Cracks endcaps August 01, 2013, 06:32:30 pm Yahoo Message Number: 141688I've read some recommendations and info here regarding the cracks that form on the endcaps on some older LD models, mine is no exception. We were on the road for entire month of July and had lots of rain. The cracks seem more noticeable, perhaps because our attention is focused on them. I purchased Captain Tully's crack sealer, a small 2 ounce tube came and I realized it probably wasn't going to solve the problem. The cracks do suck up the sealer but seem too large to be filled with such an approach. Now I've bought some RV "Goop" and would like to make sure it is okay to apply to these areas. I am going to let the RV "dry out" (I suspect some of the wood walls inside may be wet) while inside storage and apply the "Goop" when I take it out. I've noticed some smaller hairline cracks in other areas and will try Captain's crack sealer on those for which I think it is more appropriate. There is not sign of water intrusion inside the MH or it's compartments but I realize that alone doesn't mean there isn't a problem. The previous owner applied Eternabond to the roof seams and those are very clean and tight all the way around.So my question is - are there any concerns with using "Goop"? http://www.biosafe-inc.com/rv.htm Above is a link to the RV Goop website with more info. I'm concerned about permanently doing anything to my LD. We're alittle discouraged with the cracks situation, we knew buying a '99 MH came with such risks. No dry rot or interior damage are apparent yet but I've begun to worry about it.Todd '99 RB and '02 Honda CRV
Re: Cracks endcaps Reply #1 – August 01, 2013, 09:33:22 pm Yahoo Message Number: 141693Todd, see Larry Wade's message #119557 for a comprehensive overview of end cap sealing. He recommends several products from personal experience (and Larry's experience is considerable!): 3M 5200, Dap 3.0 Advanced all-purpose sealant - crystal clear, and Sashco's Big Stretch - clear. But read the message for more information... and Larry, since it's been two and a half years, perhaps you could give us an update on how the various sealants have held up over time.Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Re: Cracks endcaps Reply #2 – August 02, 2013, 12:32:53 pm Yahoo Message Number: 141708Caution: use 3M5200 only if you NEVER want to take it apart. It has a better bond than some of the adhesives they build with. Otherwise 3M4200 works well.ronC
Re: Cracks endcaps Reply #3 – August 03, 2013, 02:07:54 am Yahoo Message Number: 141722"So my question is - are there any concerns with using "Goop"?"Todd I have no experience using RV Goop, it appears to be a new product. I do have over twenty years experience with my preferred adhesive/sealant, 3M 5200. It cure in one to two days. 3M 4000 is also good, with similar characteristics except it takes a week or two to cure. Don't waste you time with Captain Tullys, it is for hair line cracks, you need something that will glue things together and fill wide cracks If the caps are severally cracked a temporary or permanent solution is to cut strips of Eternabond Tape to cover the cracks. Small cracks can be filled with 5200. I usually use stainless steel sheer metal screws to hold the freshly glued caps in place if some method of clamping is not available.Larry
Re: Cracks endcaps Reply #4 – August 03, 2013, 02:15:50 am Yahoo Message Number: 141724"Larry, since it's been two and a half years, perhaps you could give us an update on how the various sealants have held up over time.Andy3m 5200- continued excellent results. Dap 3.0 Advanced- still working fine but I only use clear adhesive when crossing colored areas and the cap is usually secured with SS screws. Big Stretch- Have not seen it for sale anywhere locally for a long time and thus no recent experience.Larry
Re: Cracks endcaps Reply #5 – August 03, 2013, 11:06:44 am Yahoo Message Number: 141733"I have no experience using RV Goop, it appears to be a new product." As far as I can tell, all the Goop products are the same--they just label them differently to appeal to different markets--and all are pretty much identical to Liquid Nails. These adhesives are useful for a lot of things, but in a critical application like this, I'd go with Larry's recommendations.Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Re: Cracks endcaps Reply #6 – August 03, 2013, 12:53:00 pm Yahoo Message Number: 141746Quote "Larry, since it's been two and a half years, perhaps you could give us an update on how the various sealants have held up over time.Andy3m 5200- continued excellent results. Dap 3.0 Advanced- still working fine but I only use clear adhesive when crossing colored areas and the cap is usually secured with SS screws. Big Stretch- Have not seen it for sale anywhere locally for a long time and thus no recent experience.Larry Larry I always appreciate your insight and advice. Regarding Big Stretch, I bought some at a local Glidden Paint store and I've seen it listed as available at a number of hardware stores on Sashco's (parent co. of Big Stretch)"where to buy" website. Like you, I was reluctant to buy online due to age of product concerns. Though I do see that Amazon has it too. I decided to try using Big Stretch to touch up a couple of spots on my rear edge caps because Don McG had raved about this stuff. I did not have separation, only small cracks to fill. I found it very easy to work with. I particularly liked that it comes out of the tube so easily, you can work with an very narrow bead. It is paintable and I may put some paint on it, not sure yet. Very easy clean up with water too. When it dries, it seems to have the consistency of a rubber band.How well it holds up is to be determined.Steve K.
Re: Cracks endcaps Reply #7 – August 03, 2013, 09:09:26 pm Yahoo Message Number: 141758Larry, My 97 RB has a horizontal crack on the passenger rear end cap about 1/8 to 3/16th inch wideabout 4 foot off the ground. My application of polyurethane does not last more than a year before cracks appear in the caulk. The crack is a bit too wide to fill properly since thereis nothing behind it. I thought about getting one of those small inch to inch half wide curved bands that the factory uses now to cover the end cap joint and gluing that on. What would you suggest?Thanks, Chuck Myers @ Hartford, IA[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: Cracks endcaps Reply #8 – August 04, 2013, 02:37:11 am Yahoo Message Number: 141766"Regarding Big Stretch, I bought some at a local Glidden Paint store and I've seen it listed as available at a number of hardware stores on Sashco's (parent co. of Big Stretch)"where to buy" website. How well it holds up is to be determined."Steve K.Keep us posted on how it holds up. With over 20 years of positive experience with 3M 5200, I hesitate to experiment with another product. My experience with Big Stretch is limited, so I cannot make a good comparison between it and the 3M products. I can't find the tensile strength of Big Stretch, only that it will stretch up to 500% before breaking. www.sashco.com/hi/pdfs/BigStretch_TechData.pdf 3M's data sheet shows 5200 as stretching 925% before breaking so it should be at least as good as Big stretch in that regard. http://multimedia.3m.com/mws/mediawebserver?66666UuZjcFSLXTtMXfXnXfXEVuQEcuZgVs6EVs6E666666-- For even more stretchability, 3M 4000 has a 1350% stretch rating and a even higher tensile strength. It's downside is its one to two week cure time.Larry
Re: Cracks endcaps Reply #9 – August 04, 2013, 02:48:34 am Yahoo Message Number: 141767"My 97 RB has a horizontal crack on the passenger rear end cap about 1/8 to 3/16th inch wide about 4 foot off the ground. My application of polyurethane does not last more than a year before cracks appear in the caulk."Chuck The horizontal seam, in the caps, is a tough spot to repair. The stress on the caps is very high there and I too have had problems with it. The best solution I have found so far is to undercut the gap in the caps as much as possible, to provide the maximum amount of surface area for the adhesive to stick to. It is very important to remove any remains of old adhesive, scrapping the area totally clean, leaving only the plastic cap material. The curved covers LD has used on some model will cover the area but will not impart any additional strength. They will help cover the spot. Wish I had more information about their usefulness. Let us know if LD can provide you with the caps, I would like to give them a try. If nothing else works, cut a inch wide strip of Eternabond tape and use it to cover the gap.Larry
Re: Cracks endcaps Reply #10 – August 16, 2013, 12:28:23 pm Yahoo Message Number: 142021Quote"My 97 RB has a horizontal crack on the passenger rear end cap ..." Being new to this, I'm trying to see if there is a way to see what is being described here, ie a photo or two. Wouldn't it be great if Yahoo provided a search capability to allow a search for posts in messages, photos, files, etc?Thanks to anyone who can help.Ray
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