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04-01-2013, 02:39 PM
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#1
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New Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: San Antonio
Posts: 95
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TPO Roof vs Fiberglass Roof ...
What is everyone's take? Pros/ cons of both?
If you we're buying a new travel trailer, fifth wheel, Class C or A, what type of roof would you go with if you had the options of these two from a manufacturer??
I know nothing about TPO, have experience with fiberglass though.
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Coachmen Freedom Express 292BHDS
San Antonio, Texas by way of Nebraska
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04-01-2013, 06:38 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 480
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Quote:
Originally Posted by burati1
What is everyone's take? Pros/ cons of both?
If you we're buying a new travel trailer, fifth wheel, Class C or A, what type of roof would you go with if you had the options of these two from a manufacturer??
I know nothing about TPO, have experience with fiberglass though.
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I have a TPO on my coach. It's okay and time tested; its been a popular roof for years. I can feel some movement in places at times but it's thick rubber and does the job. If buying new the roof material would not be my first consideration but if I found two coaches identical in every way except one had TPO and one fiberglass, I might go for the fiberglass. If I did not find identical coaches, the roof would not be a consideration for me, too many other important items to consider.
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Gary, Cindy, Reacher (Maine Coon), and Vivian (in spirit only now).
Retired: July 31st, 2013 and loving it.
__________________________________________
2011 Coachmen Encounter 37 TZ pulling a 2018 Wrangler Unlimited Sahara (JKUS). Many upgrades, additions, mods, and changes to the coach.
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04-01-2013, 06:44 PM
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#3
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MI Camperz
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: michigan
Posts: 1,640
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I would think fiberglass. Look at how many beautiful fiberglass boats are in the water at 30 or 40 years old. Tougher, built for the elements. I'm no expert, I'm just sayin'.
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04-01-2013, 07:50 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Annapolis Area
Posts: 252
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Read this article. It pretty much lays things out and explains differences, pro and con and cost trade-offs:
Where the Rubber Meets the Roof | RV PRO
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2013 Encounter 37TZ, Chalet Pkg, Escape Hybrid Toad,
Denis & Gail & Dixie the Blue Merle Sheltie
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04-01-2013, 08:28 PM
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#5
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New Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: San Antonio
Posts: 95
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Thank you to everyone for your insights. Excellent information!!
__________________
Coachmen Freedom Express 292BHDS
San Antonio, Texas by way of Nebraska
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04-01-2013, 08:54 PM
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#6
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Grape Escape
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Southern Ontario
Posts: 774
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Never have another rubber roof on my rv. Sick of the black streaks running down the sides.
__________________
2008 Cardinal 30RKLE 5th wheel sold
2006 Rockwood 2607, 2001 Traillite
55 nights 2009, 53 for 2010
44 for 2011, 38 for 2012, 35 for 2013, 51 for 2014
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04-02-2013, 08:17 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 480
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dezolen
Never have another rubber roof on my rv. Sick of the black streaks running down the sides.
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Ahhh so that's the culprit, the rubber on the roof. Agree, pain in the neck.
Roll
__________________
Gary, Cindy, Reacher (Maine Coon), and Vivian (in spirit only now).
Retired: July 31st, 2013 and loving it.
__________________________________________
2011 Coachmen Encounter 37 TZ pulling a 2018 Wrangler Unlimited Sahara (JKUS). Many upgrades, additions, mods, and changes to the coach.
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04-02-2013, 08:42 AM
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#8
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CLASS "A" Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Upperco, Maryland
Posts: 3,136
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Ours is fibreglass, easy to clean although very slippery when wet. Fibreglass is less streaky and doesn't cause the chalky run off that rubber roof systems have. Plus it won't tear from a low hanging branch.
__________________
2007 Georgetown 370TS
aka - RAYNMKR
Driver: Charlie
Navigator: Sheri
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04-02-2013, 09:30 AM
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#9
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New Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: San Antonio
Posts: 95
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Thank you for the information.
__________________
Coachmen Freedom Express 292BHDS
San Antonio, Texas by way of Nebraska
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04-15-2013, 06:41 PM
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#10
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 1
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1st let's not mistake TPO for rubber, the new TPO roofs are made with an elastic vinyl type of material and has a felt backing to them. This material has reduced the black streaks significantly. With the felt backer there is no more use of chalk under the roof, to move the rubber while it is stretched thus again eliminating the chalk residue that turns black.
Also since the TPO is elastic and is stretched it will move while the unit is flexing during travel. When a fiberglass roof is laminated to the backer the is no stretching or flexing that is allowed and may crack. If your fiberglass roof cracks it will be a significant cost for repair apposed to a patch over the TPO. A side note fiberglass that most manufacturers use is not supposed to be bent at a 90 degree angle to wrap around the side of your roof, make sure there is not a trim piece on top of the roof to puddle water from running off or leaks are likely to occur! TPO comes with a 12 year warranty against defects, what is your warranty on a fiberglass roof? 1 year possibly?
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04-15-2013, 07:36 PM
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#11
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Commercial Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: PA
Posts: 435
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RV Guy 5
1st let's not mistake TPO for rubber, the new TPO roofs are made with an elastic vinyl type of material and has a felt backing to them. This material has reduced the black streaks significantly. With the felt backer there is no more use of chalk under the roof, to move the rubber while it is stretched thus again eliminating the chalk residue that turns black.
Also since the TPO is elastic and is stretched it will move while the unit is flexing during travel. When a fiberglass roof is laminated to the backer the is no stretching or flexing that is allowed and may crack. If your fiberglass roof cracks it will be a significant cost for repair apposed to a patch over the TPO. A side note fiberglass that most manufacturers use is not supposed to be bent at a 90 degree angle to wrap around the side of your roof, make sure there is not a trim piece on top of the roof to puddle water from running off or leaks are likely to occur! TPO comes with a 12 year warranty against defects, what is your warranty on a fiberglass roof? 1 year possibly?
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Winnebago offers a 10 year parts and labor warranty on their fiberglass roofs......do you cover labor or the material itself?
__________________
Steve and Vicki
2 kids
2011 Dodge 3500 CTD Outdoorsman
(Tweaked!!)
2013 Columbus 320RS-ITS HERE!!
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04-20-2013, 03:06 PM
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#12
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Commercial Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Bristol, IN
Posts: 18,971
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Not to mention the vinyl has a felt backer...felt does what? absorbs water.
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04-20-2013, 03:33 PM
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#13
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Grape Escape
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Southern Ontario
Posts: 774
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When I had fibreglass boats they took a heck of a beating. Never found it cracking.
Had a trailer with the vinyl roof and never had black streaks like I did with my 2 rubber roofed trailers.
Never again as it's a pita
__________________
2008 Cardinal 30RKLE 5th wheel sold
2006 Rockwood 2607, 2001 Traillite
55 nights 2009, 53 for 2010
44 for 2011, 38 for 2012, 35 for 2013, 51 for 2014
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10-01-2015, 01:50 PM
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#14
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Texas
Posts: 29
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Hi,
Do you travel with your cat? If yes, how did the cat adapt to it? How were you able to incorporate scratching post, litter box, toys, food and water bowls.
I'm Tanya, soon a newbie, researching my first Motorhome purchase and I will be traveling solo with two cats.
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10-01-2015, 02:42 PM
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#15
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Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Waukesha, WI
Posts: 68
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I must be missing something?
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Northtrail 25RKSS
2020 Ecoboost F-150
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