Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Please be nice to me, I'm new here!

I recently purchased a very small trailer (a 10 foot '78 Fleetwing) and have been updating it. The dealer I purchased it from suggested that I seal the roof before the weather turns cold. The camper does not leak curently. She suggested using a roof sealant available at Lowe's. I was browsing around online and saw that some sealants are available that are specifically made for RVs, some are spray-on, and some are brush-on. Could someone educate me on the differences? Does anyone have a product to suggest, or tips for applying it?

Thanks in advance, and I'm glad to have found these forums!

Happi,

Welcome to the forum!


Please ask your dealer "why" it needs to be "sealed"?

If the trailer has an aluminum roof, it does not need to be sealed.
If it has a steel roof, is it rusty?
If so, after cleaning, the sealer can help prevent further rusting.
If it isn't rusty, there is no need for "sealer".
If the roof leaks (you said it doesn't) then the roof needs to be repaired, not sealed.

If you want to try to make it slightly cooler inside, you can use a "sealer" to help reflect sun/heat back away from your roof.

It is very common for people in the RV/mobile industry to recommend/speak of "coating" roofs (quite profitable).
What they should be telling you/know about, is that each year you should carefully inspect each seam/joint/overlap that requires a sealant to remain waterproof.
Areas such as windows, doors, roof vents, siding overlaps, etc. all rely on a sealant, usually roll putty to prevent water intrusion.
Slopping "sealer" on a roof every year adds a lot of weight, costs a lot, and does nothing to prevent leaks should the roll putty fail.
What it can do however, is allow water to seep under it (between a failed bond between sealer and roof, and allow water to work away at entering the structure un noticed until major damage is done.
Imagine water getting in at one end of the roof, but showing up as a ceiling stain at the other.
How will you ever find the entry point?

Learning to inspect your roof every year is not hard, and will prevent damage that other owners chase for years by applying more "sealer" on their roofs.

Rob (who isn't a fan of sealer for preventing roof leaks)

Welcome to the playground Leigh.

Love the red and don't see any reason to mess with it. I would do as Rob said and check everything.....

Thanks so much for the advice, Rob, and for the welcome, Miriam.

My favorite kind of advice is the kind that involves checking things off my list without doing work. The roof is fine now, so I'll leave it be.

Leigh,

Welcome to our playground.

Rob give excellent advise, he is truly one of the experts when it comes to trailer restoration and maintenance.

Oh yeah, cool little trailer,:thumbsup: please post more pictures when you can.

Welcome to the forum fellow kentuckian. This forum has a wealth of information just waiting to be tapped.
Good luck on your project camper.

Larry