Posted 2012-04-09 9:57 AM (#142922) Subject: Sealing Horse Trailer Roof
New User
Posts: 2
Location: Midland, MI
Background: Last year after much searching, including using this horse forum, I bought my first (used) LQ horse trailer. We were swayed to an Exiss for many reasons. It is a 2001, manufactured late in 2001, a few months before the company transferred ownership. Although the roof was checked by an RV shop, which said it didn't need resealing last year, it has developed some leaking. I have had it stored inside, and have been waiting for the warmer spring weather to address (MIchigan).
After searching many existing threads and posts on this forum (a Wealth of information!!!) I have summarized the following, and have additional questions, that I would appreciation your experiences and comments on ... and PLEASE do not tell me I should have bought a different brand of horse trailer. We are very happy with the functionality of the Exiss , and would have been equally happy wtih 4 star, C&C, and many others.
I've seen 3 possible solutions to addressing the roof, there may be more.
1. Restrip existing caulking and apply new.
2. Line-x the roof ( our local line-x dealer has large enough facility to do this, and has done other horse trailers)
3. Apply an elastomeric roof coating.
On #1 -
Remove old material.Use Rigid plastic putty knifes work well.Grinding the corners of your old broken screw drivers can produce a tool that will dig out caulking in seams.
Brass, nylon and teflon wheels on a drill can clean off the metal's surface. Scotch Brite in many grades from fine to coarse paint removal can be found at the big box stores. They will clean and polish the metal without damaging its surface. If you have a sander with a hook and loop pad, they will stay in place without being physically attached to the sander.
Use SIKA Flex (Note: Credit GARD)
*** Questions ****
1. Is it SikaFlex 291 or Sikaflex 221 --- or something else..
2. How many tubes would you expect to use on a 32 ft trailer
3. Any other thoughts on prep?
On #2 - Line-X
Any thoughts on line-x the roof of an aluminum horse trailer? I understand the roof needs to be "blasted" before the line-x can be applied. Fortunately there is a business locally that specializes in this for alumimum.
Although the initial cost is higher, if it truly "lasts" it seems like a worthwhile investment.. but I could be looking at this ovelry optimistic.
on #3 - elastomeric roof (GARD had suggested this option in one post)
Posted 2012-04-09 2:16 PM (#142928 - in reply to #142922) Subject: RE: Sealing Horse Trailer Roof
Expert
Posts: 2958 Location: North Carolina
Welcome to the forum...
I recaulked my Sundowner 7 years ago. My work has held up better than the factory's. Perhaps not as pretty but its been leak free.
I used : Sikaflex - 221 SF, Product code is 220-242
The color you want is "AL Gray"
Coverage depends on your workmanship and how wide and thick you apply it. I used two tubes on a 4 foot short wall 3 horse slant. And was running sparse at the end. I would get 4 tubes for your trailer since you don't want to be stopped in the middle of your project. One tip I can add is don't tool the material too thin over the metal seam. The factory smoothed the caulk to a feather edge at the lap seam. It looked pretty but the caulk cracked and leaked. There just wasn't enough caulk to flex.
Sealing Horse Trailer Roof
