New RV Owner - Caulking Around Roof

[CampCinci]

We will be picking up a 2020 Imagine XLS 22MLE hopefully next week. My husband was able to see another model of the exact camper we will be buying that was on the lot. He climbed up the ladder onto the roof and noticed that there was white, soft, 3 inch wide caulking around everything on the roof. It was around everything that was protruding from the roof and I believe around the edge of the roof itself. He thought it strange that it was so wide - he thought it didn't look so great - and also was concerned that it was soft to the touch. We have never owned a travel trailer so this is all new to us! The salesperson left a message for someone at Grand Design and they replied that they use a larger nozzle on the sealant in order to make sure there are not any seal voids. Just wondered if this is common with Grand Design Trailers. We will, of course, be doing a lengthy inspection when our trailer arrives.

[howson]

We will be picking up a 2020 Imagine XLS 22MLE hopefully next week. My husband was able to see another model of the exact camper we will be buying that was on the lot. He climbed up the ladder onto the roof and noticed that there was white, soft, 3 inch wide caulking around everything on the roof. It was around everything that was protruding from the roof and I believe around the edge of the roof itself. He thought it strange that it was so wide - he thought it didn't look so great - and also was concerned that it was soft to the touch. We have never owned a travel trailer so this is all new to us! The salesperson left a message for someone at Grand Design and they replied that they use a larger nozzle on the sealant in order to make sure there are not any seal voids. Just wondered if this is common with Grand Design Trailers. We will, of course, be doing a lengthy inspection when our trailer arrives.

Welcome CampCinci to Grand Design's Technical Forum. I took the liberty of moving your post to the Technical Forum > Exterior channel where it will get the most visibility.

What you are seeing on the roof is called "sealant". Specifically, Alpha sealant on your TPO a.k.a "Superflex" roof. Alpha's website contains a lot of information on Care & Maintenance: https://www.alphallc.us/product-care/

Regarding the look: it is very, very difficult to make the sealant look good. On the roof a self-leveling version of the sealant is used so it finds it's own level. Even professional RV technicians will tell you it is almost impossible to make it look good, so they just don't worry about it.

If you want to see an example, this YouTube video will either educate you or put you to sleep.

Again, welcome and if you have any other questions don't hesitate to ask!

-Howard

[CampCinci]

Thank you so much for this information - and also for moving my post to the correct spot! Your response is very reassuring!

[SBARLAG]

Regarding the soft feel,,,that's a good thing. When/If it gets hard, that's when it can crack and chip off, letting in water,,,that's a bad thing. I have some customers who annually bring in their units for our Techs to give it a once over.

[CampCinci]

Thank you!

[Tigger1]

Congratulations on your new trailer!

We bought the same unit in November. Our roof sealant is soft to the touch too and I already bought a couple tubes of Superflex for future maintenance. I inspect the roof after each outing to keep an eye on any cracks that may lead to water leaks down the road.

[Schiefswret]

Welcome CampCinci to Grand Design's Technical Forum. I took the liberty of moving your post to the Technical Forum > Exterior channel where it will get the most visibility.

What you are seeing on the roof is called "sealant". Specifically, Alpha sealant on your TPO a.k.a "Superflex" roof. Alpha's website contains a lot of information on Care & Maintenance: https://www.alphallc.us/product-care/

Regarding the look: it is very, very difficult to make the sealant look good. On the roof a self-leveling version of the sealant is used so it finds it's own level. Even professional RV technicians will tell you it is almost impossible to make it look good, so they just don't worry about it.

If you want to see an example, this YouTube video will either educate you or put you to sleep.

Again, welcome and if you have any other questions don't hesitate to ask!

-Howard

Howard, do all Imagine models have TPO roofs? What paperwork or online reference can I look for to find out for sure what my roof is made of?
2020 Imagine 2250RK

much thanks!

[howson]

Howard, do all Imagine models have TPO roofs? What paperwork or online reference can I look for to find out for sure what my roof is made of?
2020 Imagine 2250RK

much thanks!

Short answer: yes. All current Imagine trailers have TPO roofs as do all Reflections, Solitudes and Momentums.

For 100% surety call GD Customer Service and give them your VIN #. They will verify that you do indeed have a TPO roof. Also, check out this post for another option: https://gdrvowners.com/forum/grand-d...3271#post13271

[Schiefswret]

Howard, do all Imagine models have TPO roofs? What paperwork or online reference can I look for to find out for sure what my roof is made of?
2020 Imagine 2250RK

much thanks!

Howard: was the roof in this video a TPO roof? TY

[howson]

Howard: was the roof in this video a TPO roof? TY

A guess on my part: given it's a 2012 Class A it's an EPDM roof.

The purpose of posting that video was to show that applying sealant is not something that will look "pretty" when finished, and that it should be almost spongy to the touch, not hard and brittle. Checking the sealant on the roof of your RV is one of the most important ongoing preventive tasks an owner must perform. Bad sealant = water intrusion. Water intrusion is the sworn enemy of an RV!

[Schiefswret]

A guess on my part: given it's a 2012 Class A it's an EPDM roof.

The purpose of posting that video was to show that applying sealant is not something that will look "pretty" when finished, and that it should be almost spongy to the touch, not hard and brittle. Checking the sealant on the roof of your RV is one of the most important ongoing preventive tasks an owner must perform. Bad sealant = water intrusion. Water intrusion is the sworn enemy of an RV!

Gotcha, much thanks again. You as well as other experienced owners are a wealth of knowledge and I hope others also appreciate how much of your valuable time and effort you spend helping other less experienced RV’ers solve their problems. Thanks again!