Posted 2009-06-01 4:01 PM (#105800 - in reply to #105795) Subject: RE: Leak in aluminum trailer
Expert
Posts: 5870
Location: western PA
Depends on whether you have a LQ or not. With a LQ, there are many holes and pieces of equipment sticking through your roof. Most leaks are caused by a weather beaten caulking. Removing the old and replacing it with new polyurethane caulking, will usually do the trick.
If your trailer only has a dressing room and AC, the cause of the leaks can be the AC seal, roof seams or the holes behind your roof mounted running lights.
Roof seams can be sealed using a pressures sensitive tape. The AC unit can be reseated by loosening and reinstalling the four hold down bolts, the lights can be loosened and new caulking installed under the bases.
The difficulty is finding exactly from where the source of the leak emanates. This is especially true if you have an finished interior ceiling. Look for obvious roof damage, worn caulking and where ever two pieces of metal are joined together.
Posted 2009-06-02 5:01 AM (#105820 - in reply to #105795) Subject: RE: Leak in aluminum trailer
Elite Veteran
Posts: 662
Location: Vanzant, Missouri
I feel your pain...I just went through the same thing. I found where it was coming into the Lq. Resealed everything up top and walaa no leaking since and we just had a hard rain come through and it was dry.. Gard ? how often should you reseal the top? should it be a yearly thing?
Posted 2009-06-02 8:29 AM (#105825 - in reply to #105820) Subject: RE: Leak in aluminum trailer
Expert
Posts: 5870
Location: western PA
Originally written by mingiz on 2009-06-02 5:01 AM
Gard ? how often should you reseal the top? should it be a yearly thing?
Most home type silicone based caulkings only last a few years with constant exposure. Most marine based polyurethanes will last at least twice as long. If you are constantly abrading the roof with tree branches, it would be good to regularly check for damage.
A yearly maintenance check is a good idea. Replacing the caulking that often should not be necessary. There are many variables involved in the caulking's life span; your local climate, amount of usage, amount of protrusions through the roof, indoor or out door storage etc.
By regularly checking the caulking for wear, you can usually anticipate any problem areas, before they become problematic and expensive. Preventative maintenance is always less expensive than awaiting a problem.