Roof Protection

[FreeWheeler]

We had an "encounter" with a tree on our third trip out in our Flagstaff 5er. The roof membrane is torn away several places along the right edge for about 12'. The shop says since it is at the edge, no patch will hold for long. Looks to be $4500 for a new roof!!
Is there any product out there to help protect the roof membrane from overhanging branches?
I have an idea to put a chrome rail (similar to the handrail on a small boat) along the edges, mounting them to the side (not thru the membrane). I would hope this might deflect a straighter overhanging branch.
Thoughts???

[grhodes50]

JMHO, but I wouldn't put any more holes in my tt, roof or sides, than absolutely necessary.
Just be more careful where you go. Take the time to get out and check if you need to. Check the site your about to occupy. Look up as well as down and on the sides.

Good luck to you. Hope they repair your roof as fast and as cheap as possible.

[crocus]

I have to side with grhodes here, rather just be careful than attach an ugly chrome thing to my brand new camper. Besides, it would be very difficult to find the framing to start drilling holes into. Chances are, something would get caught in the "guard", and rip it off, causing even more damage.

[FreeWheeler]

The damage was not at the campSITE, but might very well have been done at the campGROUND. Or on the road. I didn't hear anything, nor feel anything, but I am now trying to choose routes that are safer. It's just hard because what do you do if the tree overhangs the road and there is no other place to go???

Just trying to find some protection for what appears to me to be a large, soft, vulnerable area that is fully exposed to being damaged the same way again.

$4500 is pretty painful!

[crocus]

We have to remember just how high 12'4" actually is.
The campground we were in two weeks ago had lots of tree branches that could have caused me problems, but I was very careful to avoid them, as I am always aware of my height issues.
That is just something you will have to get used to, and never forget.
Don't just look ahead, but look up, way up!

[g0tr00t]

I don't know about protection for the roof, but I knew a guy who mounted a camera on his roof feeding to his dash monitor. Pretty cool. He had 4 of them. 1 rear, 1 roof and 2 sides.

[brownie289]

I nuked my roof on my last camper! It rubbed along a tree and put a 10 foot
tear along the edge of the rubber. I bought a roll of Quick Roof and sealed it with
roof caulk, it never leaked!
Db

[Herk7769]

I carry a spare roll of Eternabond tape for just such a catastrophe. I had two branch hits (tears less than 1 inch) this last trip out. A squirt of Dicor into the tear, a spray of primer, and a 2 inch square patch and a permanent repair.

[FreeWheeler]

I went out last Sat morning at 6am and trimmed every tree on 3 streets that was lower than 13'. filled the back of my GMC 3500! I would still prefer to have some protective preventive measures to keep the damage from happening but haven't heard any supportive suggestions... only experienced campers saying "don't go there". I am listening to you.

Why don't they just use fiberglass for the roof and seal it the same way they seal the membrane??? The membrane seems like a lame solution and exposed to get damaged easily (obviously!).

[DF5.4]

On another site I was on one person had an aluminum roof as an option when it was built. I have no idea what it cost. That would be another option.

[grhodes50]

Originally Posted by FreeWheeler

I went out last Sat morning at 6am and trimmed every tree on 3 streets that was lower than 13'. filled the back of my GMC 3500!

I did the same thing on my street a couple of weeks ago. Also filled up the back of my truck.
Checked with the neighbors before I did it since the trees were on their property. I told them I would only trim what is directly over the road. They didn't seem to care too much for the idea, but told me to go ahead. Of course I could have went to the city and they would have come out and done it, but I thought me asking and doing it myself was more of the neighborly thing to do.

[FreeWheeler]

I think if this happens again (and at 12'6" I'm sure it will) I will consider having a fiberglass or aluminium roof installed, instead of the membrane thingy.

[bsmall]

Some trailer manufacturers have an option for a fiberglass or gel-coat roofing. But I know it costs some big bucks though. That being said, I probably would have gone that direction when I ordered my Wildcat, but FR doesn't offer it as an upgrade/option...

[rohlingerrv]

My old 1990 5th wheel had an aluminium roof, boy did it get hot in the summer!