I'm an advocate of Eternabond tape, but I do appreciate what you say about the difficulty of removing it. Kudos to a job well done...I'm certain many shops would never clean it up as well as you did here. Proper preparation is key to everything we do to achieve long lasting results.
I do enjoy your work being a semi retired guy who made/makes a living fixing things it is/was always enjoyable for folks to tell me how it should be repaired/installed. Those who can do and those who can't try to tell you how to do it right.
Many thanks for the great tech tip, seen some videos of people using it on vents and such and i cringed thinking that’s not right. But as a nubie RVer I thought OK...May be. Now I know, reseal vent and use this in the right place for the right reason!
I totally understand working in roof in Arizona, did it in Spring three years ago and it was so hot ! I started about 6:00 am because it was 90 by 8:00! Great teaching about this tape cause I’m in Louisiana and it’s hot at 1:00 here and I got my knee all burnt but the roof I’m working on hasn’t ever had roof coating a 1985 Yellowstone with lots of leaks! Was doing spots but it rained yesterday real bad and I found part of the problem the ac the roof is warping and held water! So thank you! Good luck
Thanks for the video... You do such great work... Highly competent... Thank you for sharing your experience... Our coach has lived most of it's 21 year life indoors or at least under a cover that protects it from the sun and weather... I'm just fascinated by your videos that illustrate what can happen to a lot of rigs that are continually exposed to the elements... Lots to learn!...
Aaannndd that’s why at my local RV dealer the labor rate is 120.00 an hour, my hats off to you , my hats off, thank you for the video, always very informative . Thank You.
Finally a video about my problem, thanks for the video James. My issue is the factory used 1/4 inch hex drives to hold down the slideout trim. The seals ripped the tape on the screw heads, then it leaked. I put some aluminum backed roof tape over it and now its peeling off the TPO roof. I'm trying to finger out a forever fix. I'm thinking I'm going to have to clean it all off, pull off the trim, and reseal. Once I get it all back together, I'm wondering if I should go back with Eternaleak or coat it with Henry's silicone roof coating. Decisions, decisions...
I curse every factory that uses hex screws on exterior trim and attachments. I'd have a hard time recommending the roof coating but I understand your frustration.
Having done this same job on my Holiday Rambler, I admit it's messy, but I didn't think it was that difficult. I used a heat gun and a putty knife to scrape up the old tape and most of the adhesive in one pass. I made a second pass to scrape up more adhesive, but I did not try to remove all of it. I sprayed the remaining adhesive with EternaPrime, let it dry and applied the new tape. It's only been a couple of years, but it seems to be holding up. I did learn to avoid any of the Eternabond imitators.
I mean it's not difficult but it's not enjoyable either. Without the scissor lift it would have been difficult and dangerous on the full wall slide. Thanks!
Thanks for this information but I couldn't help but notice that after you said Eternabond shoudln't be used for that type of application but you put Eternabond back down. I do have a question. I was thinking of putting Eternabond on that outbound flashing lip on my slide to shore it up. Seems like Dicor or Silicon on where the flashing meets the roof material would be more apt to peel. What do you suggest to protect those joints on a slide where water entry is comon but often not discovered until too late?
I would assume once you use eternabond, you would replace with eternabond, will be compatible with the gue that you can’t get removed, better chance of sealing
Was thinking about using the eternabond tape on my roof seams prior to rolling on a new roof just for extra seam protection. Would that be a good application or use of the tape?
Just bought a monaco coach where someone decided to seal the entire bathroom skylight with eternabond all the way around, and finish it up with what I think is caulk. It was leaking a little bit. The repair was a mess. I removed all of it and resealed with dicor. Not leaking anymore. On my travel trailer I had a tree branch poke a small hole in my rubber roof. Used eternabond to repair it 8 years ago. Still holding strong, but it was a 4"x4" patch.
Hello, I like your videos, just wish you were closer to Colorado. I've been researching about the wire carrying E chains that Forest River uses. All I find is lots of problems with them breaking. FR said they would send me a chain but I can't find any thing showing how to replace it. Do you have and videos showing how you do this? Thanks
I've done several repairs the best thing I've used is the peel and stick black tar on one side and a thin piece of aluminum on the other side. I bought it at Lowe's in the insulation section it's similar to dynamat but it's a lot thinner and lighter. You need something on the top like aluminum so it doesn't break down and crack and come off. I usually clean the roof first with vinegar let it dry real good put the 587 Uncle Henry's white coat from Home Depot on it then put that peel and stick aluminum foil black tar tape on the other side stuck to the roof and then paint it again with the Uncle Henry's 587 roof coat. And if using the tape towards the front overlap it so the wind will not catch it in the front and lift it up. Any other kind of tape or sealants will break down crack and fall apart like what's on there. At Lowe's 6 inch x about a 30 foot roll is $18.00 I always like to do it once and do it right the first time.
Window flashing tape. I swear by it. It’s easy to remove with mineral spirits and seals better than eternabond. $13 a roll. I’ve used it for several years and live full time in an rv. Eternabond just isn’t sticky enough.
Really enjoy your videos. Have a QUESTION: 2020 Jayco Whitehawk 24 MBH. (29’ bunk house). One slide. Top corner driver side right at the slide edge that sucks up against the inside wall. Slide was off and created a small tear in some of that “gathered” or “folded” roof material. Used eternabond for emergency. Starting to fail. Is replacing roof material on slide the only good option?
What are your recommendations for prep steps? Do you think EternaClean and the brand conditioning treatments are necessary or just a good wash followed by mineral spirits before application?
I have had great success using my battery powered (oscillating) multi tool with the straight blade in conjunction with gum-b-gone..very little clean up on all my resealing jobs 👍
I just replaced the factory tape that came on my cargo trailer. It took a 3 pints of goof off to clean it back to bare metal. They had 2 inch tape and I went back with 4 inch tape. Hopefully it holds up longer than the 5 years I got out of the original before a small leak started.
I still plan on applying EternaBond to all my seals. I don't believe EternaBond is suggesting you don't ever check your tape after applying it, but plenty of RVs have had success using it to stop the lap sealant from being a source of water intrusion. But using it to give you years between applications rather than months makes a lot of sense.
This question is a little off topic (and I know it is not used for slide roofs), but what is your experience/opinion of Flex Armor. This is not the roll on roof coating, but a sprayed on polyurea that produces a seamless roof. Thanks and I enjoy your videos!
My opinion is that it is a good product and I'm surprised manufacturers are not using it..........however, my only real concerns are that all the vents,skylights and trims are under the rv armor. Vents, skylights, and solar panels break and in order to replace them and maintain the warranty the roof company has to do it. Also, RV are road vehicles and hit things or are hit so again I have concerns about repairs. Thanks!
Looking at this project you can readily see that the surface was not prepared properly before installing the Eternabond tape. It was very difficult for this guy to remove. Had it been applied properly moisture would not have gotten under the tape.
I own a 2021 KZ sportsman, the rear and side roof gutter trims I assume have a butyl tape behind them and maybe a small bead of sealant at the roof membrane to top of trim joint with exposed trim screws the length of these pieces. I see this as a potential spot for water access. Is my concern valid and\or is there a solution to cover the screw heads or other solution to attempt to keep water out? Thanks and thanks for taking the time to post and make your videos, I've been watching many of them 🙏
i used a heat gun on low to get a bunch of it off. i did a test section on high, not recommended! works great on the flat areas. reduched work by half, but curves kinda don't care/make it harder. so, mineral spirits and scraping a litrtle at a time on those spots. i spent 9 hrs today stripping some to relaminate the front drivers side
Great Video again. Not sure if you have listed on any of your videos what cleaners you use on different materials of a RV. i.e. Rubber roofing, Side walls, etc. when your putting it back together before you apply any of the Dicor products what do you clean with (Mineral Spirts or? Or What not to ever use. Also how to tell what material the side wall or Front plastic might be, fiber glass or what? (specifically Thor Majestic) Thanks again for making these videos and sharing you knowledge .
I have roof inspection series that hopefully covers most of those questions. Overall though, I recommend soap and water to clean anything on the exterior.
@@AZExpert Thanks for the response. I notice you use Dicor none levelling in several location where the putty was used originally. I have the trim off from the front to side seal and would like to use the dicor none levelling under it instead of any putty. Your thoughts?
That tape looks like it is more difficult to work with than Eternabond. I like the floor roller for smoothing/pressurizing the adhesive. Well done James. Hardest working man in the RV business.
Can you point me to a video of generally-accepted roof repair procedures? Was just gifted a camper to live in for a year or two, but has a puncture on the roof. It'll be in SW Texas desert, under an enclosure, but I still like to do things correctly. Thanks for your videos!
What glue or adhesive would I use to glue down a two square foot piece of EPDM rubber roof to plywood (fiber board)? This would be part of an roof repair on my RV. I am going to cut a small square of the EPDM rubber roof and replace the plywood under it that is soft due to a leak. Then glue it or a new piece back down. After gluing down the piece of EPDM, I have bought 4 inch wide Eternabond tape to seal the cut I made. Also plan to use Dicor lap sealant at the edge of the tape. The leak was caused by gap in the lap sealant at the roof exhaust fan.
James-what is the best solution for sealing that end cap, especially the corners at the ends of the slide? I have a Schwintek slide with an aluminum cap. It has what appears to be butyl tape under it and nothing else running the edge over the EPDM. It doesn’t appear they have enough screws along the length and I am gathering it flexes when pulled into to the seals. I have had a leak in one corner with the slide open and a leak with it closes coming through one of the lower Schwintek rails. Thoughts? The whole system seems like a poor design, but that’s just me.
Without knowing the slide manufacturer, I'd say it really is likely a poor design. The easiest solution if the water is following the track inside is to make sure the slide is slightly downhill. If that doesn't help you might have to add a sloping gutter with a stop. I'd suggest looking at other slideouts on the side to see what I mean. Thanks!
@@AZExpert James, thanks for the response! Its a Coachman Apex Nano hybrid camper. The end cap is an aluminum flange all the way around. Not sure if that answers the question?! :) As always, love watching your videos!
I’m shopping for my first RV. Are there any particular roof and wall materials and construction techniques that I should be looking for or avoiding with respect to longevity and ease of maintenance and repair?
In general, gel-coat fiberglass roofs are the best. EPDM is thicker than TPO membranes and PVC roofs seem to be better than both of those so far. Motorhomes do tend to have much different build qualities while most towables are made the same from the same components. My only suggestions is to rent first and the less automation the best.
Would love if you make a video on a temporary fix for a 3-in tear in the synthetic fabric on top of the main slide. We are primarily in very hot climates (FL, TX, AZ.) We got caught in a hail storm during winter travel and got damage in about three spots on top of the slide. This is a 2005 RV that we will be selling in about 6 months to buy another one. For that reason we are not wanting to replace the synthetic fabric or install toppers. We've spent over $10,000 in one year on repairs from the previous (not so honest) owners so at this point we're done. We agree that Eterna bond is a mess and have considered using awning tape on the slide fabric. Cannot find a video anywhere on TH-cam about this. ☹️
What do you think about the fabric backed stuff? I have a used class A that has a number of seals covered with the fabric stuff. It seems fine right now however, I dread that day that I have to clean those up and reseal. Hopping that the fabric backed tape could potentially be a long term solution so I do not have to mess with it in the near future.
John M.....I put that stuff on my Residential roof. My Roof is exposed to the sun All day, No shade from trees. Just Good ol' South Texas sun beating on it 15 hrs a day. We just had our coldest winter in decades and 2 yrs ago was one of the Wettest years ever. Well after 5 yrs that stuff is STILL going strong. If you Want it to last Much longer, clean it by giving it a nice Brushing with a soft bristle brush (like a shoe shine brush), and nice cleaning to the immediate area around it and "bordering" it. The tape I used is 4 inches wide, so what I'd do is get either the 8 inch wide Eterna bond or the Aluminum Peel n Seal tape, and center it on that Fabric backed taped (the length of the fabric tape you are trying to cover). Now listen carefully to the next step because it may not seem important but it is: Cover the EDGES of the Eterna bond or Aluminum Peel n Seal tape with an 1 inch overlap of Thin Aluminum tape or Silver Duct tape. God bless.
Well i really dislike the tar adhesive of aluminum flashing and the metal edge can damage the rubber wiper seal, the aluminum does not form as well around many edges which can cause tearing of the tape which ruins the tape. No need for a heat gun in the Arizona sun.
@@AZExpertthen you’re not using the proper flashing tape. Window flashing tape is $13 a roll and lasts 10 years once you coat it, or longer. Comes off with mineral spirits.
My opinion is not to have tape as the wiper seal drags across it.....but as the factory did it already, it would be difficult to get every little sticky bit out, so the new tape will cover the sticky parts that would have damaged the wiper/bulb seal.
I put the Eternabond tape on my roof a year ago on my rig and the grey butyl part turned to powder under the Arizona sun. I know my roof is shot and needs to be replaced, but I have been Band-Aiding it for the past four years.
It's been my experience that when I clean a surface with thinner, it leaves an oily residue which is not happy with a sticky tape. I will hit it with acetone for a final clean.
I worked for a manufacturing company for 40 years, I will say this, "Most of the top brand products are just as good as another. It's the prep work that makes a difference."
@@AZExpert interesting. Probably not an application I would have used it for. But I like it use as a sealant on the roof seams and damaged areas. Really appreciate you videos. Keep up the good work!!
Ok second question, i see a ton of rv videos of people putting eternabond over their sealant on their skylights and such and your saying don't do this ?
I have a 45' RV that the "entire roof" has been replaced with 4" strips of eternabond(knockoff). Ill add its been holding up quite nicely. I'd like you to replace it with genuine eternabond. James response @18:07 ! :0 :0 : (ya know Im kidding right?) Really though used properly? I think the stuff is great. but no matter the application dealing with the stuff sucks! thanks for the up!
Going by the images in the video, it looks like the initial prep work was severely lacking. Combine that with the Arizona sun, and I'm surprised it lasted as long as it did.
@@AZExpert Have been binge watching your videos and saw where you had to do just that..lol I am a retired Boat Capt turned RV tech for the past 7 years.. I would love to buy your Beaver.. I am looking for something good.. but here in SE Ga.. not much..
hi you kept saying eternabond is just a band aid on roof leaks, you said fix it correctly. How do you fix roof leaks correctly without redoing the whole roof?
@@AZExpert OK thanks for responding. Can I or should I put Eternabond on my front seam that keeps leaking. I have a Class C bought almost new in 2008 , over my bunk leaks? Just a girl trying to fix my camper cant afford a new roof. Last year paid 1200.00 to seal up roof. I understood there was no guarantee. That seam leaked again anyway. And those little orange lights leaked too. Water is a blessing and a curse lol. There are so many videos with so much different advice. I have learned a lot from yours. I watch some over and over lol. Thanks for the great information! You clean like a king!!! I have always thought you should make sure its clean before you repair anything. Have a great day.
I feel your pain. It’s a great product, but absolutely a train wreck to remove. I work down the street, we met at the training session at Cardinal Stadium.
Okay, okay, I did the same repair on my much smaller (thank goodness) slide out. I really worked hard on finding the leak that showed up on the floor at the inside end of the slide. The sidewall was damaged so after moving the slide in and deconstructing the sidewall, drying it out and rebuilding it, I finished by adding eternabond to the trim attachments and their corresponding 90 degree corners leading into the sidewall of the trailer, top and bottom (in this instance) 4 corners and 4 sides. I was horrified after all that work (I thought it look like a work of art) it still leaked? Turns out that the water was getting in by running out to the face of the open slide, over my repair and through the seem in the 90 degree trim that the outward seal was attached to. Once it got to the face of the slide it just traveled within the mitre of the face trim beneath the seal and then into the sidewall. To fix it, I had to force non leveling dicor into the 90 degree joint of the trim. Crazy extra work but worth the effort. You can't stop water, you can only direct it. Thanks for the videos.
@@AZExpert I bought a new Forrest River Gray Wolf 28BH in 2008, pulled it only twice, for 600 miles on good roads, and it still came unglued structurally where the wall meets the roof... while it was parked in the shed.. TOTAL JUNKY POS 😎 LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE IS THESE DAYS.. WELCOME TO CHINA
If you maintain the Eternabond tape with a little sealer on the joints , it will last a VERY long time. If you get some cuts just add more Eternatape. Also if to have to remove it - use a hair dryer on hot and seal on top with a rubberized sealer - no big deal. After 10 to 15 years the whole membrane will probably need replacing anyways.
Everything you mentioned is user error, not product error. I can't fathom why the owner of that coach thought putting eternabond over the top of an existing failure was going to solve the issue. Eternabond is only going to work as well as what it sticks to. I understand what you are staying though. Back in the day, we used to have customers bring us their non walkable aluminum roof with the the entire thing covered in roofing tar. Evidently, plasti-cote was too expensive. It was cheaper than the repair bill to fix what they botched. Lol
Please use your chains on the man lift . I've seen people fall off. I'm sure you don't need me to preach to you , it only takes one mistake to be life changing . Great channel !!
That would not have been a good application on this slide out roof. This RV has a gel-coat fiberglass roof so it would not be a good application for that either. You may find that by and large, I do not really like roll on coatings to do anything more than extend the life of an worn out roof. Thanks!
EternaBond is a great product but definitely not for every application. The hot Arizona sun will soften the sealant. If it's on an application where it's subject to lateral tension or an application like this where a secondary seal may rub against it as that pop-out goes back in, it may start to peal loose. Does a great job of "sealing" but is not structural at all. In other words don't hang pictures with it in your house :)
It is a magical compound if you do it right. I've seen them last over 10 years. And it's not recommended on a slide or as the only thing on the roof, it's only supposed to go over current roof. Already you can see eternabond tape should not have been used here.
You make everything seem so easy but it really isn't- it is a testament to your experience, well done.
Thank you. It's mostly just a sticky mess so not a lot of fun.
I'm an advocate of Eternabond tape, but I do appreciate what you say about the difficulty of removing it. Kudos to a job well done...I'm certain many shops would never clean it up as well as you did here. Proper preparation is key to everything we do to achieve long lasting results.
Yeah it's a bugger to take off
Use a heat gun next time.
It’s fascinating watching you work. Your smile makes the whole scene brighten. 😀
thank you very much, that's nice to hear
I like how he does not take the easy route definitely puts time and effort into it
I do enjoy your work being a semi retired guy who made/makes a living fixing things it is/was always enjoyable for folks to tell me how it should be repaired/installed. Those who can do and those who can't try to tell you how to do it right.
Thank you!
Many thanks for the great tech tip, seen some videos of people using it on vents and such and i cringed thinking that’s not right. But as a nubie RVer I thought OK...May be. Now I know, reseal vent and use this in the right place for the right reason!
Glad it was helpful!
I totally understand working in roof in Arizona, did it in Spring three years ago and it was so hot ! I started about 6:00 am because it was 90 by 8:00! Great teaching about this tape cause I’m in Louisiana and it’s hot at 1:00 here and I got my knee all burnt but the roof I’m working on hasn’t ever had roof coating a 1985 Yellowstone with lots of leaks! Was doing spots but it rained yesterday real bad and I found part of the problem the ac the roof is warping and held water! So thank you! Good luck
Thanks for the video... You do such great work... Highly competent... Thank you for sharing your experience... Our coach has lived most of it's 21 year life indoors or at least under a cover that protects it from the sun and weather... I'm just fascinated by your videos that illustrate what can happen to a lot of rigs that are continually exposed to the elements... Lots to learn!...
It's my pleasure and Thanks for watching! :)
Aaannndd that’s why at my local RV dealer the labor rate is 120.00 an hour, my hats off to you , my hats off, thank you for the video, always very informative . Thank You.
Thanks 👍
I live between 2 RV repair shops. One charges $135 an hr and the other $150.
Rates are now 200 an hour
Man what a job, I would lose my mind, in that heat. I commend your perseverance.
It is not fun.
Finally a video about my problem, thanks for the video James. My issue is the factory used 1/4 inch hex drives to hold down the slideout trim. The seals ripped the tape on the screw heads, then it leaked. I put some aluminum backed roof tape over it and now its peeling off the TPO roof. I'm trying to finger out a forever fix. I'm thinking I'm going to have to clean it all off, pull off the trim, and reseal. Once I get it all back together, I'm wondering if I should go back with Eternaleak or coat it with Henry's silicone roof coating. Decisions, decisions...
I curse every factory that uses hex screws on exterior trim and attachments. I'd have a hard time recommending the roof coating but I understand your frustration.
You've done a great job James, thanks for the video!
Thanks for watching Ron!
Having done this same job on my Holiday Rambler, I admit it's messy, but I didn't think it was that difficult. I used a heat gun and a putty knife to scrape up the old tape and most of the adhesive in one pass. I made a second pass to scrape up more adhesive, but I did not try to remove all of it. I sprayed the remaining adhesive with EternaPrime, let it dry and applied the new tape. It's only been a couple of years, but it seems to be holding up. I did learn to avoid any of the Eternabond imitators.
I mean it's not difficult but it's not enjoyable either. Without the scissor lift it would have been difficult and dangerous on the full wall slide. Thanks!
Wow, a couple of yrs and still holding strong. Sounds like success to me.
Heat gun, great idea mate , thanks for the tip if me ever needs it eh ...
Thanks for this information but I couldn't help but notice that after you said Eternabond shoudln't be used for that type of application but you put Eternabond back down. I do have a question. I was thinking of putting Eternabond on that outbound flashing lip on my slide to shore it up. Seems like Dicor or Silicon on where the flashing meets the roof material would be more apt to peel. What do you suggest to protect those joints on a slide where water entry is comon but often not discovered until too late?
Good video. Thank you James. Happy trails!
Thanks for watching!
“I don’t like eternabond.” Removes eternabond, replaces with eternabond. 🤔
It has its uses. Doesn't mean we have to be best friends.Thanks for watching! :)
Is this a shakedown so They will sponsor You to shut You up? Everyone I know swears by it.
“ Don’t like eternabond” but if I am not mistaken he put an inferior product? 😅
I would assume once you use eternabond, you would replace with eternabond, will be compatible with the gue that you can’t get removed, better chance of sealing
So how is it supposed to be done if not using eternabond?
Was thinking about using the eternabond tape on my roof seams prior to rolling on a new roof just for extra seam protection. Would that be a good application or use of the tape?
Just bought a monaco coach where someone decided to seal the entire bathroom skylight with eternabond all the way around, and finish it up with what I think is caulk. It was leaking a little bit. The repair was a mess. I removed all of it and resealed with dicor. Not leaking anymore. On my travel trailer I had a tree branch poke a small hole in my rubber roof. Used eternabond to repair it 8 years ago. Still holding strong, but it was a 4"x4" patch.
It has its uses for sure
Always learn something from your channel, thanks for making the vids!
Glad you like them!
Hello, I like your videos, just wish you were closer to Colorado.
I've been researching about the wire carrying E chains that Forest River uses. All I find is lots of problems with them breaking. FR said they would send me a chain but I can't find any thing showing how to replace it. Do you have and videos showing how you do this? Thanks
I do not have a video on that. Usually, the plastic links have splits to allow the wiring to be removed and installed.
What about using eternabond on lap joints on a new roof to protect them from damage and wear. If not what’s the best way to protect a brand new roof?
I've done several repairs the best thing I've used is the peel and stick black tar on one side and a thin piece of aluminum on the other side. I bought it at Lowe's in the insulation section it's similar to dynamat but it's a lot thinner and lighter. You need something on the top like aluminum so it doesn't break down and crack and come off. I usually clean the roof first with vinegar let it dry real good put the 587 Uncle Henry's white coat from Home Depot on it then put that peel and stick aluminum foil black tar tape on the other side stuck to the roof and then paint it again with the Uncle Henry's 587 roof coat. And if using the tape towards the front overlap it so the wind will not catch it in the front and lift it up. Any other kind of tape or sealants will break down crack and fall apart like what's on there. At Lowe's 6 inch x about a 30 foot roll is $18.00 I always like to do it once and do it right the first time.
Thanks for the tip
@@AZExpert Your welcome
Window flashing tape. I swear by it. It’s easy to remove with mineral spirits and seals better than eternabond. $13 a roll. I’ve used it for several years and live full time in an rv. Eternabond just isn’t sticky enough.
Really enjoy your videos. Have a QUESTION: 2020 Jayco Whitehawk 24 MBH. (29’ bunk house). One slide. Top corner driver side right at the slide edge that sucks up against the inside wall. Slide was off and created a small tear in some of that “gathered” or “folded” roof material. Used eternabond for emergency. Starting to fail. Is replacing roof material on slide the only good option?
as a permanent solution? yes
Prep is everything! If the surface has been prepared correctly, Eternabond will last a lot longer than the trailer.
I'm not sure Eternabond makes that claim with a 15 year warranty, but prep is important. Thanks!
What are your recommendations for prep steps? Do you think EternaClean and the brand conditioning treatments are necessary or just a good wash followed by mineral spirits before application?
@@AZExpert25 year
I have had great success using my battery powered (oscillating) multi tool with the straight blade in conjunction with gum-b-gone..very little clean up on all my resealing jobs 👍
I've had some success too, but also I have made mistakes with it
I just replaced the factory tape that came on my cargo trailer. It took a 3 pints of goof off to clean it back to bare metal. They had 2 inch tape and I went back with 4 inch tape. Hopefully it holds up longer than the 5 years I got out of the original before a small leak started.
I still plan on applying EternaBond to all my seals. I don't believe EternaBond is suggesting you don't ever check your tape after applying it, but plenty of RVs have had success using it to stop the lap sealant from being a source of water intrusion. But using it to give you years between applications rather than months makes a lot of sense.
Great video, why not use liquid rubber? Maybe you said you’re not keeping it? Thanks
This question is a little off topic (and I know it is not used for slide roofs), but what is your experience/opinion of Flex Armor. This is not the roll on roof coating, but a sprayed on polyurea that produces a seamless roof. Thanks and I enjoy your videos!
My opinion is that it is a good product and I'm surprised manufacturers are not using it..........however, my only real concerns are that all the vents,skylights and trims are under the rv armor. Vents, skylights, and solar panels break and in order to replace them and maintain the warranty the roof company has to do it. Also, RV are road vehicles and hit things or are hit so again I have concerns about repairs. Thanks!
Looking at this project you can readily see that the surface was not prepared properly before installing the Eternabond tape. It was very difficult for this guy to remove. Had it been applied properly moisture would not have gotten under the tape.
yep
I own a 2021 KZ sportsman, the rear and side roof gutter trims I assume have a butyl tape behind them and maybe a small bead of sealant at the roof membrane to top of trim joint with exposed trim screws the length of these pieces.
I see this as a potential spot for water access.
Is my concern valid and\or is there a solution to cover the screw heads or other solution to attempt to keep water out?
Thanks and thanks for taking the time to post and make your videos, I've been watching many of them 🙏
Great videos, I would like to see a video on your recomdations on roof maintence and minor repairs. Thanks
Great suggestion! I'm always so busy but maybe next time I'm on a roof I'll try to make a quick video. Thanks!
i used a heat gun on low to get a bunch of it off. i did a test section on high, not recommended! works great on the flat areas. reduched work by half, but curves kinda don't care/make it harder. so, mineral spirits and scraping a litrtle at a time on those spots. i spent 9 hrs today stripping some to relaminate the front drivers side
That is a long day for sure
Gulf Stream did the eterna bond tape job on the top of the slide out on my new vintage cruiser. Good thing it’s a small slide.
Glad to hear it's not leaking!
Of the water stops coming in the leaks fixed in my opinion! Great video 👍
Great Video again. Not sure if you have listed on any of your videos what cleaners you use on different materials of a RV. i.e. Rubber roofing, Side walls, etc. when your putting it back together before you apply any of the Dicor products what do you clean with (Mineral Spirts or? Or What not to ever use.
Also how to tell what material the side wall or Front plastic might be, fiber glass or what? (specifically Thor Majestic)
Thanks again for making these videos and sharing you knowledge .
I have roof inspection series that hopefully covers most of those questions. Overall though, I recommend soap and water to clean anything on the exterior.
@@AZExpert Thanks for the response. I notice you use Dicor none levelling in several location where the putty was used originally. I have the trim off from the front to side seal and would like to use the dicor none levelling under it instead of any putty. Your thoughts?
It's funny I just came across your channel because I actually just moved from Arizona how do you work out there in the summertime?
every year I swear I'm done that's for sure.
That tape looks like it is more difficult to work with than Eternabond. I like the floor roller for smoothing/pressurizing the adhesive. Well done James. Hardest working man in the RV business.
Thank you...I did want to put Eternabond on it but the pandemic has made everything so difficult
@@AZExpert indeed. You can't use what isn't available.
Can you point me to a video of generally-accepted roof repair procedures? Was just gifted a camper to live in for a year or two, but has a puncture on the roof. It'll be in SW Texas desert, under an enclosure, but I still like to do things correctly. Thanks for your videos!
What glue or adhesive would I use to glue down a two square foot piece of EPDM rubber roof to plywood (fiber board)?
This would be part of an roof repair on my RV. I am going to cut a small square of the EPDM rubber roof and replace the plywood under it that is soft due to a leak. Then glue it or a new piece back down. After gluing down the piece of EPDM, I have bought 4 inch wide Eternabond tape to seal the cut I made. Also plan to use Dicor lap sealant at the edge of the tape. The leak was caused by gap in the lap sealant at the roof exhaust fan.
James-what is the best solution for sealing that end cap, especially the corners at the ends of the slide? I have a Schwintek slide with an aluminum cap. It has what appears to be butyl tape under it and nothing else running the edge over the EPDM. It doesn’t appear they have enough screws along the length and I am gathering it flexes when pulled into to the seals. I have had a leak in one corner with the slide open and a leak with it closes coming through one of the lower Schwintek rails. Thoughts? The whole system seems like a poor design, but that’s just me.
Without knowing the slide manufacturer, I'd say it really is likely a poor design. The easiest solution if the water is following the track inside is to make sure the slide is slightly downhill. If that doesn't help you might have to add a sloping gutter with a stop. I'd suggest looking at other slideouts on the side to see what I mean. Thanks!
@@AZExpert James, thanks for the response! Its a Coachman Apex Nano hybrid camper. The end cap is an aluminum flange all the way around. Not sure if that answers the question?! :) As always, love watching your videos!
I’m shopping for my first RV. Are there any particular roof and wall materials and construction techniques that I should be looking for or avoiding with respect to longevity and ease of maintenance and repair?
In general, gel-coat fiberglass roofs are the best. EPDM is thicker than TPO membranes and PVC roofs seem to be better than both of those so far. Motorhomes do tend to have much different build qualities while most towables are made the same from the same components. My only suggestions is to rent first and the less automation the best.
@@AZExpertthe problem with rvs is everything costs higher because “RV” and it’s all one big scam.
Would love if you make a video on a temporary fix for a 3-in tear in the synthetic fabric on top of the main slide. We are primarily in very hot climates (FL, TX, AZ.) We got caught in a hail storm during winter travel and got damage in about three spots on top of the slide. This is a 2005 RV that we will be selling in about 6 months to buy another one. For that reason we are not wanting to replace the synthetic fabric or install toppers. We've spent over $10,000 in one year on repairs from the previous (not so honest) owners so at this point we're done.
We agree that Eterna bond is a mess and have considered using awning tape on the slide fabric. Cannot find a video anywhere on TH-cam about this. ☹️
What do you think about the fabric backed stuff? I have a used class A that has a number of seals covered with the fabric stuff. It seems fine right now however, I dread that day that I have to clean those up and reseal. Hopping that the fabric backed tape could potentially be a long term solution so I do not have to mess with it in the near future.
I am not really sure I am familiar with that seal
@@AZExpert Gotcha. Its basically eternabond but with a fabric backing instead of the white stuff.
John M.....I put that stuff on my Residential roof. My Roof is exposed to the sun All day, No shade from trees. Just Good ol' South Texas sun beating on it 15 hrs a day. We just had our coldest winter in decades and 2 yrs ago was one of the Wettest years ever. Well after 5 yrs that stuff is STILL going strong. If you Want it to last Much longer, clean it by giving it a nice Brushing with a soft bristle brush (like a shoe shine brush), and nice cleaning to the immediate area around it and "bordering" it. The tape I used is 4 inches wide, so what I'd do is get either the 8 inch wide Eterna bond or the Aluminum Peel n Seal tape, and center it on that Fabric backed taped (the length of the fabric tape you are trying to cover). Now listen carefully to the next step because it may not seem important but it is: Cover the EDGES of the Eterna bond or Aluminum Peel n Seal tape with an 1 inch overlap of Thin Aluminum tape or Silver Duct tape. God bless.
Looks like you put some sealant on then the tape over that ?
Nice job...I have learned a lot from you, thanks. no eternabond for me
Thanks for watching!
If no Eternabond then what? He says Eternabond isn’t the best in the beginning then halfway through he nearly says it’s the best. I am confused.
As a former automotive graphics installer I would have used a heat gun to take that tape off. Wouldn't that work in this application?
Curious as to why not use aluminum flashing?also heat the eternabond with a heat gun and it softens it to come off easier
Well i really dislike the tar adhesive of aluminum flashing and the metal edge can damage the rubber wiper seal, the aluminum does not form as well around many edges which can cause tearing of the tape which ruins the tape. No need for a heat gun in the Arizona sun.
@@AZExpertthen you’re not using the proper flashing tape. Window flashing tape is $13 a roll and lasts 10 years once you coat it, or longer. Comes off with mineral spirits.
Was that the factory application of tape? Which would make it 12 years old at thing point. Since when is lasting 12 years a bad thing on any RV?
Good job. What would be the best repair for that slideout?
My opinion is not to have tape as the wiper seal drags across it.....but as the factory did it already, it would be difficult to get every little sticky bit out, so the new tape will cover the sticky parts that would have damaged the wiper/bulb seal.
I already told him above. I am a roofing contractor in az.Been roofing for 37 years.
There is a drove of snowbirds heading your way! Because of this video, you might be doing this all winter! lol
Thank you....but I hope not. :)
Drove by your shop in Yuma, ghost town. Did you move or close down for C-19.
It's a common confusing issue. My shop is not in Yuma, we just thought the same when we named our companies. Thanks!
Where are you located?
What do you recommend using?
I put the Eternabond tape on my roof a year ago on my rig and the grey butyl part turned to powder under the Arizona sun.
I know my roof is shot and needs to be replaced, but I have been Band-Aiding it for the past four years.
I hope my prep work was sufficient / used their cleaner and primer ... time will tell / I just need it to last me 6 years lol
Would have nice to have another person to help but looks like it’s going to be fine , I agree with you if it has a leak fix it right
Was the preparation done correctly ? Was the original underlay solid ? 🤔
It's been my experience that when I clean a surface with thinner, it leaves an oily residue which is not happy with a sticky tape. I will hit it with acetone for a final clean.
Awesome, Thanks for watching!! :)
Are you in Los Angeles? I need my over cabin repaired.
Some of the comments you get make me laugh. Well done. Is a fiberglass roof the same as TPO?
No, fiberglass is a hard durable surface and TPO is a thin plastic flexible membrane. Thanks!
So do you have a better solution to eternabond tape?
depends on the situation
what do you think about roll on roofing
they put that on my dads roof
Problem with that old installation of the tape, sealant was used under it. Put it on without sealant.
Will Eternabond handle freezing Canadian winters?
Yes but you need to inspect it every 6 months.
I worked for a manufacturing company for 40 years, I will say this, "Most of the top brand products are just as good as another. It's the prep work that makes a difference."
How long was the tape on there?
the current owner has had it for 2 years so I'd guess it was done when he purchased it 2 years ago
Maybe I missed it ...but what IS a good option?
Depends on the application
So it’s a PIA to remove. More clock time. I’d like to know why and how it failed?
the slide seals were dragging hard on it due to the design of the slideout
@@AZExpert interesting. Probably not an application I would have used it for. But I like it use as a sealant on the roof seams and damaged areas. Really appreciate you videos. Keep up the good work!!
Ok second question, i see a ton of rv videos of people putting eternabond over their sealant on their skylights and such and your saying don't do this ?
Does using a heat gun help with the removal of the tape ?
Yes, but it was baking in the sun and over a 100 degrees already so heat gun was not necessary. Thanks!
Eternabond site has a removal video
Thats a lot easier to work with than the velux vapor barrier seal tape
I have a 45' RV that the "entire roof" has been replaced with 4" strips of eternabond(knockoff). Ill add its been holding up quite nicely. I'd like you to replace it with genuine eternabond. James response @18:07 ! :0 :0 : (ya know Im kidding right?) Really though used properly? I think the stuff is great. but no matter the application dealing with the stuff sucks! thanks for the up!
That would be an expensive roof!
this might seem like a strange question, but where are you? it seems like just a place to work on your own RV?
Going by the images in the video, it looks like the initial prep work was severely lacking. Combine that with the Arizona sun, and I'm surprised it lasted as long as it did.
Eternabond is sold under other names including Ultrabond. Available at ACE hardware
Thanks!
Love your squeeze bottle mineral spirits... Ever had to put eternabond tape on the inside of a slide...? Lotsa of fun...
So Much fun! :/
@@AZExpert Have been binge watching your videos and saw where you had to do just that..lol I am a retired Boat Capt turned RV tech for the past 7 years.. I would love to buy your Beaver.. I am looking for something good.. but here in SE Ga.. not much..
hi you kept saying eternabond is just a band aid on roof leaks, you said fix it correctly. How do you fix roof leaks correctly without redoing the whole roof?
Everything is going to be a bandaid until you can't get away with it any more
@@AZExpert OK thanks for responding. Can I or should I put Eternabond on my front seam that keeps leaking. I have a Class C bought almost new in 2008 , over my bunk leaks? Just a girl trying to fix my camper cant afford a new roof. Last year paid 1200.00 to seal up roof. I understood there was no guarantee. That seam leaked again anyway. And those little orange lights leaked too. Water is a blessing and a curse lol. There are so many videos with so much different advice. I have learned a lot from yours. I watch some over and over lol. Thanks for the great information! You clean like a king!!! I have always thought you should make sure its clean before you repair anything. Have a great day.
'I gotta a roller'
Pulls out the roller that Odin uses when he can't find his big ol hammer :)
I heard Thor is a bigger fan
Thank you
You're welcome
I feel your pain. It’s a great product, but absolutely a train wreck to remove. I work down the street, we met at the training session at Cardinal Stadium.
Okay, okay, I did the same repair on my much smaller (thank goodness) slide out. I really worked hard on finding the leak that showed up on the floor at the inside end of the slide. The sidewall was damaged so after moving the slide in and deconstructing the sidewall, drying it out and rebuilding it, I finished by adding eternabond to the trim attachments and their corresponding 90 degree corners leading into the sidewall of the trailer, top and bottom (in this instance) 4 corners and 4 sides. I was horrified after all that work (I thought it look like a work of art) it still leaked? Turns out that the water was getting in by running out to the face of the open slide, over my repair and through the seem in the 90 degree trim that the outward seal was attached to. Once it got to the face of the slide it just traveled within the mitre of the face trim beneath the seal and then into the sidewall. To fix it, I had to force non leveling dicor into the 90 degree joint of the trim. Crazy extra work but worth the effort. You can't stop water, you can only direct it. Thanks for the videos.
I completely understand your situation. I am very hesistant to even work on slide leaks because it seems like thats what they were designed to do.
Does anyone build a high quality trailer like the Spartan ?
most modern trailers are built by 4 major brands using the same components and materials, so the high quality builders were bought or closed.
@@AZExpert I bought a new Forrest River Gray Wolf 28BH in 2008, pulled it only twice, for 600 miles on good roads, and it still came unglued structurally where the wall meets the roof... while it was parked in the shed.. TOTAL JUNKY POS 😎 LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE IS THESE DAYS.. WELCOME TO CHINA
Comes up easier with a heat gun but I guess solvents and brute force work to
I have not found heat guns do any better but cause more issues
You are missing a huge ASMR possibility here! 😏
Also, what's the alternative?
If you maintain the Eternabond tape with a little sealer on the joints , it will last a VERY long time. If you get some cuts just add more Eternatape. Also if to have to remove it - use a hair dryer on hot and seal on top with a rubberized sealer - no big deal. After 10 to 15 years the whole membrane will probably need replacing anyways.
Fun day at the office.
Thanks, everday with these RVs
Everything you mentioned is user error, not product error. I can't fathom why the owner of that coach thought putting eternabond over the top of an existing failure was going to solve the issue. Eternabond is only going to work as well as what it sticks to. I understand what you are staying though. Back in the day, we used to have customers bring us their non walkable aluminum roof with the the entire thing covered in roofing tar. Evidently, plasti-cote was too expensive. It was cheaper than the repair bill to fix what they botched. Lol
it works 100% of the time 60% of the time
@@AZExpert sounds about right.
Can the air bubbles be heated out🤔(heat gun)
Problem with heat gun is it can melt the rubber epdm and cause it to pull and curl back.
Wow why would you put tape on slide out if you have a awning going over it anyway
Use Flex Seal around the edges of the tape along the the sides of anything vertical!
great
No. Flex seal is the worst product you can use.
Please use your chains on the man lift . I've seen people fall off. I'm sure you don't need me to preach to you , it only takes one mistake to be life changing . Great channel !!
Thanks for the tip
How about using a heat gun to soften that butyl so it will pull up easier???
the sun does a good job usually.
Thank you.
You're welcome!
We use similar for roof flashing; if it sticks to itself its all over.
:)
You might try a drywall pan to remove the waste from your scraper - instead of wiping it with a rag.
Thanks for watching! :)
How old is that RV?
I think it was a 2008 Patriot Thunder
What about the liquid roof EPDM
That would not have been a good application on this slide out roof. This RV has a gel-coat fiberglass roof so it would not be a good application for that either. You may find that by and large, I do not really like roll on coatings to do anything more than extend the life of an worn out roof. Thanks!
@@AZExperti loved my gel roof. It never leaks. The rv fell apart and delaminated before the roof leaked.
I watched the whole video and I don’t understand. You used tape in an area that had tape, but said it was used wrong. What did I miss?
It wasn’t sealed properly under the tape first because it’s not flashing tape. Eternabond is just a top cover tape. It’s also overpriced.
The scratches look like an EKG
Did you like how I pointed out that I didn't do it :)
@@AZExpert At least a couple of times.
EternaBond is a great product but definitely not for every application. The hot Arizona sun will soften the sealant. If it's on an application where it's subject to lateral tension or an application like this where a secondary seal may rub against it as that pop-out goes back in, it may start to peal loose. Does a great job of "sealing" but is not structural at all. In other words don't hang pictures with it in your house :)
Theres better cheaper sealing tapes.
It is a magical compound if you do it right. I've seen them last over 10 years. And it's not recommended on a slide or as the only thing on the roof, it's only supposed to go over current roof. Already you can see eternabond tape should not have been used here.
It has its uses
I agree, flashing tape with a coating is best. I’ve used both.