Delaminated area - how big a deal?

[oldryder]

we are shopping for a 5th wheel. Came across one we like. Salesguy was remarkably candid and pointed out an area approx. 2 x 2' that looked "wavy" from the right angle. Area is in the lower portion of the part of the 5th wheel that extends over the truck box. He explained that it was probably the fiberglass delaminating from the substrate. There is an outside speaker above the area and I suspect that is the source of the water intrusion. Otherwise the trailer was very nice and a good fit for our needs.

How big a deal is this? repairable? Price was low enough to get me asking this question.

thx to anyone taking the time to offer advice.

 

[Rene T]

You’ve been around long enough to not believe any salesmen. Their job is to say whatever it takes to get rid of a rv. How old is the rv? Take a very close look inside at the floor the wall and the ceiling. This could be a huge money pit.

 

[Kirk]

While I'm surprised that a salesperson pointed it out, I don't think that I would buy it unless it is priced far below the prices typical of the age & size of RV that it is. Water is not the only thing to cause delaminating as it may be from poor bonding at the time of construction.

 

[memtiger]

While I'm surprised that a salesperson pointed it out, I don't think that I would buy it unless it is priced far below the prices typical of the age & size of RV that it is. Water is not the only thing to cause delaminating as it may be from poor bonding at the time of construction.

I agree. Keep in mind the these are houses on wheels and the bend and flex. Now that the seal has been broken it could expand over time.

 

[SeilerBird]

The last class A I bought had considerable delamination. It got worse in warm weather and lesser in cold weather. I just ignored it. I drove it for several years before selling it to buy a fifth wheel.

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

Delamination per se isn't much of a concern, but it should immediately raise the questions of "what caused it?" and "Is it fixed and thus not an ongoing problem?". Delamination caused by a poor quality factory adhesive bond is pretty much just cosmetic, but if it was caused by water penetration inside the walls or a structural problem, it's a much more serious concern. The problem for the purchaser is discerning the difference. Look very carefully for other signs of water intrusion in the wall, ceiling and floor, e.g. loose or peeling wall covering, stains, soft spots, etc.

If you have to look hard to see it, odds are it's not serious, but LOOK and look HARD. Get professional inspection help if needed.

 

[Professor David]

It depends on the final price and the cost of repairs on any item. I look for items that need slight repairs that are greatly reduced in initial purchase price. I bought my motorhome for about half price because it had a slightly damaged fender and bumper, which I fixed myself for about a couple hundred bucks in material costs (mostly paint). In this case it would depend on if the damaged could be repaired back to a "mostly" original state. I would be concerned about possible mold issues between the wall. If these issues could be resolve then it could be a good deal. For me, the price I paid would need to be significantly reduced from comparable units without this type of damage.

 

[TheBar]

Years ago my Class A had serious delamination. I tried a fix on a forum that made smaller areas look like new. Drill a small 1/8" hole in the center of the bubble. Use 3M or other high quality waterproof spray adhesive with an extender straw (like on a WD40 can) through the hole in a circular pattern to get as deep as possible into the bubble. You can get longer extender straws on Amazon. Don't overdo the adhesive or it can cause the surrounding area to separate. Block a flat piece of plywood tight against it to flatten the bubble until cured. Fill the 1/8" hole with a dab of body spot putty and a dab of touchup paint over the putty when cured.

 

[Ex-Calif]

IMO delamination is like cancer. You don't know how bad you got it until it's investigated.

I am 2 for 2 on water damage. I bought a slide in that I was gonna repair. After 3-months and a couple of uses, I cut it up with a Sawzall.

My current Class A I bought for a song - $2500. I knew there was a little damage. 5 years later and 10 or so trips the next stop for my class A is the junker.

I won't touch an RV with water damage or signs of water damage.

 

[TheBar]

IMO delamination is like cancer. You don't know how bad you got it until it's investigated.
I won't touch an RV with water damage or signs of water damage.

X2. My Class A developed a tiny water leak over one winter. The leak was fixed but I think moisture was permanently locked in the walls. New spots of delam kept popping up feet away from the areas I fixed for years. I sold it for a fraction of what it would have been worth.

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

Back in 1998 I bought a 1996 Southwind that had a 12" x 16" delaminated patch and kept it for 3 years with no change or further issues. It was simple adhesive failure, not uncommon back in those days when vacuum-bonded laminate walls were still fairly new.

 

[Kirk]

Perhaps I'm unusual, I don't know but I never look at any potential RV with a view to only keeping it a short time. Of the 6 RVs that we have owned, only the first one, (15 year old popup) was kept for a short time of only 2 seasons. Of the other five RVs, the least time we owned was 7 years and the longest was 14 years. Perhaps that makes me ultraconservative on the subject of minor damage.

 

[TheBar]

Perhaps I'm unusual, I don't know but I never look at any potential RV with a view to only keeping it a short time.

I can understand newbies who don't want a big investment before they are sure an RV really fits their lifestyle. Or those whose golden years are starting to rust

 

[Ray-IN]

Run a search for RV delamination repair and you'll read many methods of repair, some great, others not so much. As TheBar alluded to, it isn't easy if you want good results.

Fiberglass surface repair: Repairing Surface Damage

 

[Lou Schneider]

Back in 1998 I bought a 1996 Southwind that had a 12" x 16" delaminated patch and kept it for 3 years with no change or further issues. It was simple adhesive failure, not uncommon back in those days when vacuum-bonded laminate walls were still fairly new.

Northwood Industries (Arctic Fox) had the same problem on some of their highly regarded trailers and 5th wheels around that same time.