM

We owned a class A pusher for just over 17 years and being a lifelong mechanic I kept a close eye on important items. I was on the roof at least a couple of times a month and would touch up any irregularities in the sealant (Dicor) which was very rare. Maybe 3 or 4 times in all those years. We had the roof replaced in the 16th year and traded her in the following year. I must say I am impressed with the quality in that rig and that drove me to purchase another of the same brand. The roof is designed a little different but I still feel good about it's long term durability. The seams are sealed with Eternabond which is good stuff so I think she'll do good.

GypsyR · 05-19-2022, 11:48 AM

I can't see resealing it every year whether it need sit or not, that doesn't make much sense.
We're only occasional campers. I inspect my (rubber) roof after EVERY trip. That started when I got up on the roof quite some time after a trip and was aghast to find a fair sized triangular tear in the roof. My best guess is an overhanging tree branch did it. Happily we had very little rain in that time where the rip sat undiscovered. It will never be put into or taken out of "storage" again without a roof inspection.

DutchStarJez · 05-19-2022, 05:31 PM

We had a tear like that on our 5er and luckily I found it before it rained. Those tree branches are mean.

GypsyR · 05-19-2022, 08:25 PM

Just because I had this thread on my mind thread I clambered up there this afternoon and found a second mini triangle gash forward of the big one that I can NOT believe I missed. Mad dash to get it caulked and any other seams that looked iffy before dark. Supposed to be rainy and stormy this weekend.