What is the PROPER way to maintain an RV roof

[JR]

Last year we bought our first RV, an 03 Forest River Wildcat 27RL. I knew going into the deal that Forest River isn't the upper escelence of RV's but we were just looking to get our feet wet to see if this style of camping was for us or not and the price was more than right so we took it. Looking at the roof I'm pretty certain it is in need of some tlc before repairs are needed. Looking on the internet I see all kinds of recommendations ranging from wash and inspect annually to full blown liquid EPDM the entire shebang. Careful inspection shows my physical roof top to be in sound condition. Should I seal it anyhow? There are a few spots around roof vents and such that are sealed with some type of of caulking that are in the beginning phase of weather checking so I'm thinking I should at a minimum seal them up.
What are your guys recommendations for preventative roof top maintenance?

Thanks!

 

[mwilson]

Does it have the EPDM roof now?

 

[JR]

I'm pretty certain it does, but I'll admit I'm more than a little ignorant when distinguishing the difference between EPDM and TPO. I have the original manual but it doesn't say anything about materials.

I can get some pictures if it would help.

 

[mwilson]

Check this out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KL5qJw397Rc

My Cougar has the EPDM.

 

[GCroyle]

JR,

Sorry, no solid advice on the roof. But my .02$ is to put it under a carport, as much shade as possible. I did it for my Airstream, possibly best thing I've done for it when not in use.

Gary

 

[Jim W]

If the roof is EPDM than you use a product from DIcor called Roof-Gard. Here is a link to the site http://dicorproducts.com/catalog/roof-products/clean-protect/roof-gard-rubber-roof-protectant/ This is what I use to clean my RV roof, which I try to clean twice a year. I did not clean my roof this year do to knee surgery, but my oldest son was on the roof and said it was in pretty good shape.

Here are other video's from Dicor on maintaining your RV roof. http://dicorproducts.com/videos-5/

For cleaning the camper body I use a product called Wash Wax All by Aero Cosmetic. This is a waterless cleaner and leaves the camper looking like it is on a show room floor condition.

 

[JR]

Awesome video Mike, I will verify what I have tomorrow.

Gary, we are in the process of moving. Our new house has a large detached garage/shop that I will be adding a lean to to in the near future. I figure the money I save paying to store the camper 5 months a year will pay for the lean to in short order. Plus, as you said, I'll have year round storage.

Thank you for those links Jim. Looks like some really good info, I'll be bookmarking some of those videos along with the one Mike posted for sure.

Thanks again for all the responses guys! Very much appreciated!!

 

[mwilson]

I went flying out the door this morning and forgot to get you pictures of the cleaner that I have used for 10+ years and the roof is still like new. It needs to be scrubbed at least once a year, twice is better but that is hard to get done for some reason....
I get the stuff from K.L.Jack, it was recommended to me by the selling camper dealer. You mix it with water for the roof but put some in a spray bottle straight for use on tough spots like the plastic trim around the doors and windows for example. I also use it on my vehicles for bug removal.

NO PETROLEUM based anything near the roof sheet. No WD-40 or similar products either.

When re-sealing of vent stacks, etc. is required use the DiCor self-leveling sealer. I use the regular DiCor for side work, sealing marker lights, but always the self-leveling on the roof.

The main trick to any of these RV's is to react immediately regarding water leaks. They are not that hard to maintain once you understand how they are built. I keep an on-hand arsenal consisting of
(3) different widths of Butyl Tape
(1) Tube DiCor self-leveling sealer
(1) Tube DiCor regular sealer
(1) Bag of White Painted Square Drive screws 1" long
(1) Bag of White Painted Square Drive screws 1 1/2" long
(1) Caulking Gun
plus misc. other screws, Duct Tape, Emergency Roof Repair Kit, Rolls of Vinyl Trim, etc.

I also keep a few plugs so if a Propane Appliance craps out I can unhook it, plug the gas line and use the rest of the stuff until it can be repaired.

I have it with me all the time so if I find something while camping I tear into it and get it dealt with. I have the time right then so I might as well have some stuff to do it with...

 

[Kirwin]

You guys will laugh but I clean my Brite-Tek RV rubber roof with a Sears carpet shampooer. It has natural bristle brushes that counter rotate and it makes cleaning up up there a snap. It gets close to most penetrations and I only have to get on my hands and knees for the area around the A/Cs. I use liquid laundry soap for the detergent and rinse off with a garden hose. Then after its dry I give it a coat of Areospace 303 using a clean sponge.


See: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Koblenz-C...oer-Polisher-Chromed-Black-00-2079-2/16415856

 

[GCroyle]

They are not that hard to maintain once you understand how they are built. I keep an on-hand arsenal consisting of
(3) different widths of Butyl Tape
(1) Tube DiCor self-leveling sealer
(1) Tube DiCor regular sealer
(1) Bag of White Painted Square Drive screws 1" long
(1) Bag of White Painted Square Drive screws 1 1/2" long
(1) Caulking Gun
plus misc. other screws, Duct Tape, Emergency Roof Repair Kit, Rolls of Vinyl Trim, etc.

I didn't see band-aids or Ace bandages in your list for those days when gravity kicks in and the ground gives you a kiss.

 

[mwilson]

I didn't see band-aids or Ace bandages in your list for those days when gravity kicks in and the ground gives you a kiss.

If that happens the wife has orders to finish me off with a tire iron, especially if I wound another frigin' shoulder......

 

[mwilson]

Seriously though, we do now carry the 3M Coban as part of our first aid kits in the vehicles and ATV's...

Get it at Tractor Supply, same stuff but cheaper 'cause it's for Horses and stuff.....

 

[shorthorn]

Very important with RV roofs to

1) check them all the damn time! These things move and flex alot going down the road and it cracks the dicor (self leveling caulk) in no time! I bought a brand new camper (sat on the dealer lot for 8 months) and it had 9 area's that needed to have the sealant repaired. You can't check it too often
2) Never, ever use silicone on the roof

 

[Shadrach]

Don't they still shoot horses or do use tire irons in your area?? David

 

[shorthorn]

Don't they still shoot horses or do use tire irons in your area?? David

Any method to dispatch a horse is acceptable. :-laf

 

[Buffalo]

A fair number of years ago, I found a product at the Quartzsite AZ. RV Show called Rapid Roof III that is an elastomeric that is painted on the existing roof. It is thick almost like Elmer's glue but, went on with a roller on the large flat areas and with a brush in the smaller, harder to reach, areas. My trailer sits in the blazing sun year around and the Rapid Roof is still rubbery & flexible. I do nothing other than clean off the large debris from a nearby pine tree (needles & twigs) & have never had a leak. There is a polyester mesh cloth product that can be imbedded into the coating that acts like rebar for the Rapid Roof. I use that on areas that could be compromised and I ever used it on the part of the awning that is in the direct sunlight all the time. The Rapid Roof is flexible enough to bend around the awning when folded up. Rapid Roof is made by Conklin in MN., I believe, and is used as a commercial roofing material. It has worked great on my trailer. On another trailer, I had a roof leak and didn't know it until a mushroom started growing into the right front inside of the trailer near the ceiling. Cost me a fortune to replace the wood frame around the trailer. Shouldn't have to worry about that problem with the Rapid Roof. Yesterday, I was at Home Depot and they have a display for a produce by Henry called Tropi-Cool #887HS and it says that it is for EPDM, RV, trailer, and mobile home roofs along with many other applications. The only thing I'm a bit concerned about is in one of Shorthorn's replies, he says "Never, ever use silicone on the roof." This "Henry 887HS Tropi-Cool 100% Silicone White Roof Coating-High Solids" is, as it says, 100% silicone. I'm wondering if Shorthorn means the silicone that is used to waterproof things like faucets in a bathroom? Do your homework before trying this stuff out. The Henry is $250 for a 5 gal. bucket and may be available in smaller quantities.
Buffalo
Buffalo

 

[JR]

Standard silicone indeed does not seem to stick to the materials used on rubber roofs.

The previous owner used some around the TV antenna. While I was washing the roof off this morning I noticed it looked a little loose and ended up pulling the entire patch off. Fortunately the original was still in decent shape and I have no signs of water damage. In a little bit I'm going to go up and seal that area off as well as do a few touch ups. I checked out my local RV dealer and they carry the Dicor line so I bought a couple of tubes of caulking along with the RoofGuard Jim mentioned. They were out of the cleaner but should have their next order in at the first of the week. For today, I went up and used liquid laundry soap in a bucket of water and a soft bristled brush to knock off the heavy stuff as this has not been done in several years. So when the cleaner comes in I'll give it one more good scrubbing and then apply the RoofGaurd.

A little off topic but I ended up shooting the breeze with an RV hauler while at the dealer. He was delivering a camper and was waiting to get his papers signed at the counter so we struck up a conversation. He's got a 2016 Ram with 24k miles on it already . Says it's his first RAM and finally made the jump after his Fords repeatedly left him stranded while out on the road.


Looks like we may have a little competition for gsbrockman:-laf

 

[JR]

BTW, my roof is EPDM according to the video Mike posted. Worked like a charm!