Travel trailer roof sealant question

I was on the roof doing some measurements for the solar layout for my EcoFlow. I had some water leak I side the trailer. Does is look like these cracks in the sealant are the culprit? Would this be a good candidate for the Eternabond sealing tape?

 

Oh yeah. That's bad.

 

Eterna-bond tape is a bit of an easy button and is effective, but "eterna" is not just a clever name. That stuff is really difficult to remove at a later date. You could spend the time to plastic scrape the old dried sealant off and clean it up and apply new self leveling sealant. Or clean it really well and go Eterna-bond knowing it's meant to be permanent.

 

While you're in there it might be a good idea to replace the skylight.

 

You don't need to remove eternabond, you simply apply over top of the old adhesive.

 

How do you replace the skylight after it's been sealed with Eternabond?

 

Yeah well that is a separate issue, I was referring to general seams. Besides how often does one need to replace a skylight, just about never would be my guess.

 

I used sikaflex 715 when I installed a maxxfan on my sprinter van 2 months ago. It cures to a gummy, rubbery, flexible seal.

https://usa.sika.com/en/industry/rv...g-applications/roof-sealing/sikaflex-715.html

 

Hence my detailed description of both options. If a hail storm or falling branch, or severely yellowed, aged and cracked skylight necessitates replacement, it will be much more difficult with the Eternabond. Makes more sense for the seams for sure.

 

Do yourself a favor and figure out what roofing membrane you have and then go get the appropriate self-leveling sealant. With how bad that is dried and cracked, you'll likely end up needing to remove it all and start with a fresh layer of sealant, but if it were still good, you literally just keep layering it as it self heals. With how bad it is, and the likely removal first, that's why people are saying to replace your shower skylight. Being where you are, if it isn't sheltered, you might want to consider adding the inspection to your monthly checklist. I'm 1k miles north of you and I check that stuff no less than 3x per year.

Not that you're looking for more work, but if your roof looks like that, then I suspect all the sealant should be looked at. Speakers, doors, hatches, all corners... check all around to make sure they aren't letting water in due to shrunken, cracked or missing sealant. Those will be no sag sealants or silicone.

My Grand Design uses the Alpha roofing system so I use Alpha products. Just make sure whatever you are using is good for the roofing material you have. You'll want to know the answer for cleaning solution as well.

 

Thanks. I have no idea what roofing membrane it is or where to find out.

 

Trailer manufacturer will def know, but year/make/model and the Google box will also tell you.

 

Eternabond is great for small area fixes. I wouldn’t use it on that skylight..

I’d clean it up with mineral spirits or denatured alcohol with a stiff brush and slather Dicor everywhere (Sika is good stuff too). If you get the old sealant surface clean new sealant will bond just fine.

Unlike soldering or welding this is a case of “The bigger the glob, the better the job”.

 

I think it's some kind of PVC? It's a 2015 Coachmen Apex Ultralite 17RAX.

 

Like this?

 

That is the stuff. It is sticky and nasty and a pain in the ass to work with. But it gets the job done.