Coroplast underbelly repair

[yukongold]

Backstory first:
Sorry about the length.

On our last trip, 2500 miles from home, set up trailer and went inside to find a bolt had protruded up several inches, right in the center of the trailer's floor, under the vinyl (it has left a slight six-sided impression in the vinyl that I don't think will ever go away). The wife freaked out (OMG, OMG, we have to cancel the rest of the trip and go home, OMG, OMG, yada, yada).

To placate wife, called Camping World Roadside Assist and they located and sent a mobile tech to our site. (No reimbursement but they found someone, which I would have found difficult)

Long story short - - the bolt was a floor attachment to the frame. There was a hole in a frame crossmember that the bolt fitted in but he could find no nut to hold it in place. His opinion was that the factory installed the bolt but not the nut.

He nutted the bolt and assured my wife that we were good to continue our trip - - which was the important thing since there was no way she would have believed me - but she did believe "the professional"

The question:
To access the area the tech slit the coroplast underbelly in a cross, each slit about 2 feet long.
When he was finished he used EternalBond tape to seal up the cuts. It was all he had.

Needless to say the tape did not last and the cuts are opening up. The coroplast has no backing so it gives when you try to put pressure on it. There is no way to get enough pressure on the tape to seal it properly.

Any suggestions on how to seal these cuts? I'm hoping I can find some way without having to drop the entire underbelly.

 

[kenandterry]

My RV Go-To emergency tape is Gorilla Tape.
So much more superior than Duct Tape.

I would try to Gorilla tape the slits as best as possible…..even longer than the actual slits themselves.
Then find whatever supports surrounding the repair, and cover and secure it all with a plexiglass sheet.
Just my $0.02

 

[NMWildcat]

Yep, Gorilla or T-rex tape, lots of it. Clean the area with alcohol. I have several large 'fixes' that have lasted years.

 

[Draggo]

Another vote for the Gorilla tape. I have some small areas I've had to open up. I cut a spot on 3 sides, did what I needed to do, then made some small holes, used zip ties to connect the sections together and then used the gorilla tape to cover the cuts and it's held up pretty well over the years.

 

[Dwilcox]

If they used Eternabond tape and it is coming loose, it was not cleaned properly. Nothing will stick to dirty surfaces. Eternabond sticks to most surfaces if clean, has stuck to my coroplast for the last 5-6 years.

 

[5picker]

If they used Eternabond tape and it is coming loose, it was not cleaned properly. Nothing will stick to dirty surfaces. Eternabond sticks to most surfaces if clean, has stuck to my coroplast for the last 5-6 years.

X2, I agree.
Every piece of Eternabond I've ever used has had greater stick ability than any Gorilla or HVAC duct tape. Clean the surfaces well.

You can use zip ties as mentioned to stitch the edges together or use a thin, wide board and screw to the interior perimeter of the hole so half of the board is on one side of the cut and then screw to the other side of the cut. Finish with Eternabond or rubberized roof flashing tape from a big box store.

 

[jlankford]

This product is sticking to my underbelly very well.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVBHTBN?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1

 

[Aussieguy]

I would slide a piece of 3/4 wood (treated) up into the underbelly
Then put some screws through the underbelly plastic........... into the wood

you could also get some polyethylene strips/pieces to cover the cuts ...
put the screws through both the cover strips, underbelly and into the wood

use your favorite sealant or gasket material to further water proof ....... if you want to

 

[sailorsam20500]

I think coroplast is made of polypropylene. This stuff is very resistant to many chemicals, which also means it is hard to attach anything or glue it. You will have better luck if you first give it a light sanding with a fine sand paper like emery cloth. Then clean it very well - alcohol or acetone. Once cleaned, eternabond should hold. Alternatively, you can pick up some corrugated polypropylene from most big box stores. You can glue it with super glue, I'd use the slow cure, gel formula type glue.
FWIW, I sealed the edge of my underbody to the frame with Flex Tape. It is still securely in place after four years. Before applying, I wiped the coroplast with alcohol....
Good luck.

 

[yukongold]

Thanks all. I have a few ideas gleaned from the replies.

 

[glen1971]

All of the cuts I've made to ours, I've used the black Gorilla tape with great success. It holds really well, and needs minimal repairs.

 

[01tundra]

This product is sticking to my underbelly very well.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJVBHTBN?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1

Same thing I've used all over ours from cutting access panels in various places.

Still sticking 5 yrs later.

 

[jlankford]

Same thing I've used all over ours from cutting access panels in various places.

Still sticking 5 yrs later.

Then I probably got the link for that product from you.