Technical help

Minnie54
Minnie54 Forum Participant Posts: 3
edited May 2022 in Caravans #1

Good morning

I have a question about a 4 inch split that has developed on the roof of my caravan. Is there a technical section on here so I can ask for advice? I've never felt the need to post prior to today but I've had a really expensive quote for the repair and I don't know if i have any alternatives. Thank you.

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  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,387 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2022 #2

    You could just fill it with Sikaflex adhesive.

    peedee

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited May 2022 #3
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  • Minnie54
    Minnie54 Forum Participant Posts: 3
    edited May 2022 #4

    Dorset Driver and PeeDee

    Thank you for responding to my query. I do know about drilling the ends of the crack first. I've had 2 quotes from companies that deal with this sort of repair. One was for 15 hours labour, total cost just under £1000.00. The other was £1200.00. I was totally shocked by that. Is Sikaflex the best option for DIY? I have heard that 2 pack plastic repair s a good option. Thank you

     

  • JollyKernow
    JollyKernow Forum Participant Posts: 2,629
    1000 Comments
    edited May 2022 #5

    Morning

    Slightly different but in the same vein. My first RV had a split in the roof similar to yours. I scratched my head for a while trying to sort a cheap fix, then after speaking to an rv repairer I found EPDM tape. Comes in different colours and is basically a very strong sealant tape. Cut to size and put over the crack it's still sound 5 years later. Tape isn't cheap at around £50 for a 5 meter roll but it's a decent temporary fix, I've even used it to fix a leak on our back office toilet that's been dripping for weeks.

    On ebay, try rvspares.

    JK

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,387 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2022 #6

    Sorry cannot help any further, I have never tried either solution but Sikaflex was one solution I had heard about. Interested in your solution JK, that could be very usefull. Can you give anymore detail on the type of tape, I google it and came up with lots of different types of EPDM tape..

    peedee

     

     
  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited May 2022 #7
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  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,144 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2022 #8

    A couple of years ago I recall seeing plastic welding on wheeler dealers, don’t know if that would be an option for you

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited May 2022 #9
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  • Minnie54
    Minnie54 Forum Participant Posts: 3
    edited May 2022 #10

    JollyKernow

    Thanks for your advice. I will check the tape out.

  • JollyKernow
    JollyKernow Forum Participant Posts: 2,629
    1000 Comments
    edited May 2022 #11

     Hi

    Originally I called motorhome medics, an RV repair place in Cheletnham. They have an ebay shop called rv spares, got some from there. Since then I found www.repairingproducts.co.uk, they sell "Eternabond" epdm repair tape. It comes in 50mm or 100mm width rolls of varying lengths. I've found several uses for it, as described on their website. It works well and really does stick like.... When you peel that backing tape off, you only get one go at it, touch it together or misalignyell

    Not hijacking Minnies thread but American rv's have a different type of roof to Euro vans, It's basically marine ply with a rubber membrane and without maintenance splits easily, hence lots of repair products available.

    I've used it to seal the small rooflight over the bathroom in my PVC, permanent repair and bone dry.

    JK

  • Metheven
    Metheven Club Member Posts: 3,987 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2022 #12

    Looks to be the rear/side end. If you use the tape and have to fold over onto the downside, do both sides of the van and stick a decal over both.

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,387 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2022 #13

    Thanks Jk, just the job.

    peedee

     
  • jennyc
    jennyc Forum Participant Posts: 957
    500 Comments
    edited May 2022 #14

    Your picture looks like it’s a rear quarter cap which Swift supplied under warranty because the original moulding split in the same place. The cap is stuck in place over the old crack, and ours, like yours has also cracked. We scraped down into the crack to remove dirt and provide a key. Then, after masking off, pushed epoxy (Araldite) into the grove. Fingers crossed. If it doesn’t work, masking again and a thin strip of glass fibre finishing tissue is planned. Failing which, a hole and polyurethane foam injection may work.

  • GeordieBiker
    GeordieBiker Forum Participant Posts: 45
    edited May 2022 #15

    Is it a Swift caravan? If so, this is a fairly well known problem and I believe Swift have produced some plastic covers which can be stuck over the crack, after drilling stop holes, of course. I would expect that you could source these covers at any Swift dealer.

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