Question
My rig has a tin/metal roof and I’m seeing some water deposits inside. I’m noticing some small holes in the tin – what should I seal it with?
Submitted via email
Answer
I would recommend the metal roof coating from Dicor. It applies easy, will seal the holes and actually insulate the inside better as well. Check out their Elastomeric Metal RV Roof Coating and give it a try. I hope this helps!
Dicor additionally makes sealants for all roof types, not just metal or tin. They have products to help clean, replace, protect, and repair your RV Roof.
Related video: Fixing A Hole In A TPO RV Roof With A Rubber Patch
You might also be interested in our other videos on roof repair:
RV Rubber Roof Conditioning Tips And Products
How To Clean A Rubber Roof
How And When To Walk On Your RV Roof
Do you have an RV repair question you’d like answered by an expert? Email your question to editor@rvrepairclub.com or reach out to us on Facebook.
Please note: questions may be edited for clarity and relevance.
RV Make: Hi-low?, RV Model: Tow Lite, RV Year: 1998
Best way to get side seams front and back to close back after coming apart after top fell while moving. Seller didn’t tell me it had leaked for years. Have the reccomended sealing tape, but need seams closed good.
Hello Lynda,
Thank you for your patience while I reached out to the expert, here is the reply:
The only thing you can do is try really long screws to drive the seams in. There should have been screws holding it in before and you can remove those and install longer ones in the same area or make new holes around the existing ones. If you are careful and drive the screws straight along the wall edge and don’t angle them you can use 3 1/2″ screws to try to get a better grab on more supports. If those still aren’t grabbing strong enough then the framing supports are too rotted and will need replaced, if it is possible to replace. It depends on how your walls are made but sometimes the whole wall needs replaced and others can have panels taken out to replace the structure. I would not recommend using any sort of adhesive as they will not typically hold up after travel. Screws into the framing is the best option.
Sincerely,
Dan
RV Repair Club Technical Expert
RV Make: National, RV Model: Seabreeze, RV Year: 1995
What is the structure of the roof on my RV consist of?
Hello Elizabeth,
Great question! I will need more information from you. Please resubmit your question and include the year, make and model of your RV?
Sincerely,
Joan
RV Repair Club Video Membership
RV Make: Prevost, RV Model: Royale, RV Year: 1999
What is best sealant for Prevost roof?
Hello Darrell,
Thank you for contacting us. Great question! The ‘Ask an Expert’ section is currently for members of our online community. By becoming a member, you will have access to our expert’s knowledge in RV’s. With your membership you will also receive discounts on products and hours of Premium video content.
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We greatly appreciate your business!
Sincerely,
Joan
RV Repair Club Video Membership
RV Make: KZ Sportsman , RV Model: 200, RV Year: 2015
Last time I took my RV and parked it, I noticed my 2 balls of my Sway Control Bar were bent. Did I tighten the bar too tight?
Hello Bob!
We’d love to help! What is the year, make, and model of your RV?
Thank you!
Jessica
RV Repair Club Video Membership
RV Make: FOREST RIVER, RV Model: LEXINGTON, RV Year: 2009
Does anyone know if i can get a power awning put on my 2009 forest river lexington. It has a curved angle at the top of the RV and I can’t seem to find anyone who carries this power awning. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
If it wasn’t powered before it isn’t easy to get powered ones as you would have to drill through the wall and run wires inside to another power source, sometimes this involves going through ceiling and wall panels. Sometimes it can be easy to. If you did already have a power awning the replacement is easy. You should be able to take out the awning and look at the identification tag to find out who makes it. Usually it is on the tube, arms or even the fabric. You can also call the manufacture with the VIN to find out as well. The only company I was able to find that makes the curved arms was Dometic. They have a chart to find out which system you have but did not mention if it was powered or not. Some of these arms are still available online so it might be worth contacting Dometic directly and see if they have what you are looking for. I will share the link with the arm catalog below.
http://techsupport.pdxrvwholesale.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Dometic-Awning-Hardware-Sets.pdf
Sincerely,
Dan
RV Repair Club Technical Expert
RV Make: Winnebago, RV Model: Itasca, RV Year: 1987, Brand: New Mark, Model Number: PA1220
Looking for manual to know what all the buttons are for.
Hi Georgia!
I do apologize but we will need a little more context in regards to the manual you’re looking for.
Thank you!
Jessica
RV Repair Club Video Membership
RV Make: Forest river, RV Model: Stealth G-Series, FSA3320, RV Year: 2020, Brand: Stealth G-Series, Model Number: FSA3320
Generator isn’t charging batteries. Nor is the solar panels
Hello Jim!
We’d love to help! What is the year, make, and model of your RV?
Thank you!
Jessica
RV Repair Club Video Membership
RV Make: KZ, RV Model: 281BHKLE, RV Year: 2020, Brand: Sportsman LE, Model Number: 281BHKLE
RV Ladders. I received the schematic diagram for our camper from KZ. The diagram shows the backing on the back wall, however for the roof their is no cross member. What’s the proper way to attach? Roof decking is 3/8 plywood.
Ladder: Stromberg Carlson LA-401BA Universal ladder
Hello Thomas,
Thank you for contacting us, here is the experts reply:
It will just sit on the roof, there is no extra support on the roof for the ladder. The roof is strong enough to support it without extra wood. It just needs to be screwed into place when resting into position with 1″ screws.
Sincerely,
Dan
RV Repair Club Technical Expert
RV Make: Crossroads, RV Model: Cruiser "CF315RL14" (5th Wheel), RV Year: 2014
Is RV Armor a good choice for recovering a rubber roof?
I personally don’t have any experience with that product but I have heard many good things about it. It does come with a lifetime warranty so as long as they uphold that it sounds like a good investment. I would look up reviews and see what others have said but as I mentioned I have heard nothing but good things about it.
Sincerely,
Dan
RV Repair Club Technical Expert
RV Make: Monoco, RV Model: Diplomate, RV Year: 2002
what can i use to seal tape back down on my metal roof, just purchased this rv
Eternabond is a great product and works well on metal roofs. It can be used to seal around existing components or when installing new ones. This can be found online and at local hardware stores as well. It is very strong and hard to get off so make sure you are using it over something you want to stay for a long time.
Sincerely,
Dan
RV Repair Club Technical Expert
RV Make: Keystone , RV Model: VR 1, RV Year: 2007, Brand: Keystone, Model Number: Bid 10
Slide went half way out and stopped! Will not go out anymore and will not retract. I can hear the motor moving. I was told to check the Shear Pin! Where is that and what is that?
Hello Eric!
That’s a great question!
The ‘Ask an Expert’ section is currently for members to our online community. We do have a promotional offer if you are interested. This would include access to expert advice (like this), plus discounts, hours of Premium videos, etc. Please feel free to take a look. You can message us right back with your question if you decide to become a member and you will have a response within 1-2 business days from our experts!
Please follow the steps below to receive the annual membership at the introductory rate:
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We greatly appreciate your business!
Sincerely,
Jessica
RV Repair Club Video Membership
RV Make: Conquest , RV Year: 2002
How do you replace the Louan in our front bunk have a con quest motorhome under the metal frame
Hello Frank!
Could we get the year, make, and model of your RV?
Thank you!
Jessica
RV Repair Club Video Membership
RV Make: Gulf stream, RV Model: Conquest, RV Year: 2002
I’m trying to find where to buy the outside of the bottom of the front bunk above the driver’s cab.
Hello Frank,
Thank you for contacting us. I’m sorry I wouldn’t know where to find that.
If you have any other concerns, please contact us at 1-855-706-3536, or chat with us on our site.
We greatly appreciate your business!
Sincerely,
Joan
RV Repair Club Video Membership
RV Model: Gulf stream, RV Year: 2007
Do people ever spray a liner similar to the type used in a bed liner on the roof of their RV?
Hello Scott,
That’s a great question!
The ‘Ask an Expert’ section is currently for members to our online community. We do have a promotional offer if you are interested. This would include access to expert advice (like this), plus discounts, hours of Premium videos, etc. Please feel free to take a look. You can message us right back with your question if you decide to become a member and you will have a response within 1-2 business days from our experts!
Please follow the steps below to receive the annual membership at the introductory rate:
1. Click on the email link: https://go.rvrepairclub.com/C23896
2. Click on the Premium Membership offer.
3. The Checkout page will display your Premium Membership purchase.
4. Fill in your Billing Details and create an account password.
5. Fill in your debit/credit card information.
6. Finish by clicking Complete Order.
If you have any further questions, please contact Customer Service at 1-855-706-3536 at your earliest convenience, or chat with us on our site.
We greatly appreciate your business!
Sincerely,
Joan
RV Repair Club Video Membership
RV Make: jayco, RV Model: 1008 sg, RV Year: 1988
how to seal center line seam better than using putty tape
For a cleaner look that holds up better I like using Quad from OSI. This is a great sealant that holds up better than most and adheres great to the roof and other materials. Run this along the edges to create a long lasting seam.
https://www.ositough.com/en/products/view-all-products/weather-resistant-sealant-quad.html
Sincerely, Dan RV Repair Club Technical Expert
2019 Coleman steps broke off pin on side what ca i do
Hello Keith,
You will need to use a nut and bolt most likely to hold it in place. Typically they use machine rivets when making the steps and you would need a special tool and rivet to make it original again. Depending on what style of steps you have and who makes them they might have something else that can be used but the ones I have seen can typically only be fixed with a nut and bolt. Use a nylon nut so it locks into place without much tension.
Sincerely,
Dan, RV Repair Club Technical Expert
RV Make: Fleetwood , RV Model: Southwind , RV Year: 1992
I disconnected my battery’s not knowing that I had to pay attention to How they were connectedNow that I have to new batteries to replace my house batteries I don’t know how to connect my battery’s and the batteries that I am trying to connect or 2 6v house batteries and 1 12v motor battery can someone out there help me
The two 6v batteries will have to be connected in series. I can share a diagram that shows how to do this but you will need to connect the negative from battery 1 to the positive of battery 2. The negative from the RV connects to the negative on battery 2 and the positive from the RV connects to the positive from battery 1. It sounds confusing but the diagram should help. The chassis battery will be connected in parallel. This means all negatives together and all positives together. The colors for both of these wires can be different on all RV’s but typically red is positive and black is negative but sometimes black can be positive and if there are white wires these can be negative. The only way to know for sure is to trace the wires and see what they lead to.
Sincerely,
Dan
RV Repair Club Technical Expert
RV Make: Cruiser, RV Model: 2700 TH, RV Year: 2021
I am wanting to install a rail on the outside to accommodate my grill. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Jim Gilley
Hi Jim,
Thank you for contacting us. Please resubmit the question with the make, model and the year of the RV. This is something the experts will need in order to help.
If you have any other concerns, please contact us at 1-855-706-3536, or chat with us on our site.
We greatly appreciate your business!
Sincerely,
Ayan
RV Repair Club Video Membership
RV Make: Jayco, RV Model: Pinnacle, RV Year: 2019
Where are the shut off valves for the ice maker in a jayco pinnacle 2019
Hello Deborah,
Thank you for contacting us.
I don’t have access to plumbing schematics but usually they are under the kitchen island on the left side, sometimes behind a panel and near the floor. They tie the plumbing for the fridge to the kitchen faucet most of the time. Often there is a second valve as well and this is typically in the cabinet or below the stove next to the fridge. You might have to remove a drawer to gain access to it but it will be all the way against the back wall. These are where they are typically located. It won’t be directly behind the fridge but nearby off to the side or in the kitchen island.
If you have any other concerns, please contact us at 1-855-706-3536, or chat with us on our site.
We greatly appreciate your business!
Sincerely,
Lindsay
RV Repair Club Video Membership
RV Make: coachman, RV Model: prism elite, RV Year: 2021
New coach, already been burned twice by dealership that sold me the coach so ILLNOT GO BACK TO THEM FOR ANYTHING. I noticed a roof issue- smallpox shape swelling after 4th elastic’s train and after the dealership created my entire external Rv to protect it for 7 years. Who can I go to and have it fixed without running/voiding my warranty- any dealership? any repair shop or only specific ones? I wrote coachman and do not have any answer yet. I do not wish to void my warranty but it might rain any day, should I wait?
Hi Mark,
Here is what our expert had to say:
To keep the warranty you will have to go to a certified service center. Most dealerships would be find as long as they are willing to service other warranty work. Many service centers don’t deal with warranty but some do so you would have to call and ask around. Coachman is owned by Forest River which makes many different brands so I would look into dealers that sell Forest River to make sure they can make the repair based on what is covered under the warranty. It is best to take care of roof problems sooner rather than later. If there is a break in the roofing material it can cause a lot more issues.
Sincerely,
Dan
RV Repair Club Technical Expert
RV Make: Fleetwood, RV Model: Encounter, RV Year: 2010
Hydraulic stabilizers problem. All lights are flashing on the board. Also beeps non stop
Hello Bernard,
Thank you for contacting us.
What is the year, make, and model?
If you have any other concerns, please contact us at 1-855-706-3536, or chat with us on our site.
We greatly appreciate your business!
Sincerely,
Lindsay
RV Repair Club Video Membership
RV Make: jayco , RV Model: eagle, RV Year: 1994
Hi There, I just bought a 1994 Jayco eagle 27 foot RV. The roof material is flaking off really bad. I am not sure how to reseal it or what material to use. I was told it is a metal roof, but figured you guys would know. How do I go about resealing it and what material should I use? Thanks so much – Adam
Hi Michelle. Most likely your Eagle isn’t a metal roof, it should be wood. Typically the Eagle series used wood and it is covered with an EPDM roofing material. This material can break down over time and start to flake off exposing the black rubber underneath. This can be re-coated with a rubber roofing coat. There are many different kinds out there but I recommend KoolSeal. It is a great product and holds up well. Dicor also makes a good option as well. They usually come in a two step process, primer and then coating. You want to wash the roof first and let it dry. You then use a paint roller and apply the primer, let it dry and then apply the sealant. It really isn’t hard, just a takes a little time. I will share some info on products to use below.
https://www.koolseal.com/product/rv-elastomeric-finish-coat/
https://dicorproducts.com/product/epdm-acrylic-rubber-roof-coating-cleaneractivator-part-1-of-epdm-roof-coating-system/
https://dicorproducts.com/product/epdm-roof-acrylic-coating-part-2-of-epdm-roof-coating-system/
Dan
RV Repair Club
RV Make: Coachmen, RV Model: SOA LE 241 FKG TT, RV Year: 2005
What methods or materials should I use to fix the windows on my RV ? The seals have shrunk and are very brittle. Is it possible to replace the seals or will I need to replace the windows ?
Where do I look for materials to accomplish this ?
RV Make: Yayco, RV Model: Sterling, RV Year: 2010
How to repair a fibreglass pane board roof
Great question! The ‘Ask an Expert’ section is currently for members of our online community. I would be happy to send your question off to the experts. To get started, please send the email associated with your paid membership account. Thanks!
RV Make: holiday rambler, RV Model: alumiscape, RV Year: 2018
what’s the best maintenance for roof so it stays nice
Hello Dee,
Thank you for contacting us.
We actually have some great videos going over roof care and maintenance. I will share some links below. The best things to do are to keep it clean and conditioned. Use a rubber roof cleaner and at least clean the roof twice a year. They do make conditioners that provide UV protection that are great to use after as well. This keeps the rubber in good healthy condition for years. The other thing to check are the sealants. It is very important to make sure the roof is always sealed to prevent water intrusion. If you check out the videos they show you how to do all of this and what things to look for on inspections.
https://www.rvrepairclub.com/video/how-to-clean-a-rubber-roof-009117/
https://www.rvrepairclub.com/video/rv-rubber-roof-conditioning-tips-products/
If you have any other concerns, please contact us at 1-855-706-3536, or chat with us on our site.
We greatly appreciate your business!
Sincerely,
Lindsay
RV Repair Club Video Membership
RV Make: Monaco, RV Model: Diplomat, RV Year: 2001
metal roofs sealants
RV Make: Gulfstream/Ford, RV Model: Sea Voyager, RV Year: 2000
My tires only have 10,000 on them, but they are five years old. How old can tires be before they need changed, regardless of the amount of tread?
Hello Alan,
Thank you for contacting us.
It is recommended to replace tires when they reach the 7-10 year mark no matter the condition of the tread. The components of the tire can break down over time and even if the tires look fine they could be weaker and pose a higher threat of blowouts. Yours have low miles and only 5 years so you should still be fine for a while. It is good to keep an eye on this. We do have an article going over this with some more information as well.
https://www.rvrepairclub.com/article/are-you-taking-your-rv-tires-for-granted/
If you have any other concerns, please contact us at 1-855-253-0822, or chat with us on our site.
We greatly appreciate your business!
Sincerely,
Lindsay
Woodworkers Guild of America Video Membership
RV Make: Shasta, RV Year: 1976
I have a 1976 shasta 17 foot trailer with many small roof leaks and appears to have many patches> what is the best method to clean the metal roof and patch or repair the roof
Hi Patricia!
The metal roof can really be cleaned with any sort of exterior cleaner. If there are a lot of patches it might be best to coat the entire roof with a layered protectant. It creates a barrier on the roof to not only protect it from leaks but also makes the interior more comfortable by blocking the sun and leaving the roof more insulated. Dicor makes a specific product for metal roof applications. If you have a lot of areas needing patched, Eternabond patches work well but it might be worth looking into getting the whole roof coated. I will share a link with some more information.
https://dicorproducts.com/product/elastomeric-metal-rv-roof-coating/
Sincerely, Dan RV Repair Club Technical Expert
RV Make: Rockwood, RV Model: Roo 233s, RV Year: 2012
Hi, I took my hybrid camper out recently and notice when folding out the bed that the front bed was a little soft. Did think much of it until the next day when I was packing up and there was water under the bed and it was all wet by the hinge area. I haven’t found anything that looks wrong but I just might not know the places to look so where could it be leaking from. Also worth a mention is that it was raining the whole day up to when I setup my camper.
Hello Mitch.
Here’s what the experts had to say about your question:
Most of the time these leak at the sides of the hinge when the door is in the closed position. The water coming down the sides can sometimes get trapped and then soak up into the bunk door itself. There is also the issue of the lower rail going across the bottom having open sealant to allow water in as well. Most of the time is has to do with the hinge and seals around it. We do have a video showing how to replace the damage for this exact issue, I will share the link below.
https://www.rvrepairclub.com/video/repairing-front-bunkhouse-flooring-016338/
Sincerely,
Dan
RV Repair Club Technical Expert
RV Make: Coachman, RV Model: Freedom express Bhs257, RV Year: 2021, Brand: Atwood water heater, Model Number: Wh-6ga
We went out on our first trip out , no problems with the water heater, we were gone 5 days np,after returning home we noticed our water heater stopped working we checked the breaker, checked the fuse all good , we have tried everything ,can you please help????
Hello Deborah,
Here is what our experts had to say:
If there is no clicking at all to try and start ignition then there is either a voltage issue or something wrong with the control board itself. If you listen closely to the control board on the outside of the tank when the switch is turned on you can usually hear a light humming noise coming from it. This will tell you the board is at least getting voltage and most likely something on the board internally is preventing it from starting ignition. If you don’t hear anything then there might not be voltage at the board. If the fuses are fine then you will have to check wiring connections. Most likely the issue you are having is with the control board itself. It is possible there is a loose connection somewhere but on these models it is more common for the control board to fail.
Sincerely, Dan RV Repair Club Technical Expert
RV Make: Grand design, RV Model: 2600RB, RV Year: 2020, Brand: Domestic
We have had our hot water heater fixed twice in the past year. We took it out this year and now the hot water heater only works off of propane not electric. Any ideas what could be wrong? Thank you for all your help.
Hello Dan,
Here’s what the experts had to say about your question:
It depends on what water heater you have but there could be a few issues. On Atwood/Dometic water tanks, they use a control board to operate both the gas and electric. If the board has an internal failure it could allow one to work and not the other. You would have to get the board tested to know for sure. Suburban tanks don’t have this control board so the issue could be with the heating element, thermostat, eco, relay or the switch. Other tanks could have these issues as well. The best way to find out where the issue lies is to test the voltage and trace it back. I would start by checking the voltage at the heating element. If there is voltage there and it is not working you know the element is bad. This is the most common thing to fail. If there is no voltage at the heating element you will need to trace the wires back and through other components until you find the voltage and what it isn’t going through. You also want to make sure it isn’t something simple like the breaker being tripped or a faulty switch not allowing voltage to go through.
https://www.rvrepairclub.com/?s=water+heater
Sincerely,
Dan
RV Repair Club Technical Expert
RV Make: Winnebago, RV Model: Vista 29VE, RV Year: 2018
Just got this used. Overall in very good condition and well maintained. One of the outside storage doors is bowed out in the center. Just enough that it leaks a tiny amount in very heavy rains. For the short term I added some additional weather strip to the center top and bottom, but would like to know if there is a procedure to straighten the door to remove or minimize the bow? There is no sign of stress on the door and the frame appears to be fine.
Thanks,
Hello Burt,
Once the door has started to bow there isn’t any good way to get it back. Bending it will just weaken it more and could create more issues. Once the door is bowed the only remedy is to replace the door. I have seen people straighten them back but it will just bow again soon and usually makes it worse the second time since it is more weak now. You will either need to seal it better or replace the door as these are the best options.
Sincerely,
Dan
RV Repair Club
RV Make: Coachman, RV Model: Mirada, RV Year: 2013
I put Lexel on my rubber roof and now realize that I should not have done that. What is the safest way to remove it in order to put self leveling dicor on it?
Hello Jeremy,
The best thing to use would be mineral spirits and a plastic scraper to help peel it up. Just make sure to dry the roof quickly afterwards and don’t let a soaked rag lay on the roof while doing this, it can damage the rubber material. Don’t use anything more harsh than mineral spirits.
Sincerely,
Dan
RV Repair Club