Questions about rubber roof retrofit onto older tiny trailer

[carmak]

I am helping a friend fix his storm damaged 1968 tiny trailer. The roof is ripped open in two places where a large branch fell on it. The aluminum is ripped (3ft long plus) and mangled in the two places mentioned abobe and maybe a dozen other smaller holes. The rood beams are also smashed in multiple places.

The friend would like to replace the aluminum skin with a thin plywood roof covered by a rubber roof after he has replaced the roof beams.

I have found a couple options for the rubber roof:

A complete kit with .45 rubber roof material, glue, termination strips, end screws. vinyl inserts, butyl tape and caulking shipped as a package

.60 Rubber roof shipped, glue and aluminum strips (termination strips) sourced locally for $60 less.

Is there any real advantage to the kit?

Any other advice? My friend and I are both vintage car guys and reasonably skilled at construction but travel trailer repair is new to both of us so we don't know what we don't know.

Thanks
Carmak
Riverside, Iowa

[bobnlyd]

i have looked into this roof option a little...by rubber are you meaning EPDM....from what i have read/seen it is easy to install..i would worry about longivity of the roof when exposed to the elements...i dont think it will last the same in desert climates as in others...the thicker might be better if you dont have alot of sharp bends/corners...have you looked into pvc roofing...if you are ina climate like mine i would stay away from aluminum...too much expansion/contraction if not done properly

[48Rob]

I would suggest your friend buy some aluminum sheet and patch the holes.

The RV. industry has fooled the public into thinking that a rubber roof is the greatest thing since sliced bread...and it is...for the RV. industry.
For the end user/owner however, it is a very high maintenance, very short lived product.
10-15 year lifespan if left outside...if you wash it and apply special sealer several times a year.

The stuff should be banned, the industry increases its profits by a little bit on each trailer it sells, and in 15-20 years almost every one of these trailers is rotted beyond repair, or has had multiple new rubber roofs installed.

An aluminum roof will last 75+ years, needs no washing or special cleaners/coatings.
Metal trailer roofs lasted longer than most trailers, now they have to be replaced every few years, rubber is not a better solution.

Rob

[carmak]

My friend looked into the aluminum roof option. Due to the overall condition of his trailer he decided it didn't warrant the extra time and expence of aluminum.

I didn't know about the short life span of rubber roofs but I don't think it's going to come into play here as he has a large storage building and it will sit inside when not in use.

I have a 2000 vintage 31' travel trailer that I bought when it was 4 years old. I have stored it indoors since I had it just because in general if the sun doesn't destroy it the rain will.

Carmak
Riverside, Iowa

[Martiangod]

I would suggest your friend buy some aluminum sheet and patch the holes.

The RV. industry has fooled the public into thinking that a rubber roof is the greatest thing since sliced bread...and it is...for the RV. industry.
For the end user/owner however, it is a very high maintenance, very short lived product.
10-15 year lifespan if left outside...if you wash it and apply special sealer several times a year.

The stuff should be banned, the industry increases its profits by a little bit on each trailer it sells, and in 15-20 years almost every one of these trailers is rotted beyond repair, or has had multiple new rubber roofs installed.

An aluminum roof will last 75+ years, needs no washing or special cleaners/coatings.
Metal trailer roofs lasted longer than most trailers, now they have to be replaced every few years, rubber is not a better solution.

Rob

100% right on except for the rotted beyond repair in 15 - 20 years, I lower that to 5 to 10 years.
Just did a repair quote on a 2008 trailer for $10000 for water damage from rubber roof leaking

[len19070]

I would suggest your friend buy some aluminum sheet and patch the holes.

The RV. industry has fooled the public into thinking that a rubber roof is the greatest thing since sliced bread...and it is...for the RV. industry.
For the end user/owner however, it is a very high maintenance, very short lived product.
10-15 year lifespan if left outside...if you wash it and apply special sealer several times a year.

The stuff should be banned, the industry increases its profits by a little bit on each trailer it sells, and in 15-20 years almost every one of these trailers is rotted beyond repair, or has had multiple new rubber roofs installed.

An aluminum roof will last 75+ years, needs no washing or special cleaners/coatings.
Metal trailer roofs lasted longer than most trailers, now they have to be replaced every few years, rubber is not a better solution.

Rob

Another RV Tech who agrees with ya Rob.

Between Rubber Roofs and the RV industry's total disregard towards how "Gravity Works" 7-10 years is about it for an RV to go without some sort of roof repair.

I really shouldn't bad mouth rubber roofs though....I paid off my house and put 2 kids through College with its help.

Happy Trails

Len

[bobnlyd]

hate to argue about the rubber roof lifetime...i have a 92 bounder motorhome..we are just now going to replace the roof on ours...