We looked at a used Jayco today. It's an 2009 so it's not that old. But we were concerned that there might be a problem with the rubber roof.
In the photo below, I am standing on the ladder. I am looking down at the back edge of the roof. The back edge of the roof runs along the left side of the photo. The drivers side or left edge of the roof runs along the top edge of the photo.
I am questioning the bubbles that are along the back edge toward the left side (top left of the photo). It appears the rubber isn't adhered to the wood underneath.
I would have guessed the rubber would have been a better fit, pulled tight, & fully adhered along the whole roof.
Would these loose bubble areas be concerning to anyone considering purchasing this unit?
Thanks!
'13 Forest River Sunseeker 3100
'04 Fleetwood Sedona / Reese Mini 350 / Prodigy / BAL
'94 Coleman Cedar
A better test is to crawl up there and feel the actual roofing underlayment. If it's firm, no worries.
The rubber is often rippled and not taunt due to the "floating installation" that allows for expansion and contraction. Also from the interior, push upwards on the ceiling in the same area.
It should be firm and not the texture of "corn flakes". There should be no soft areas. Walls too. Check the walls under all the windows, and the front and rear walls to make sure the window seals and clearance lights were not leaking...it's often overlooked by the owner when re-caulking. Good luck.
My posts shouldn't be taken for factual data. They are purely fictional, for entertainment purposes and should not be constituted as actually related to scientific, technical, engineering, legal, spiritual or practical advice. Amen.
My first GUESS would be someone has been waxing the front or rear walls and gotten some of the wax on the roof. Petroleum distillates or mineral spirits can penetrate the membrane and dissolve the glue holding the membrane down. As long as the substrate is solid it would more than likely not cause any significant problems. If in doubt have it checked by a qualified RV tech (not the one from which you're buying the RV).
Good luck / Skip
2011 F-150 HD Ecoboost 3.5 V6. 2550 payload, 17,100 GCVWR - 2004 F-150 HD (Traded after 80,000 towing miles) 2007 Rockwood 8314SS 34' travel trailer
US Govt survey shows three out of four people make up 75% of the total population
I would definitely push on those areas and see if they are soft - both above and below. My guess you will probably find some soft spots. If so, there is a leak. You make the call if you want to deal with this, but it will not get any better and will get worse if it is soft. With that said, I put a new rubber roof on a couple years ago myself (what a project). Because I was working by myself, I do have one spot that didn't get enough glue and I didn't get the rubber pulled tight enough on that spot and it looks like that. I keep an eye on it, but hasn't caused any issues so far. But the wood underneath is strong and sturdy.
If I were more experienced with Eternabond, I'd use that around the roof edges, then it being glued down would be less of an issue, since the rubber would have to be punctured, abraded, or eaten away by a chemical for it to be an issue.
The wind while being towed has pulled the material away from its glue and base. Yes, it IS possible that the glue holding the material down has somehow been affected by chemicals used on the EPDM - and I'd check for signs of that.
If it is only at those edges you described, the side trim pieces can be removed to allow those areas to be reglued - and you could check to see it any water made it behind the roofing. These ripples occur on lots of roofs, and they certainly don't mean there MUST be a leak. Eternabond is not a solution to this problem.
If I were looking for an easy fix and confirmation of any leaking - I'd slit the material right along the trim strips at the edge. Lift the loose material, inspect, try to reglue it - cover the slit with self-leveling sealant like DICOR. Your should be resealing all the edges anyway, and the EPDM material will be glued down - the slit won't show.
If the EPDM material seems very stretched out of changed, I'd probably pass on the trailer.
Offline
