In this article, we are going to look at the 5 most common roof problems on Jayco trailer or campers.
When your RV roof begins not functioning as it should, there are a number of things that can go wrong.
It’s important to spot and correct the issue as soon as possible to help you rest easy and prevent the RV from getting damaged further.
If your RV is still under warranty, you can take it to the manufacturer to fix it. However, this may not be an option if you have had your RV for some time.
Instead of waiting for the issue to get worse, you can start fixing the roof yourself.
Let’s take a look at the 5 common Jayco Roof problems and learn how to fix them:
– Leaky Roof
– Stress Cracks
– Dry Rot
– Soft And Crackling Rubber
– Bubbles
Table of Contents
1. Leaky Roof
The most common roof damage to a Jayco roof is a leaky roof. It is easy to spot this issue. If you notice that the roof leaks every time it rains, your roof has some sort of crack that needs repair.
If you let the roof continue to leak, it can lead to serious damage to the roof and interior of the camper.
What Causes It
Leaky roofs are pretty much always caused by one thing: a crack somewhere. The crack can be really small, or a can practically be a gaping hole.
Either way, there has to be some sort of gap in the roof in order for water to get through it.
Gaps and cracks can be caused by pressure, old age, weather, and a number of other factors.
It is a good idea to estimate what caused the crack so that you can best come up with a game plan for fixing the roof and preventing it from getting cracked again.
Read also: Does RV Insurance Cover Water Damage? What You Need To Know
How To Fix It
In order to fix a leaky roof, you need to begin by removing any dirt. You want the roof to be as dry as possible. Then, add a rubberized leak stopper.
This will seep into the crack so that it can bond with the material of the roof and create a permanent seal. Be careful not to spill any because it does not wash off and will ruin your clothes.
If you don’t want to use a rubberized leak stopper, you can talk to your RV manufacturer to find out which sealant is compatible with your roof.
Once you know what sealants are appropriate, you can buy the products at the store and fix the crack according to the sealant instructions.
Our New Jayco sprung a Leak! >> Check out the video below:
2. Stress Cracks
Stress cracks are basically what they sound like.
They are little cracks that you find on your roof. Stress cracks may not be big enough for leakage, which can make it difficult to detect the cracks in the first place.
Stress cracks are almost exclusively found on Jayco campers with fiberglass roofs.
What Causes It
Stress cracks are caused by a number of things. Whenever you hit a large pothole, for instance, a stress crack can come about. It also can come about if you do not seal the RV roof properly.
How To Fix It
To fix a stress crack, you will follow the instructions that we mentioned above for leakage. Once again, stress cracks may not cause leakage, but they will eventually lead to it.
Selecting a sealant that binds with the fiberglass material will correct the cracks so that it doesn’t get worse.
3. Dry Rot
If you have a camper roof that includes rubber and wood, dry rot can be an issue. Dry rot is primarily identifiable by looking at it.
It can lead to odd odors and leakage since it means the roof is compromised. To determine that dry rot is the cause for the smell or leak, you will have to find where it is located.
What Causes It
Dry rot is caused whenever airborne spores meet damp timber. The timber needs to have a moisture content that is over 20%.
This moisture content allows the airborne spores to attach to the timber and lead to dry rot. If dry rot is eating away at your camper, it means that the roof is not properly sealed as it should be.
How To Fix It
Fixing dry rot can be a bit more difficult. You have to remove all parts that have been affected by the dry rot and replace them with new pieces.
This will be expensive and require a lot of work, but it is the only way to ensure the roof is structurally sound.
You may notice dry rot eating away at rubber and other sealants. In that case, you need to remove everything that has been affected by the dry rot and replace it.
From there, you need to reseal the roof to protect the new structure from the elements.
Because fixing dry rot can be so difficult, especially if it was caught late in the game, you may need to go to a professional for this job.
Unless you are knowledgeable about recreating structure, professionals may be your best choice of action.
4. Soft And Crackling Rubber
If you have a rubber roof, it can become soft and crackling. This is especially true around the seams, above the gutters, and around the perimeter of the roof.
Detecting a soft and crackling rubber roof is pretty easy because it is obviously damaged. Simply look at the roof and you should see it not covering the entire perimeter as it should.
What Causes It
A number of things can cause a rubber roof to become soft and crackle. For example, regular wear and tear can cause this to happen.
If you have had your RV for a long time, this is likely to cause. Dry rot and other damaging agents can also be the cause of this issue.
How To Fix It
Fixing soft and crackling rubber roofs is relatively easy. You can either use a dicor sealant or some sort of tape, such as Eterna bond tape. Depending on where the issue is located, you may want to use both types.
For example, you would probably want to use the dicor sealant for pretty serious damage, especially if it covers large areas of the camper roof.
In contrast, the Eternabond tape is suitable if there is only one small area that needs to be fixed.
How to Seal RV Roof Seams with Dicor Lap Sealant >> Check out the video below:
5. Bubbles
Something that is a bit more unique to Jayco campers specifically is finding bubbles on your roof. Most of these bubbles will disappear on their own, meaning you may see them one day and not be able to find them the next.
This may cause you to feel like you are going crazy, but don’t think that way.
It is really common for bubbles to appear and go away on their own.
Even though the bubbles do go away and they aren’t as severe as any of the other issues we have looked at so far, you still need to check out the issue.
What Causes It
Bubbles forming on a roof happens whenever the roof membrane comes loose. This happens whenever the air above the camper suctions the flat surface upwards.
“As the surface goes upwards, the roof membrane can become loose, creating bubbles and leading to more issues down the line.”
The bubbles will then go away whenever the air is not pulling the membrane up. This is why the bubbles seem to appear and go away.
You are more likely to see bubbles on a hot day because the heat softens the membrane even more, making it easier for the suction to pull the membrane up.
Read also: RV Sidewall Delamination – How To Fix Delamination In Motorhomes
How To Fix It
Fixing air bubbles in your Jayco trailer roof can be a bit difficult because it isn’t as intuitive to fix. It is best to go to the manufacturer to have them look at it to ensure that everything is correct.
They may want to reapply the membrane to assure that everything is tight and safe.
If you do not have the money to get it looked at just yet, that is OK. Bubbles do not mean that there is a serious issue that is leading to actual damage.
It is only when these bubbles are constant that you should definitely get them fixed.
Final Thoughts
Even though Jayco is a great trailer brand, they can break, just like any other manufacturer. Because roofs see some of the most wear and tear, they may be one of the first place that you see damage.
Leaks, cracks, and bubbles are just three examples of roof damage you may find on a Jayco trailer.
Luckily, most of the issues are fixable if you catch them early enough. Some of the issues are even able to be fixed in a DIY manner, but others may require a visit to a professional instead.
Trust your gut to decide whether you should fix the roof or take it to a professional.
References
https://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/f7/roof-problems-4148.html
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