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Old 09-04-2017, 09:58 AM   #1
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Sealing around ladder feet

Today I am going to mount the roof ladder on our TT. When I got the ladder the dealer gave me a roll of 1" wide putty tape. When I look at other things that are mounted on the sides of the trailer it looks like they ran a bead of silicone along the top edge (and in some cases down the sides). Should I do this on the ladder feet mounts?

I also believe I need to put Eternabond tape or Dicor where the feet mount to the roof. Is one better than the other in this application? I see both used on the plumbing vents, vent fan and AC. Is it Dicor for odd shapes and Eternabond for things with straight sides or is there more to it?

Thanks!
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Old 09-04-2017, 10:13 AM   #2
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Don't use "Silicone" on anything! Youroo!!
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Old 09-04-2017, 10:16 AM   #3
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Thanks for the quick reply YouRoo but since FR has it all over the trailer from the factory - what is your reason for this recommendation?
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Old 09-04-2017, 10:20 AM   #4
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Actually, the factory uses clear Proflex Sealant, by Geocel. It looks like silicone, but it's not.

https://www.geocelusa.com/product/pr...xible-sealant/
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Old 09-04-2017, 10:40 AM   #5
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OK, I did some Googling and I see the difference between the silicone and the geocel proflex. Thanks for the tip!

Any thoughts on the Eternabond vs. Dicor for sealing the feet on the roof? Since I have such a small area to seal and there is a shelf life issue with the Dicor, would the Eternabond last longer sitting on the shelf in the garage?
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Old 09-04-2017, 11:23 AM   #6
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Use the dicor it goes on easy and will do a better job of sealing the ladder feet. the Eternabond will last longer on the shelf but costs 3 - 4 times what a tube of dicor costs.
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Old 09-04-2017, 12:19 PM   #7
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Use Eternabond... once it is on it will last at least 10 years...

Quote:
Not only is EternaBond® fast and easy to use but it instantly creates a permanent waterproof seal regardless of the material of which your RV roof is constructed, and the EternaBond® will last the life of your RV roof. No additional products are needed; simply clean the affected area and apply enough EternaBond® tape to cover the damage, then rub or roll aggressively. EternaBond® is pressure activated.
http://www.eternabond.com/articles.asp?id=148
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Old 09-04-2017, 04:47 PM   #8
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dicor self leveling sealant is great. it is very sticky. clean up with paint thinner. once cured, can removed easily with wire brush on a drill. I have a ladder for sale on craig's list. great condition. in central NC.
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Old 09-04-2017, 06:29 PM   #9
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Dicor Self Leveling. Trying to use Eternabond, a great product does not conform as well as the Dicor. If you use Eternabond I would use Dicor on top of that. No sense in using both.
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Old 09-04-2017, 11:19 PM   #10
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The 1" tape the dealer gave you is butyl.
Stick it to the RV after you drill all of your pilot holes. Put the screws in tight enough to pull the ladder feet against the body, as you do this the butyl will seal the holes and no other sealer will be necessary. The excess butyl will squeeze out and very easily clean off leaving you with a professional installation.
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Old 09-04-2017, 11:24 PM   #11
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larry, I was referring to the body installation using butyl only.
After cleaning off the butyl on the roof it will need to be coated with Dicor self leveling caulk.
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Old 09-04-2017, 11:26 PM   #12
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a word of caution. the factory installs external components to support structures. the laminated panels can't hold the weight. perhaps a stud finder with metal detection or contact the factory for locations. good luck!
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Old 09-05-2017, 05:29 PM   #13
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OK, I get some of the Eternabind or Dicor for the roof and then leave the butyl like by itself (I think we called this bear S**t when I was in the navy!).

I did use a stud finder from the inside of the TT to locate the studs and I also had a diagram from Forest River. The difficult thing is the ladder is 11" wide (at the stand offs) but the center distance on the studs was 12 1/2" so I had to be very precise to get all the screws to hit wood. I'd be very curious to see a dealer installed ladder just to see if they hit wood with every screw...
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Old 09-05-2017, 05:34 PM   #14
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sounds good.
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