marjim
Weekender RV’er
Retired EE, Vietnam Vet, God, Faith, Family & Flag. St. Louis area
Posts: 99
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Post by marjim on Dec 12, 2020 14:53:41 GMT -5
We just purchased a 2016 Sonic 190VRB from original owners. The 4 years they had it, (from Florida to St. Louis) it was on the road or stored outside. They said it never leaked, we didn't see any (after a very precise inspection of cabinets and walls).
So when do you reseal? Is it best to remove all of the old stuff and start over? Do it all at one time (since we are new owners) I just don't feel comfortable about waiting for a leak, then going after it. Would you do it yourself or have it done by an RV shop? (Would they guarantee it for at least 1 year)
When is the best time to approach this. In the summer when hot?
Thanks in advance for any suggestions. Jim
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Jim
Seasonal RV’er
Ready to Camp!
Posts: 210
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Post by Jim on Dec 12, 2020 16:12:09 GMT -5
Hey Jim,
All good questions. Have you personally looked at the roof itself and see any possible trouble areas? Such as around any vents , skylights and the like where the roof has something mounted through it?
These spots are almost always inspected to make sure the sealant is good on the seams on those. Also the outside roof edges for shrinkage, and any spots that might have tears from tree branches hitting etc. My first thought is to go to a reputable, though they are subjectable to opinions on that, an RV service company,. If you find one that you would want to try , have them inspect and give you an opinion on the roof. If it is good they should tell you honestly, the possible life left in it, or give you options if not so good. You might try more than one service company too. I like the idea that you are being proactive on the roof though. My last thought is I think warm temperatures would be best to check it out or work on it. Good luck, and will be following.
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marjim
Weekender RV’er
Retired EE, Vietnam Vet, God, Faith, Family & Flag. St. Louis area
Posts: 99
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Post by marjim on Dec 12, 2020 21:11:16 GMT -5
I am not sure what a good seal should look like, but I suspect these are factory seals. Although some of it looks odd, I think they used the self leveling caulk and the wavy pattern looks like they covered the screws on the sky lights and also the stack vents. They do look intact, not dried out but only slightly pliable. To redo this, I imagine one would have to scrape off all the old stuff, use a cleaner and then reseal it. Since the Sonic uses a single sheet of fiberglass from the front, the whole roof and down the back, I don't see any pulling away of the sides at the edges. Seems like the screws in the edge trim were also sealed too, the same way. Redoing the sealing looks to be extensive and probably costly, but what price do you put on your cash investment if it leaks before you seal it?  _  |
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Jim
Seasonal RV’er
Ready to Camp!
Posts: 210
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Post by Jim on Dec 18, 2020 17:26:44 GMT -5
From you have inspected , it actually sounds like you're in good shape, especially since you have no water intrusion evident inside. Those seals around the vents ,etc usually look kinda goofy from my experience. Also being still pliable and not brittle or pieces cracked off means they have some good life left. With no cracks showing in the roof sounds like it's good to go too. Personally,I would hold off in any costly , labor intensive redo, and just regularly check the roof. Doing that will be your best insurance for the time being. I would however spend the money on the chassis, i.e. brakes, bearings, suspension and tires. Those seem to be where most problems are in RV's. Of course, slides , windows, electrical and plumbing always seem to need something adjusted, fixed or replaced too.
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Post by touaregtowr on Dec 18, 2020 20:11:36 GMT -5
The sealing looks typical of factory work and looks to be OK. Caulking should be checked during spring and fall roof inspections. This summer I redid the caulking around the bathroom fan and skylight with Eternabond. Unfortunately I only have pics of the bathroom vent.   |
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marjim
Weekender RV’er
Retired EE, Vietnam Vet, God, Faith, Family & Flag. St. Louis area
Posts: 99
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Post by marjim on Dec 20, 2020 6:50:47 GMT -5
Thanks guys. I do appreciate the input. The chassis and wheels, brakes and bearings will be my focus the remainder of winter. When I first pulled it in the barn, I took two cans for RUST CONVERTER and completely sprayed the chassis and underside to stop any visable rust and to prevent any future. The stuff works amazingly well and I have used it before on my 66 Mustang rear end when I rebuilt it. Turns red dust to black.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Dec 22, 2020 7:34:52 GMT -5
Hello Jim, thank you for contributing to our Venture Family Forum! We have a number of maintenance resources on our website that you may find helpful at www.venture-rv.com/self-service-support.htmlOne of the links on that page, "Maintenance Tips," includes an article about how to reseal your roof. If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to contact our customer service at 866-472-5460. Our representatives are available Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm Eastern Time, though they'll be out of the office on Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Thank you! |
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