Outside wall under the slide bubbled out

[gadfly]

Hi everyone, I have a 2011 Rockwood 2702SS that shows the outside wall has bubbled up under one corner of the slide. I just bought the camper and I'm not sure what happened to it. It was this way when I got it. Here are a couple pictures. Is this something I should worry about? Warrantee work or is this common? I purchased this camper through a private sale.



Thanks

[Platokidd]

Originally Posted by gadfly

Hi everyone, I have a 2011 Rockwood 2702SS that shows the outside wall has bubbled up under one corner of the slide. I just bought the camper and I'm not sure what happened to it. It was this way when I got it. Here are a couple pictures. Is this something I should worry about? Warrantee work or is this common? I purchased this camper through a private sale.



Thanks

Delamination is something to worry about. I have it repaired.

[gadfly]

How do you fix such a thing?

[alparmer]

Is it fiberglass?

[Lynkage]

First of all you need to push on it and see if it is soft. If so it is delam. If not then it is structural and both are not good.

Delamination is something that normally needs the wall to be replaced if you want it to last for many, many years. Some get it patched but with heat and cold it will expand and contract and will crack along the edges of the repair and start all over again.

A good repair can last years as well if the compounds are matched really well.

Structural is probably worse IMHO and will most likely need to be returned to the Manufacturer.

[Lynkage]

Originally Posted by alparmer

Is it fiberglass?

It is most likely fiberglass with a gelcoat finish.

[alparmer]

Originally Posted by Lynkage

It is most likely fiberglass with a gelcoat finish.

Don't know much about glass on RVs. I'm assuming you can cut out the bubbled area out. You can then work with the glass to build it up to the same thickness and gel coat it. Work it like bondo until smooth. Not sure if they sell premade sections you can use. Pretty weird how the gel coat bubbled out like that. You'd have to have a force from the inside push it out. Maybe a build up of humidity, mold or something.

OP, Please let us know what you find out. If it's just cosmetic I wouldn't worry about it, but I would find out what's causing it.

[Lynkage]

Delam is typically caused by a water leak between the layers. The fiberglass is applied to a thin piece of luan plywood and then bonded (glued) to the frame.

The reason the repairs are not as successful is because the two different materials do not bond well to each other and with hot and cold it starts to crack where the old meets the new.

[gadfly]

It feels like fiberglass I can push it in. I checked it inside and out and I could not find any inside damage, dampness or mould. Also there is no cracks around the moulding. It can be pressed in but comes right back out. It feels more cosmetic then structural damage. I'm afraid when I cut into this to fix it I won't be able to match it perfectly and it will look worse.

[bobfa]

It will grow. My new Columbus just got a factory fix.(Bulge under slideout thread) That could be due to water damage. Mine was due to manufacture defect. Mine was hard, and did not give. I would get it fixed.

[pappcam]

Originally Posted by gadfly

Hi everyone, I have a 2011 Rockwood 2702SS that shows the outside wall has bubbled up under one corner of the slide. I just bought the camper and I'm not sure what happened to it. It was this way when I got it. Here are a couple pictures. Is this something I should worry about? Warrantee work or is this common? I purchased this camper through a private sale.



Thanks

All I can say is uh-oh. That is not good at all. Delamination is a nightmare.

You needed to research that issue before you bought it since you said it was like that when you bought it.

What did the previous owner say about it?

[gadfly]

Originally Posted by pappcam

All I can say is uh-oh. That is not good at all. Delamination is a nightmare.

You needed to research that issue before you bought it since you said it was like that when you bought it.

What did the previous owner say about it?

Forgot to tell me. A Friend