Slide-out exterior roof repair

[JPul]

There is some tape (appears to be white duct tape) covering what appears to be a strip of mastic. Both of these items run along the inside edge between the slide-out roof and the outside wall face as well as the outside edge between the roof and the side walls of the slide-out. This tape has become ripped and ratty looking. Is this tape available anywhere. Any other alternative repair method.



Hopefully the above is a little clearer than mud.



Regards, John

 

[HBarlow]

NuWa shifted to use of a seam sealant tape on roofs and slide out roofs a few years ago, about 2006 I think. Folks I know in the NuWa factory service department have told me it is a good product that has cured the rotted slide outs resulting from leaking seams they had formerly experienced.

Unfortunately I don't remember the brand name of the product but if your trailer uses the same brand name it is normally very good. You might try asking your RV dealer, search on Camping World's website, or contact your RV manufacturer.

 

[Bill Stockard]

There is some tape (appears to be white duct tape) covering what appears to be a strip of mastic. Both of these items run along the inside edge between the slide-out roof and the outside wall face as well as the outside edge between the roof and the side walls of the slide-out. This tape has become ripped and ratty looking. Is this tape available anywhere. Any other alternative repair method.



Hopefully the above is a little clearer than mud.



Regards, John

Eternabond Tape: Roof Leak Repair Products & Sealing Tape | EternaBond®



Bill

 

[JPul]

Harvey and Bill,



I appreciate the replies.



The tape that is on there now appears to be fairly thin and needs to be able to slide under the seals between the slide and main trailer. This stuff looks fairly smooth on the exposed side to allow this. Along the side panels, there is actually a screw on trim piece over the lower edge of the tape. On the joint at the main front panel lip to roof, there is actually a sealant seam over top of the tape to the lip, but the edge of the tape towards the main trailer, that gets rubbed by the main body seal, is exposed and tattered.



Regards, John

 

[ScottLewis]

Most likely Bill is right. I'm far from a pro with this but here is my experience with the same problem.

Eternabond is an excellent product but friction against the edge can cause it pull loose. Removing it is a bear and cleaning up the residue a pain. Strange as it sounds, laquer thinner can help remove the glue and clean up for the new tape but don't let it puddle or stay wet or it can disolve the roof material. Once the new Eternabond is in place, a small bead of self leveling Dicor along the edge will provide a "ramp" so the seal won't be as likely to lift the edge again.

 

[JMetzger]

Yes Eternabond Tape. It is good stuff, I have used it on my RV. It is a little expensive but does a good job.

 

[Shadrach]

Make sure you use the Dicor sealant and NOT silicone. The previous owner of my TT used silicone and it doesn't hold for long. Fortunately I have a friend who works in the RV industry and he came over and fixed it up the way it should have been. Shadrach

 

[JPul]

Thanks for the assistance, guys.



It certainly appears that the Eternabond tape is the stuff to use to reseal the joint. However, I still have a concernabout the sliding interface between the tape and the rubber seals on the trailer. Not so much the joint at the outside face which would touch just as the slide completely closed but the top side edges that slide all the way in. Some smooth faced tape on top of the bond would take care of this. As well. how do I get the Eternabond tape and whatever facing tape, up to the inside end of the side joint through the rubber seals on the trailer.



Regards, John

 

[HBarlow]

Thanks for the assistance, guys.

It certainly appears that the Eternabond tape is the stuff to use to reseal the joint. However, I still have a concernabout the sliding interface between the tape and the rubber seals on the trailer. Not so much the joint at the outside face which would touch just as the slide completely closed but the top side edges that slide all the way in. Some smooth faced tape on top of the bond would take care of this. As well. how do I get the Eternabond tape and whatever facing tape, up to the inside end of the side joint through the rubber seals on the trailer.

Regards, John

Your question is not clear. If you mean how do you apply the tape on the inside top side of your slide room you do that from inside the trailer with the slide partially extended.

 

[JPul]

Harvey,



Its really 2 questions. And the real quandry is how to get the tape through the seals whether I start from the inside or the outside. Is this tape just very sticky on the one side? If its resonably slippery on the other side, then no secondary tape would be nescessary. Otherwise I'm concerned that it will eventually wear through the seals as it slides in and out.



Sorry about the confusion. I was fearful that I may had done that.



Regards, John

 

[HBarlow]

John,

I guess you are inquiring whether the taped seams will slide back and forth without damaging the seals when the slide out is operated in and out under normal usage?

My NuWa HitchHiker fifth wheel uses that tape product on the seams on the roof and on the slides. The slides seem to slide in and out without binding or creating friction and wear on the seals. I don't recall if I have ever felt of the tape surface to determine if it is smooth or slippery but I am confident it slides past the seals without damage.

 

[ScottLewis]

Eterna-bond is quite smooth on its external surface, likely even smoother than the roof material itself. Dicor make a similar tape that's textured on the surface but even it would be unlikely to cause any wear on the wipers. As I suggested earlier, adding a small bead of self leveling Dicor along the edge of the tape would assure even smoother transition as the wiper passes over the tape. Eterna-bond staff told me that was not needed however.

 

[JPul]

Thanks guys.



It sounds like the external coating will do the trick and I will find a way to get it through the wall seals and seams so that I have a continuous strip from outside to inside along the top edges.



Regards, John

 

[HBarlow]

Thanks guys.

It sounds like the external coating will do the trick and I will find a way to get it through the wall seals and seams so that I have a continuous strip from outside to inside along the top edges.

Regards, John

Ohhh, now I get it! You are asking how to apply the tape across the ends of your slide rooms from outside end to inside end passing under the trailer wall and rubber seal. Yes, will be a challenge. I don't think you can do that without damaging the adhesive surface of the tape or causing the tape to stick to itself and cause you to start over.

It is obvious that the factory tapes those seams before the slide room is installed in the trailer.

I think I would attach that tape in two parts. I would run the slide room out and install the tape on each end all the way from outside edge up close to the seal then run the slide in and run it the rest of the way overlapping slightly. Or, perhaps vice versa starting on the inside portion then running the slide out and completing the tape.

 

[JPul]

Maybe the wax paper trick could work. Stick the tape to a strip of wax paper that is long enough to slide under the seals, slide this under the seals, stick the rest of the tape down, run the slide to the other position, peal the tape from the wax paper and stick it down.



Or. .



How much of a pita would it be to remove the rubber seals or would I be biting off more than I can chew.



Regards, John

 

[HBarlow]

Maybe the wax paper trick could work. Stick the tape to a strip of wax paper that is long enough to slide under the seals, slide this under the seals, stick the rest of the tape down, run the slide to the other position, peal the tape from the wax paper and stick it down.

Or. .

How much of a pita would it be to remove the rubber seals or would I be biting off more than I can chew.

Regards, John

A good, practical idea. I don't know if that would reduce the effectiveness of the tape but suspect it would.

Removing the seals - depends on the trailer manufacturer and the method used for installation and attachment. Only you can determine the answer.

Perhaps they are glued on and could be carefully removed with a sharp utility knife and reinstalled with an industrial strength adhesive from a box store like Lowe's Home Improvement or Home Depot. Be careful not to stretch them though or they'll leak when reinstalled.

I'm thinking your sig showed you are Canadian so whatever Canadian equivalant big box store you have available may have something that will work.

 

[JPul]

Harvey, Thanks for your comments. I appreciate it.



Regards, John