i am new to RV world just bought a 6350 tropical 20323 miles. replace 4 brake calipers tag axle master cylinder,starter sol washed and buffed which it needed,replacing both ac units and now the roof is the main question. tropicals are supposed to have a fiberglass roof. some places are hard like fiberglass other are rubbery feeling. find no seams where repairs were made. looks like rubber where the ac sets on roof. what is the best way to repair this roof? aluminum or liquid roof
1999 6350 tropical roof
- Thread starter Tsrail
- Start date
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Gary RV_Wizard
Site Team
I didn't think the '99 Tropi-cal had a fiberglass roof, but I could be wrong about that. I had the 2002 version (a model 6356) and it had a TPO roof and that was considered an improvement over previous models. Most likely your roof is EPDM rubber, with fiberglass caps at front and rear. The later (2004+) model Tropical diesel had a fiberglass roof, but I think the earlier gas chassis model did not.
In any case, unless the upper surface of the roof membrane (sheet) is worn away, leaks will be at the joints and not in the roof material itself. Cleaning and re-caulking with EPDM lap sealant and/or Eternabond tape is the general solution. It may be that a previous owner put some sort of coating over all or part of it, though. Hard to tell from your description.
In any case, unless the upper surface of the roof membrane (sheet) is worn away, leaks will be at the joints and not in the roof material itself. Cleaning and re-caulking with EPDM lap sealant and/or Eternabond tape is the general solution. It may be that a previous owner put some sort of coating over all or part of it, though. Hard to tell from your description.
Gary RV_Wizard
Site Team
I found a 1999 Tropical brochure for you. It is indeed a rubber roof.
http://www.rvroundtable.com/wp-content/uploads/National/1999.NationalRVTropiCalBrochure.pdf
http://www.rvroundtable.com/wp-content/uploads/National/1999.NationalRVTropiCalBrochure.pdf
thanks for the link. i guess i misread the one i found it said fiberglass outer skin looks like caps on top edge of roof.the roof gives some when 200 lbs walks on it but no soft spots. found 3 patch spots and 5 tiny punctures when i cleaned off the wrinkled up coating.to my suprise no leaks. want to seal them up and install a new rubber roof so i can be done with it except for normal maintenance. the previous owner did some cruddy re coating on the vents and roof. i will be removing all of it when i do the new roof and sealing it up correctly.i pretty much do everything myself (if i know how) if not i learn how. what is the best lession in life? a bought lession. after the roof is finished installing a new set of tires tires is next then having windshield rubber installed to set windshields correctly . from what i understand someone knew less about using the jacks than i do
Gary RV_Wizard
Site Team
If you are going to replace the roof membrane, I suggest TPO rather than EPDM. Less maintenance and no chalky run-off.
If the existing membrane is physically OK (not loose or torn), why not coat it with a product such as Liquid Roof, Dicor Roof Coat, or Kool Seal RV? Much easier than stripping the old stuff off and should be less expensive too.
http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/dicor-white-rubber-roof-acrylic-coating-gallon/32151
https://www.amazon.com/Liquid-Roof-Coating-Repair-Gallon/dp/B003K9XGTK
https://www.amazon.com/Kool-Seal-Rubber-Roof-63-900-1/dp/B0006I0OR0
If the existing membrane is physically OK (not loose or torn), why not coat it with a product such as Liquid Roof, Dicor Roof Coat, or Kool Seal RV? Much easier than stripping the old stuff off and should be less expensive too.
http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/dicor-white-rubber-roof-acrylic-coating-gallon/32151
https://www.amazon.com/Liquid-Roof-Coating-Repair-Gallon/dp/B003K9XGTK
https://www.amazon.com/Kool-Seal-Rubber-Roof-63-900-1/dp/B0006I0OR0
Found a few loose spots and some ice pick size holes bUT no leaks. This far in may as well rip it off and install a new one. If I decide rving is not for me I will feel good selling it to anyone. New ac units and all vents on roof freshly resealed when I do the roof
Lou Schneider
Site Team
- Joined
- Mar 14, 2005
- Posts
- 13,229
Not to be overly commercial, but one of the sponsors who help cover the expenses of running this Forum has a complete EDPM RV roof repair and recoating kit. Their website has lots of good information about doing the job. Just click on the ad at the top of this page. 
pulled old rubber roof of today. found luan coming apart in layers in spots. guess it was a good idea to replace roof. also found upper corners of roof have aluminum not fiberglass guess that was another good thing. next question is the luan glued to the foam insulation in the roof if so can it be re used and what type glue is used. also where is the best place to buy roof kit? will need 10x 32
Gary RV_Wizard
Site Team
There's a fair chance that the insulation foam board and luan are bonded together. Might even be a factory vacuum-bond construction using commercial-grade adhesives (that's how the sidewalls are made). More likely, though, the foam board is merely layed between the cross pieces and the luan glued to the wood or metal cross ties. I simply don't know how National RV made their roofs back then, so can't give more specific advice
There are some videos on YouTube on roof EPDM replacement - here is one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wf3R-TABATQ
And some sources for the EPDM membrane:
http://www.pplmotorhomes.com/parts/rv-roofs/rubber2.htm
http://www.justliners.com/rvroofing.htm
There are some videos on YouTube on roof EPDM replacement - here is one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wf3R-TABATQ
And some sources for the EPDM membrane:
http://www.pplmotorhomes.com/parts/rv-roofs/rubber2.htm
http://www.justliners.com/rvroofing.htm
mcastorina
New member
- Joined
- May 14, 2017
- Posts
- 1
I know this thread has be closed for awhile, but I have an issue with my '99 National Tropical. I am trying to install solar panels, but all the spots I try to screw into don't seem to have plywood. I have tried 2-3" screws in different spots. I can see plywood from inside the rv around the vents, but my screws just spin and I can pull them out like they are screwed into air. I expected to hit plywood. The roof seems solid. I am at a loss.
