Using eternabond on the seams at the front and rear ends?
So...while I can't go anywhere I am having an itch to put eternabond over the dicor on my front and rear ends? A buddy lent me his 14 foot A-frame ladder so I should be able to do it from there. Any insight on why I shouldn't do that? Right now I have no issues with water and this is my 3rd season. I have checked it and reapplied dicor a couple of times and it looks good. Just trying to do something to add a little insurance to avoiding water damage.
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2017 Georgetown GT3 31B3
N Little Rock AR
One of the first things I did with my new trailer was eternabond on all the seems on the roof, right over the top of the dicor. Figured the best time to put the eternabond was when the dicor was still pretty fresh and in perfect condition. From my perspective, there is no reason to not do it. Just follow the instructions, prep the area good, and you wont have any issues
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2023 GMC Sierra 3500 Denali
2020 Cherokee Arctic Wolf 287BH
Sounds like a great idea. I did the same to mine.
I did knock the lumps out of the existing Dicor to make a smoother area for the Eternabond. And on the front cap I used 4" width, maybe 6"... It's been awhile.
After applying the Eternabond, I did seal the tape edges with Dicor just because I am who I am, and it made me feel better.
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Scott and Liz - Southern NM
2012 Wildcat Sterling 32RL - w/level up (best option ever)
2007 Chevy 2500HD Duramax
Reese Fifth Airborne Sidewinder
Sounds like a great idea. I did the same to mine.
I did knock the lumps out of the existing Dicor to make a smoother area for the Eternabond. And on the front cap I used 4" width, maybe 6"... It's been awhile.
After applying the Eternabond, I did seal the tape edges with Dicor just because I am who I am, and it made me feel better.
We must be brother's from another mother???
Mike
__________________ Mike Gray
Forest River Wildwood
2017 27 RKSS
2015 Sierra SLE 5.3 V8 4x4
Last time I checked fall of 2019 everything was still like I did it last week... instead of 4 years ago.
__________________ "nothing can now be believed which is seen in a newspaper. Truth itself becomes suspicious by being put into that polluted vehicle." Thomas Jefferson to John Norvell pg. 2, June 11, 1807 2014 Shamrock 183
2014 RAM 1500 Bighorn Crew Cab, HEMI, 3.21 gears, 8 Spd, 4X4 TST TPMS
Now I'm really going to expose my cluelessness. I have no idea what either Dicor or Eternabond are. Our TT is 4 years old this summer. We have not done anything to the roof, but we also have not had any problems with it. When I'm up there crawling around (husband afraid of heights), everything looks OK. So what do we need to do?
Now I'm really going to expose my cluelessness. I have no idea what either Dicor or Eternabond are. Our TT is 4 years old this summer. We have not done anything to the roof, but we also have not had any problems with it. When I'm up there crawling around (husband afraid of heights), everything looks OK. So what do we need to do?
Dicor is the brand name of self leveling caulking usually used by the manufacturer on RV roofs. It is used at roofing edges and around all roof membrane protrusions (vents, antenna coax cable, etc).
Check the caulking for any cracks or loose edges. After four years I'm sure you have some. To repair you can clean it real well and apply new Dicor as per instructions on tube. Or fix permanently with Eternabond tape. Lots of DIY videos out for RV roof maintenance.
I inspect all roof caulking at least once a year. Have to touch up a few spots I haven't used Eternabond tape on, about every two years.
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Scott and Liz - Southern NM
2012 Wildcat Sterling 32RL - w/level up (best option ever)
2007 Chevy 2500HD Duramax
Reese Fifth Airborne Sidewinder
I have no idea what either Dicor or Eternabond are. Our TT is 4 years old this summer. We have not done anything to the roof, but we also have not had any problems with it.
......
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2024 Geo Pro 15TB, 400W Solar, 2 Golf Cart batteries
2015 F-150 5.0L V8 XLT Crew Cab, 4x4, Tow Package, 36 gal tank, 3.55 locker, 1891 payload, Integrated Brake Controller, Roadmaster Active Suspension
Glad I did it. Going on five years and no leaks.
Do it, just clean the roof first and be careful handling it.
It is extremely sticky, when you peel off the backing be careful not to let it stick together, if that happens you just throw away that section.
Having been down the road before with a 36'MH, I did mine the day after we picked up the new 5th wheel. That was in Sept. 2013. Still good
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Kayo
2014 Primetime Sanibel 3051 pulled by a 2013 Chevy Silverado 3500HP dually diesel. Full timers wince 2003 with DW of 53 year. NPS Park Ranger
I’m thinking of doing this before having the roof coated. Looks a lot easier than using a heat gun and putty knife to remove the existing calking.
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Gary and Donna
2005 Cardinal 33TS-LX
Trail Air pin box
Center Point suspension
2018 Ram Laramie 3500 6'4" box 2WD
Demco AutoSlide 18k
Glad I did it. Going on five years and no leaks.
Do it, just clean the roof first and be careful handling it.
It is extremely sticky, when you peel off the backing be careful not to let it stick together, if that happens you just throw away that section.
You only remove the backer from the first six inches. Then you unroll three or four feet, so you can position it straight down the seam you are covering. Press the first six inches down, then peel the backer (from the bottom side) as you lay the rest of the tape.
If you try to do this any other way, you wind up with the mess you describe because the static electricity formed by peeling the backer causes the two adhesive faces to attract each other.
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Larry
"Everybody's RV is not like your RV."
"Always take pictures with the button on the right."
"Always bypass the water heater before opening the low-point drains."
Sticks and Bricks: Raleigh, NC
2008 Cherokee 38P: at Ivor, VA permanently
One of the first things I did with my new trailer was eternabond on all the seems on the roof, right over the top of the dicor. Figured the best time to put the eternabond was when the dicor was still pretty fresh and in perfect condition. From my perspective, there is no reason to not do it. Just follow the instructions, prep the area good, and you wont have any issues
Did the same. Just clean where you putting it really well to promote adhesion.
It's not that bad to remove. A heat gun or hair dryer on low setting makes it workable and doable with a plastic putty knife.
For the leak protection it provides and the ease of maintenance vs. dicor alone, it's a gamble worth taking, IMO. I plan on doing the side seams and overlapped slightly into the gutter as the edge of the rubber roof going over the edge of the roofing and the trim pieces there are generally a leak point on a lot of used campers I'm looked at in the past. I have 2" for that (for ease of install) and then hit all the roof seams and protrusions with the 4" wide, overlapping the 2" on the side seams.
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2020 Chevrolet 2500 LTZ, 2019 Forest River Wolfpack 23Pack15, 2014 EZGO Golf Cart.
I have an A frame high wall and I used the self leveling product as I was told by a nice lady at a camper dealer, on one of the skylights. It was set up in my yard for a few weeks and the whole skylight slid down and left a 4" gap! do not use the self leveling product for any angle. I'm pretty sure it would be fine, as mine was until it was erected and in the sun a while. I learned about Eternabond and I think the skylights are now very waterproof. Is there any way to clean that tape off if it were to be needed?
I have an A frame high wall and I used the self leveling product as I was told by a nice lady at a camper dealer, on one of the skylights. It was set up in my yard for a few weeks and the whole skylight slid down and left a 4" gap! do not use the self leveling product for any angle. I'm pretty sure it would be fine, as mine was until it was erected and in the sun a while. I learned about Eternabond and I think the skylights are now very waterproof. Is there any way to clean that tape off if it were to be needed?
Unfortunately, I have lots of experience with removing Eternabond (and butyl tape). Our Forest River Cherokee had flat panel skylights on the slideout attached this way. The UV made them brittle and an errant pine cone went right through.
Use a dull putty knife/scraper with no sharp corners and a heat gun. Heat the area, then insert the knife and lift. If you leave a lot of adhesive, you can heat and scrape again. I have used mineral spirits on a rag to remove residue although it is NOT recommended to do so on EPDM roofs. RSdata advised me to follow this with an alcohol wipe which works well.
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Larry
"Everybody's RV is not like your RV."
"Always take pictures with the button on the right."
"Always bypass the water heater before opening the low-point drains."
Sticks and Bricks: Raleigh, NC
2008 Cherokee 38P: at Ivor, VA permanently
Mike Gray
Linear Mode
