People buy RVs either new or used, with the mistaken belief that it will always remain in good serviceable condition.

Often there’s no maintenance program and in time things go wrong, particularly with the harsh environment (heat and cold) coupled with vibration as we ‘bounce’ them all over the place on roads that are not always ideal.

Eventually, something goes wrong. Many will blame the manufacturer and for sure, if an item ‘fails’, there’s usually recourse if a warranty still applies.

But in the main it’s up to the owner to remain alert and check things over. My wife is particularly alert to change in ambient sound or smells (e.g. a circuit overloading or appliance overworking). Any new squeak or rattle needs investigation.

I’m more in tune with the rhythm of the engine, tyres on the various roads, body sounds under varying conditions and the ‘operation’ of something, for example, a hinge working loose or tap wobble developing.

A recent storm revealed a leak in the main hatch of our ‘Jane’ (Avida Eyre). Time to investigate. Accessing the roof is usually awkward unless one hires a ladder. Recently in a Bathurst free camp, we were back-to-back to a Winnie with rear ladder. The owner happily let me back up close and I used his ladder to access our roof to fix a crook wire in our Winegard TV aerial.

Fortunately, our twin-bed Eyre allows the removable table to span both beds and the necessary fold-up step ladder (everyone should have one of these; about $20 at Reject stores or Bunnings) used to gain access to the roof.

WORDS AND IMAGES BARRY MOORE

ABOVE Roof hatches are an important one to check!

KEEP YOUR RV ROOF IN TOP REPAIR

How to

Out of sight and out of mind is the last place you want your van’s roof to be

It’s a good idea to check your roof regularly before things go wrong

GUIDE DIY RV Roof Repair

SCROLL DOWN

Having designed and built their vans and trailers to go just about anywhere, they naturally just assume they can and will.

Back in December, I had the opportunity of testing out two new Zone RV Expedition Series trailers along the ultra-remote beaches and rugged limestone cliffs of the Great Australian Bight, including two punishing days along the old telegraph track; so, I knew first-hand what these trailers were capable of. But towing an 18’6” offroad caravan along some of the toughest tracks in the High Country? That would be taking it to the next level!

Adventure has a unique way of redefining our limits and resetting our concept of normal. When we push ourselves beyond our known boundaries and explore beyond the limits of our imagination, we always discover something new about ourselves, our companions and the world around us.

According to Four Wheel Drive Victoria’s track classification a single black diamond D = Difficult and a double black diamond D = Very Difficult. The classification makes no mention of trailers, let alone caravans because let’s face it, no one in their right mind would contemplate taking a caravan down a black diamond trail. That is unless you’re Matt & Dave from Zone RV!

As Sydney to Hobart yacht race crew, building Australia’s most hi-tech caravans or just living life to the full, Matt & Dave naturally like to push the limits. 

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Checking the sealants
Apart from regularly cleaning the solar panels to maintain maximum output, it’s a good time to check all the sealants. These can degrade and crack and water will find its way in and annoyingly, track along the most unexpected paths, emerging away from the real suspect.

It’s important to keep right on top of leaks and sealant cracks. Once water enters the ceiling cavity, particularly the foam insulation, it spells big trouble down the track. I quickly identified some cracks and cut away failed sealant to give good adhesion to new sealant. It’s important to remove dust and any ingrained debris too before resealing.

Two solar panels had splashes of bird poop, which I cleaned off in the process of wiping all panels down with a wet cloth. Even a blob of guano can degrade panel output, which works on each silicone cell in series with other clusters. Shading one area impacts on other cells’ performance and a daisy-chain effect occurs.

“It’s up to the owner to remain alert and check things over”

If you want to keep your van in top condition, you can’t neglect the roof!

You get a pretty neat view from up here too…

CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED
CRAFTSMANSHIP
Offline: This content can only be displayed when online.

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Which sealants are best
Various sealants are on the market and as an ex-yachtie, I have my favourites. Don’t buy cheap here. A good waterproof marine-grade Sikaflex tube (for a cartridge gun) will be $15- $20. Here’s a little tip: If buying a cartridge gun, don’t buy the click ratchet types. Why? Because they apply progressive pressure on the contents via ratcheting mechanisms and lock in place. That means the gunk will keep oozing out under pressure, all over the place. Not nice on a lovely motorhome.

My preferred one is the friction slip type or ‘non-dribble’ gun. When you stop squeezing on the handle, the push rod slips back a bit and eases the internal contents pressure. Ta dah! No unsightly dribbles all over the place. Apart from some dodgy hatch seal cracks, I found fine cracks developing in the transverse sealant bead across where the rear coaming meets the roof. It’s not really necessary to groove each one out – a general smear overall will suffice until your next visit onto the roof with a loaded gun (silicone, that is).

I recommend re-sealing with a good waterproof marine-grade sealant like Sikaflex

Check all sealants for signs of wear and tear

Tips and tricks
To get a nice finish when using silicone sealants, dip your finger into a rich solution of sudsy water (dish-washing liquid is ideal) and wipe smoothly and continuously along the bead. When working at heights or actually on the roof, take a small container of such up with you. For minor jobs I’ll use a bit of spit on my finger (haven’t died from poisoning yet!).

For small dabs, don’t apply too much silicone but, using fresh applications of the soapy water, ‘work’ your finger over the daub to mould the final surface smoothly. Using this technique and the right colour Sikaflex or silicone, it is possible to rebuild a gouge or deep scrape on a rounded surface.

On this subject, if using a two-pack filler such as Epoxy or Plasti-Bond to repair a ding in a curve, put only the smallest amount in the gouge or gap. When satisfied the quantity is enough, apply clear Sellotape around the surface with even pressure. You can ‘mould’ it a bit to get the general shape of the surrounds. If it is bulging and bumpy, remove the tape, clean up the surrounding area and reapply. I’ll use a match (or toothpick) to daub on small quantities of filler at a time until it feels and looks ‘high’ enough with the surrounds. Then reapply the clear tape.

It’s important to let it dry completely (a good day or so should do it). Take care removing the tape. Since most are sticky gum based, spray some WD40 or the green can SCA Export brand spray as you carefully peel the tape.

If used well, the final finish will be surprisingly neat and usually no sanding needed. A light spray of same colour paint will blend well.

“Once water enters the ceiling cavity, particularly the foam insulation, it spells big trouble down the track”

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  • Improved safety & legal compliance
  • Increased GCM - up to 8,995kg*
  • Up to 4.5t towing capacity
  • Better fuel economy
  • Improved ride
  • Better off-road ability in most conditions
4X4-Great...
6 Wheeler-Better!

CONVERT TODAY! TOW MORE. CARRY MORE.

Call the 6 wheeler experts today on 07 4662 5424 or visit www.sixwheeler.com.au

(*figures vary by model)

Final thoughts
A good maintenance program is a necessity to keep your RV not only working well but looking great. It will prevent issues before they get too bad and help maintain market value. Record jobs or issues as you find them in a little notebook, and when next off to your favourite hardware store or RV centre, take the note book. I find it helpful to keep such records in ‘Notes’ on my iPhone.

Being alert and developing your handy skills will not only prevent small issues from becoming major, it’ll save you money too. Know your limits of course, but good old Mr Google is a great source of information if you need a tip or two when faced with an issue.


BELOW Regularly cleaning your solar panels is a must-do if you want to get the most out of them

KEEP YOUR RV ROOF IN TOP REPAIR

How to

People buy RVs either new or used, with the mistaken belief that it will always remain in good serviceable condition.

Often there’s no maintenance program and in time things go wrong, particularly with the harsh environment (heat and cold) coupled with vibration as we ‘bounce’ them all over the place on roads that are not always ideal.

Eventually, something goes wrong. Many will blame the manufacturer and for sure, if an item ‘fails’, there’s usually recourse if a warranty still applies.

But in the main it’s up to the owner to remain alert and check things over. My wife is particularly alert to change in ambient sound or smells (e.g. a circuit overloading or appliance overworking). Any new squeak or rattle needs investigation.

I’m more in tune with the rhythm of the engine, tyres on the various roads, body sounds under varying conditions and the ‘operation’ of something, for example, a hinge working loose or tap wobble developing.

A recent storm revealed a leak in the main hatch of our ‘Jane’ (Avida Eyre). Time to investigate. Accessing the roof is usually awkward unless one hires a ladder. Recently in a Bathurst free camp, we were back-to-back to a Winnie with rear ladder. The owner happily let me back up close and I used his ladder to access our roof to fix a crook wire in our Winegard TV aerial.

Fortunately, our twin-bed Eyre allows the removable table to span both beds and the necessary fold-up step ladder (everyone should have one of these; about $20 at Reject stores or Bunnings) used to gain access to the roof.

GUIDE DIY RV Roof Repair

SCROLL DOWN

Out of sight and out of mind is the last place you want your van’s roof to be

ABOVE Roof hatches are an important one to check!

WORDS AND IMAGES BARRY MOORE

It’s a good idea to check your roof regularly before things go wrong

Adventure has a unique way of redefining our limits and resetting our concept of normal. When we push ourselves beyond our known boundaries and explore beyond the limits of our imagination, we always discover something new about ourselves, our companions and the world around us.

According to Four Wheel Drive Victoria’s track classification a single black diamond D = Difficult and a double black diamond D = Very Difficult. The classification makes no mention of trailers, let alone caravans because let’s face it, no one in their right mind would contemplate taking a caravan down a black diamond trail. That is unless you’re Matt & Dave from Zone RV!


As Sydney to Hobart yacht race crew, building Australia’s most hi-tech caravans or just living life to the full, Matt & Dave naturally like to push the limits. 

Having designed and built their vans and trailers to go just about anywhere, they naturally just assume they can and will.

Back in December, I had the opportunity of testing out two new Zone RV Expedition Series trailers along the ultra-remote beaches and rugged limestone cliffs of the Great Australian Bight, including two punishing days along the old telegraph track; so, I knew first-hand what these trailers were capable of. But towing an 18’6” offroad caravan along some of the toughest tracks in the High Country? That would be taking it to the next level!

ADVERTISEMENT

SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT

“It’s up to the owner to remain alert and check things over”

Checking the sealants
Apart from regularly cleaning the solar panels to maintain maximum output, it’s a good time to check all the sealants. These can degrade and crack and water will find its way in and annoyingly, track along the most unexpected paths, emerging away from the real suspect.

It’s important to keep right on top of leaks and sealant cracks. Once water enters the ceiling cavity, particularly the foam insulation, it spells big trouble down the track. I quickly identified some cracks and cut away failed sealant to give good adhesion to new sealant. It’s important to remove dust and any ingrained debris too before resealing.

Two solar panels had splashes of bird poop, which I cleaned off in the process of wiping all panels down with a wet cloth. Even a blob of guano can degrade panel output, which works on each silicone cell in series with other clusters. Shading one area impacts on other cells’ performance and a daisy-chain effect occurs.

You get a pretty neat view from up here too…

If you want to keep your van in top condition, you can’t neglect the roof!

FXV 4.7 FAMILY
CARAVAN

SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Which sealants are best
Various sealants are on the market and as an ex-yachtie, I have my favourites. Don’t buy cheap here. A good waterproof marine-grade Sikaflex tube (for a cartridge gun) will be $15- $20. Here’s a little tip: If buying a cartridge gun, don’t buy the click ratchet types. Why? Because they apply progressive pressure on the contents via ratcheting mechanisms and lock in place. That means the gunk will keep oozing out under pressure, all over the place. Not nice on a lovely motorhome.

My preferred one is the friction slip type or ‘non-dribble’ gun. When you stop squeezing on the handle, the push rod slips back a bit and eases the internal contents pressure. Ta dah! No unsightly dribbles all over the place. Apart from some dodgy hatch seal cracks, I found fine cracks developing in the transverse sealant bead across where the rear coaming meets the roof. It’s not really necessary to groove each one out – a general smear overall will suffice until your next visit onto the roof with a loaded gun (silicone, that is).

I recommend re-sealing with a good waterproof marine-grade sealant like Sikaflex

Check all sealants for signs of wear and tear

Final thoughts
A good maintenance program is a necessity to keep your RV not only working well but looking great. It will prevent issues before they get too bad and help maintain market value. Record jobs or issues as you find them in a little notebook, and when next off to your favourite hardware store or RV centre, take the note book. I find it helpful to keep such records in ‘Notes’ on my iPhone.

Being alert and developing your handy skills will not only prevent small issues from becoming major, it’ll save you money too. Know your limits of course, but good old Mr Google is a great source of information if you need a tip or two when faced with an issue.


Tips and tricks
To get a nice finish when using silicone sealants, dip your finger into a rich solution of sudsy water (dish-washing liquid is ideal) and wipe smoothly and continuously along the bead. When working at heights or actually on the roof, take a small container of such up with you. For minor jobs I’ll use a bit of spit on my finger (haven’t died from poisoning yet!).

For small dabs, don’t apply too much silicone but, using fresh applications of the soapy water, ‘work’ your finger over the daub to mould the final surface smoothly. Using this technique and the right colour Sikaflex or silicone, it is possible to rebuild a gouge or deep scrape on a rounded surface.

On this subject, if using a two-pack filler such as Epoxy or Plasti-Bond to repair a ding in a curve, put only the smallest amount in the gouge or gap. When satisfied the quantity is enough, apply clear Sellotape around the surface with even pressure. You can ‘mould’ it a bit to get the general shape of the surrounds. If it is bulging and bumpy, remove the tape, clean up the surrounding area and reapply. I’ll use a match (or toothpick) to daub on small quantities of filler at a time until it feels and looks ‘high’ enough with the surrounds. Then reapply the clear tape.

It’s important to let it dry completely (a good day or so should do it). Take care removing the tape. Since most are sticky gum based, spray some WD40 or the green can SCA Export brand spray as you carefully peel the tape.

If used well, the final finish will be surprisingly neat and usually no sanding needed. A light spray of same colour paint will blend well.

“Once water enters the ceiling cavity, particularly the foam insulation, it spells big trouble down the track”

BELOW Regularly cleaning your solar panels is a must-do if you want to get the most out of them

Call the 6 wheeler experts today on 07 4662 5424 or visit www.sixwheeler.com.au

4X4-Great...
6 Wheeler-Better!

SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT

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