Camper Roof

[JavaCheeks]

This is my first camper and I'm in the process of deep cleaning everything but my main concern is this roof.. I've never seen a wavy roof on a camper before I'm pretty sure its an aluminum roof. Can anyone tell me if this is normal or what I would need to do. I don't plan on having it more then 2 or 3 years, planning on buying a new one. My plan was reseal everything well and paint a roof sealant on it...
Any advise or information is greatly appreciated!
Thanks!

 

[Mark_K5LXP]

Membrane roof- EPDM or TPO. I've never seen one that wrinkled before. Implies there's water damage underneath, or at a minimum one or more edges is compromised.

If you loved the camper you'd remove everything on the roof, repair any damage and put a new one on. If this is transitional and it's not leaking anything inside there'd be an argument for sealing the **** out of it, get your use and move on.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

 

[Kirk]

Like Mark, I'm positive that it is not an aluminum roof. My best guess is EDPM, but it could be TPO. Did you just get the RV? Any signs inside of leaks? If those dark areas are all wrinkles, then I have never seen anything like that either. A close-up picture of a few of the wrinkles might help us analyze the issues. Also, what is the year, make & model of the RV?

 

[JavaCheeks]

Thank you both for your input!
Its a 1993 Thor Chateau, like I said, we're only going to use it for the next couple of years then buying new. Yea there is water damage on the inside in the front and back. I did a lot of repairs to replace the rotten wood in the back, but saving doing the font till next summer because its not as bad. Like Mark said, about sealing the **** out of it, I did use eternabond around the whole roof down into the gutters. I sealed EVERYTHING. The main reason I bought it though is because absolutely everything works (including the AC, blows ice cold) and was only $1200 We figured for a starter it wasn't a bad deal.

I will be going to work on the camper tomorrow I will get better pics of the room tomorrow.
Thank you again guys!

​

 

[RV_Lee122]

If you're handy I can't image a roll of TPO is that expensive, the installation seems pretty straight forward

"New roof" when it comes time to sell would get you your money back and then some considering you are doing other repairs and everything works

 

[CharlesinGA]

It will need all new plywood under the roof i posted these pics of my reroof job on a Thor i had. It was a lot of work and I learned alot. I took two trips in it, then discovered more water damage. I sold it to an ambitious coworker for cheap as I had already bought my current trailer.

Charles

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

I wouldn't automatically conclude the underlayment plywood is all rotted, but a walk-around up on the roof should quickly determine what parts are spongy/soft. Or not.

You said you sealed it well, which I take to means the edges and around wherever something protrudes through it. If that seems to have halted the leaks, I think I would leave it as is and keep on campin'! Even if you DIY, stripping down the roof and replacing all the substrate wood is both expensive and a lot of effort. And you probably won't recover much, if any, of that when you sell or trade.

 

[Kirk]

I very much agree with Gary that you should not put any more money into it that absolutely necessary to use it. A 1993 Thor Chateau has an average retail value of around $1,000, according to J.D. Power. The low retail value is also around $830. These values are based on the Chateau-LM and Chateau-LC models. You are very unlikely to recover any of the money that you spend on repairs.

 

[JavaCheeks]

quite update, we decided to go on our planned trip with this POS when we got home we bought a new 2025 Coleman 17B. I'm just thankful I was able to get $500 for the first one.

 

[RV_Lee122]

I had my rig in a park last summer and not once did I see any of the seasonal folks up on their roofs doing maintenance. Even during the last weekend the park was open they were out raking leaves and tiding up their spots but none of them thought to get up on the roof and check on things before a few feet of snow showed up.

People buy them and treat them like cottages until they look like the OP's.

Enjoy the new 17B

 

[John From Detroit]

I had my rig in a park last summer and not once did I see any of the seasonal folks up on their roofs doing maintenance. Even during the last weekend the park was open they were out raking leaves and tiding up their spots but none of them thought to get up on the roof and check on things before a few feet of snow showed up.

I went up on the roof with a mop (Actually a telescoping car wash brush) Bucket, Cleaner and hose every spring and fall.. Between my 12' high roof and my 6' plus I'm looking down on other roofs and some of them were black with Grime.

What you said.

Then I washed and waxed the front/back/sides.

Then I hit 11MPG with my 38' Class a and 8.1L Vortec
(normally it did not do so well MPG wise but a nice fresh wax really helped. )