Rubber roof replacement

[pgleavitt]

The rubber roof on my 5 year old 5th wheel has developed a couple of leaks. I read on the Line-x web site that they could replace the roof with line-x. Has anyone had this done and what was the results. The original rubber roof is looking pretty bad with all the time the trailer spent in the hot summer sun and my neglect to maintain it. Thank for any imput on the subject.

 

[TowPro]

Did you buy the camper new? I would check the warrantee paperwork from the roof company. If it is indeed coming apart, 5 years is nothing for a rubber roof. but you do have to keep up with the cauking every 6 months. On higher rigs the roof's can get rips from trees also.

 

[kelly4463]

Just cleaned my 5er roof last weekend what a difference

 

[ECappleman]

But you do have to keep up with the cauking every 6 months.

I didn't know it was for that short of period.

You talking about around the edges, A/C, ect? Mine looks almost like grey tar instead of caulk. Kind of built up in spots.

 

[TowPro]

Yes, check the caulk for cracks, check the roof for rips. You don't need to re-caulk everything, just check the condition looking for problems that are starting to develop.



In fact anytime you go under trees that might hit the roof its easy enough to check the roof.



My last camper (fleetwood) had a couple leaks. Within a couple months, a small leak can cause MAJOR DAMAGE. In fact if anybody reading this has a fleetwood, if it don't have a formed fiberglass front, check out the 1. 5" metal bands (that go from top to bottom along the sides of the front) that hold the front fiberglass on, If you have the type of band you can see the screws that hold it on, remove each screw and seal them. Mine leaked around a screw head, warped all the paneling in the front of the camper!

Be carefull, if its already leaking, the screw head will break off before the screw comes out.



As for cleaning the roof, clean the sides of the camper first, then the roof. When you clean the roof first, the cleaner mixes will all the dirt on the sides and leaves black stains on the side that are a PITA to get off

 

[Dieselnerd]

Slightly off topic but I am traveling home from my annual winter trip to Arizona. We have been having high tailwinds today. I'm heading east on I-40, saw another fifth wheel heading west today. Poor guy probably won't notice until he stops, his rubber roof must have had a cut or tear, it was flapping in the wind and about 1/3 of his roof was torn off. Never saw that before. What a mess!

 

[TowPro]

Poor guy probably won't notice until he stops, his rubber roof must have had a cut or tear, it was flapping in the wind and about 1/3 of his roof was torn off. Never saw that before. What a mess!

He probably won't notice until there is a stain on the ceiling 2 foot across, but by then the plywood will be all delaminated and shot. That's why you check the roof as often as you can.



I always sware I will put some kind of repair kit in the camper, at least something to get me home. I think that aluminum tape would do the trick for a couple days.

 

[EricBu12]

If the rubber roof itself is bad, you need to repair the joints and seams and then do a seal coating... The white stuff which will also help to keep the coach cool.

 

[Mr.Goat]

Just cleaned my 5er roof last weekend what a difference

I just replaced the roof on my slide last year with rubber. What suggestion's do you have for cleaning? Mild soap and water and a light brushing, pressure washer maybe. What did you use?

Thanks Pete

 

[Wiredawg]

Mr Goat:



I use the cleaner and preservative from Camping World. There might be cheaper methods, but my 5er has sat in the intense sun (as high as 120'F) in Del Rio TX for the past three years. There isn't much winter here either, so I clean and treat the roof every 6-months.



No problems yet.



Wiredawg

 

[kelly4463]

I cleaned my roof with a citrus solution and a soft brush it works good . I would not power wash your roof it might be to much pressure and tear it.

 

[Mr.Goat]

Thanks guys. I'll check out the RV dealer where I bought the roofing for a cleaner/preservative. Regardless I will stick with the gentle approach. Pete

 

[Schlickenmeyer]

Mine has a 10 year warranty on the Roof, it is a 2003 Jayco Talon ZX.

I treat and clean once a year. .

Still looks good so far. Time for the spring washing I guess!

 

[EricBu12]

I heard a Mild detergent is good for general cleaning. I think the chemical cleaners is for less often hard cleaning.



I think the presevative is for the prevention of the chaulk of the rubber. but a regular gental cleaning helps..... The presevative has a UV inhibitor to help it last longer, especially if you are in a hot, dry climate.

 

[Prairie Dog]

My trailer came wth instructions that said to never use any cleanser that degreases. Seems these kind of soaps remove some of the oils in the material and can eventually lead to craking. They did not reccoment a specific brand but suggested I use a EPDM specific cleanser.

 

[Prairie Dog]

My trailer came with instructions that said to never use any cleanser that degreases. Seems these kind of soaps remove some of the oils in the material and can eventually lead to cracking. They did not recommend a specific brand but suggested I use a EPDM specific cleanser.



Scotty

 

[HNicholl]

Getting back to the original question regarding Line-X over rubber roofs. As a result of using a cover and the constant wind here in Colorado, the cover wore through the top layer a small section of the rubber roof on my 2005 5th wheel. The problem occurred in a small area at the highest point on both sides of the roof where it wraps around to the side. I intend to use Liquid Rubber Roof Coating to restore the white finish. However, since the curved edges of the roof seem to be weak spot susceptible to the most wear, I thought that a Line-X coating over this area (12" wide) for the length of the roof on both sides might be a good alternative. Line_X does offer their product in a very light gray. Has anyone used Line-X over a portion or all of an RV rubber roof?

 

[SHobbs]

I was told to not use any cleaners that contain petroleum products of any kind, they will break down the rubber roof and cause it to crack and tear.

 

[Buffalo]

PLeavitt,



There is a company called Minnesota Roofing & RV Specialties that specializes in problems just like yours.



They sell a product called Rapid Roof, made by a company clled Conklin. The product si an Acrylic Elastomeric Coating that is compatible with the EPDM, rubber roofing material. It is like a thick, white paint & almost the consistency of Elmer's Glue (maybe a little thinner).



They sell a product called Spunflex which is a dense polyester meshwork.



You clean the roof, paint on a coat of Rapid Roof, lay the Spunflex into the wet RR, then paint another coat of RR on top of the Spunflex. The Spunflex is tough stuff. You can't tear it by hand. Has to be cut with scissors. It acts like rebar does to concrete.



I did my entire roof with the RR & the Spunflex in the areas that could easily be damaged. No more roof worries!!!



Minnesota Roofing & RV Specialties

1-877-378-6511

www.rvroofmn.com



My roof is exposed to the Phoenix, AZ. sun every day, & it has held up well. I did the roof a couple of years ago. My trailer is an early '98 model Nash.



Joe F. (Buffalo)

 

[pgleavitt]

Thanks for the info Buffalo. I read about that product on the RV web page and it sounds interesting.

In the mean time I called a couple of Line-X dealers in my area and found one that has done alot of older trailers and has a shop big enough to do mine. He said that first off the price would be kinda steep @ about $10 per sq foot or around $2800 total. He said that he would have to remove the rubber roof and would spray it onto the plywood and then on the sides down to the area the rubber roof ends. To give me a light color such as white , gray/silver would be an addtional $400-$500 or he can coat the still wet product with some kind of paint that soaks into the Line-X and will bond.

This guy sounds like he knew what he was talking about and has a couple of Line-X shops. He also told me that he would garentee it for life not to crack or leak. The best part was this guy also sounds excited to do the work while another shop told me they could do it but really didn't want to. Still on the fence on which way to go.