This is why you own a fiberglass trailer

[SageRpod]

...and Grand Design is supposed to be one of the best out there.

https://www.rvtravel.com/rv-roofs-ba...g-travel-2145/

[Ron in BC]

OMG, I thought that I had seen it all. OSB covered with a membrane.

I regard OSB as a bio-degradable product in the wrong location. Great for sheathing on houses etc. but for the framing of a travel trailer.

Ron

[HABBERDABBER]

I've seen the undersides of several stickies, and the flooring, probably OSB, is covered with a sheet of plastic film, not attached or bonded to the flooring, but just the thin film like a garbage bag. Thicker than most garbage bags, but still.

The first rock kicked up from the tire or a snag opens that side up to problems.
A super cheap, flimsy and temporary way to protect the flooring.

[hugh]

Wow, not even sure I'd call that a membrane. Looks like they went down to the local home improvement store, bought some cheap plastic sheeting, and tried to glue it to the OSB.


Soooooo glad I didn't buy one of those. When I was first looking for a travel trailer, I considered it!

[TahoeJoe]

I have to say I'm not surprised. I learned that lesson the hard way...not that specific roof issue (that I knew of) but many other discoveries and quality in general...I bought a brand new Arctic Fox (supposedly the best stickie) and was astonished at what is considered "quality" in that industry. Long story short, I sold it and bought an Escape...and never looked back!

[rubicon327]

That is absurd. I’ve seen kids treehouses with better roof construction than that.

[hugh]

I can't get this out of my head. Not just the failure, but that repair as well! How many tubes of caulk were required to fix that? Is the whole trailer held together with caulk?

[escape artist]

Originally Posted by hugh

I can't get this out of my head. Not just the failure, but that repair as well! How many tubes of caulk were required to fix that? Is the whole trailer held together with caulk?

Hi: hugh... This issue, Et Al, shows up the fact the "Life" of a new RV is around 5 yrs. Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

[Carmel Clown]

Don’t know much about it, but the guy said some states have made rules against the glue that they used to use. Probably an environmental thing.

[Centex]

Originally Posted by SageRpod

...and Grand Design is supposed to be one of the best out there.

https://www.rvtravel.com/rv-roofs-ba...g-travel-2145/

Totally apart from the roof construction issues, IMO the video at that link provides an interesting real-world demonstration of the low-pressure zone (with attendant strong up-lift forces) that's likely present to some degree near the front of most trailers of any construction.

The point being that uplift forces can be meaningful even when air is not allowed to pass under something affixed to the roof as in the case of those roof membranes. Attempts to deflect air over things affixed to the roof near the front of a trailer might exacerbate that effect (think solar panels)?

[Ron in BC]

Originally Posted by Centex

Attempts to deflect air over things affixed to the roof near the front of a trailer might exacerbate that effect (think solar panels)?

I believe that's also been an unintended consequence of folks adding deflectors to the rear of the TV. Sometimes they created a stronger low pressure area that increases drag and that wanted to levitate the propane cover etc.

Ron

[Mike G]

Apparently, TPO + OSB = POS.


TPO, Tissue-thin Plastic Overlay?

[First Promise]

My wife and I own both a Grand Design and an Escape 19(2017). There is no doubt the construction of these two trailers is quite different. We absolutely love our 19 and have traveled thousands of miles with her. However we also like to bring our Harley to Florida in the winter so our GD toy hauler serves us quite well. Throughout our travels we have encountered many different folks with a wide variety of RVs. Safe travels and see you down the road😄

[Doug2000]

I saw a brand new fifth wheel pass me on I75 in Kentucky with his bubble roof fully inflated. I tried to catch up to him to let him know he was going to lose it but he must have been doing 80mph, I like about 65mph. I let him go.

I have seen many over the years

[WillyB]

Rubber membrane roofs can be good if they are applied correctly. The key word is correctly.

We chose an Escape fiberglass trailer and its molded fiberglass construction for this reason. But all travel trailer roofs have the same common problem, even fiberglass. When you cut holes in a roof water will surely find its way inside.

We hope our Escape will become our children's camper once we are done camping. That's still many years away but with some basic roof maintenance we're sure they will be enjoying our Escape down the road.

[Rockhead]

I’ve seen several articles on brand new stick built roof bubbling up and people waiting for manufacturers the approve repairs lol

[Civilguy]

Yikes.