This video appeared to ruffle quiet a few feathers. To be abundantly clear, we believe Eternabond tape is a great product for what it was created for - a strong patch. This videos intent was to warn against a craze we see multiple times - covering all seams on the roof with Eternabond tape. As stated in the video, items on your roof (such as vents, skylights, antennas, etc) do get sun damaged and brittle. You also might hit a tree, or you might even want to make some upgrades. Having Eternabond tape around all seams would make those repairs/upgrades a nightmare. Not to mention you risk damaging your roof membrane when attempting to remove the items and tape. As an RV repair shop owner (with over 25 years in the industry), I speak from experience. Whether you are at my shop, friends on social media or stumbled across one of my various KZread videos - my message to you will be the same; you're RV needs to be maintained. While it's not glamorous or fun for most, nothing beats keeping an RV roof scrubbed, routinely inspected and sealed as necessary. I believe the RV industry hasn't done the consumer justice with educating them on maintenance required. While others may feel covering every seam with Eternabond tape is "the bees knees," I don't. We can just agree to disagree.

@Dave-sw2dm

9 ай бұрын

I did self leveling lap sealant on my cargo trailer and then did 4 inch wide Eternabond on the perimeter of the trailer. This is on Aluminum and Galvalume. The builder did 2 inch wide tape on the trailer and vent. I pulled the old tape with a plastic scraper and then used 3 quarts of goof off to remove the residue before resealing. I have watched so many RV videos because I am thinking about a toy hauler. The more research I do, the more I am leaning towards do a cargo trailer conversion to toy hauler. RVs are made as cheap as possible.

@Electro489

9 ай бұрын

Agreed @@Dave-sw2dm 👍 I have owned a few boats in the 25-30 foot range and a couple of cargo trailers but it wasnt until I went shopping for my first RV that I saw what incredible garbage RV's are made of.😮 It's a sad state of affairs.

@spacecadet4876

2 ай бұрын

Really good info on the viability of Eternabond tape. Agreed it's best as a patch. I recently used dicor self leveling lap sealant. It didn't spread like I thought it would. I bought the tubes several months ago and maybe I should have waited until the sun had gone down a bit. Wonder if it's shelf life played a role in that? After reading comments maybe it is a good thing. Prep is critical as is constant inspection.

@ericsteinhauer3991

2 ай бұрын

Agree! Built like a rolling loose pile of garbage. The only one I've found built with any integrity is the new Oliver. It's enclosed fiberglass

@scottcreamer1784

Ай бұрын

Notice he doesn’t give any real reason why not to use it other than to replace a vent cover or something like that. I’ll tell you why he doesn’t want you to use it, because he has to remove it to work on the roof. He said it himself that stuff sticks on there really good. Show me some examples of the SHRINKING AND CRACKING Eternabond!

Used it 7 years ago and besides a little discoloration it's still perfect.

13 years ago I stripped all caulk off the seams of an old Holiday Rambler one piece roof. cleaned and prepped as needed. The Eternabond is still there and has been trouble free.

For someone who is getting a steal tomorrow because of a roof leak, I'll trust the comments over this video.

I'm glad you posted this so I could see the comments and decide to try eternabond myself!

The two reasons mainstream RV manufacturers use liquid poly roof sealant (Sikaflex) is because it's quick to apply and cheap to acquire. As you stated... it's TEMPORARY. As far as the longevity of a liquid polymer, much depends on the quality (solids content) of the sealer, and proper application. The "factory kids" hastily apply only ONE COAT and it's out the door. It's best to apply a second coat a few days to a week after the initial coat sets. NO mass RV manufacturer does that... time is money. Thor and other manufacturers buy that stuff in drums, and use pneumatic pump guns to apply... watch the video. They do a roof in a matter of minutes! It's a KNOWN FACT that water intrusion is the biggest destroyer of RVs. Once water gets in, wood rots - and is VERY costly to repair... usually it totals the RV! Dicor, Sikaflex and similar polymer sealants tend to dry out and crack - allowing water intrusion. How long it takes is dependent on environmental exposure and the elements. Polymer sealant on an RV used only occasionally and stored under cover may preserve the sealant for 3 - 5 years. But typically these sealants MUST be reapplied nearly every year; sometimes even more frequently. The material is relative cheap to purchase - about $10 for a 10 ounce cartridge tube - and a typical roof may need one to three tubes per season. A conservative estimate of time and materials per season might be 2 - 3 hours on the roof and $50 for the sealant. Eternabond and similar vinyl backed butyl tapes are much less susceptible to UV damage - and don't dry out and crack like polymers. PROPERLY applied, these tapes often last 15 - 20 years; often the life of a lower end RV. While some have tried to remove them, these tapes should be thought of as PERMANENT. There is usually NO REASON to remove the tape and it's VERY sticky butyl backing! If need be (like replacing a roof vent), it can simply be CUT and another layer applied - overlapping the original. The proof of "use case" comes with "the test of time"... longevity. While a roof should be inspected several times a season (while washing is a good time), it's extremely rare that a vinyl butyl tape would need replaced... which is NOT true for polymer sealants. A properly cared for (kept clean) synthetic rubber (TPO, EPDM) roof can easily last 20+ years before needing replaced. There are MANY real life use cases of properly applied vinyl butyl tapes (Eternabond, etc.) on these roof lasting the roof's lifetime. Ultimately this whole roof sealing process comes down to cost and labor intensity. Properly sealing an entire RV roof with Eternabond can cost between $150 to $200 for the tape, and require the best part of two days to PROPERLY install. BUT - once installed, you're DONE. All that's required is REGULAR roof inspection and washing. A $200 Eternabond installation actually costs about $10 a year over it's lifetime of 20 years. AND... there's NO tedious removing/reapplying deteriorated, cracked sealant... more time to enjoy the RV and one less maintenance item to worry about! Compare that to using polymer sealants even ONCE per year - let's say 2 hours at $30 per season. That's 40 hours and at LEAST $600+ for materials. I'd rather spend time camping than sealing the roof!

@lawrencepatricio5776

4 ай бұрын

This is probably the best explanation I've read regarding the debate over these two types of seals.

@spacecadet4876

2 ай бұрын

Gotta agree. Sage advice and info. Appreciate your input.

While I appreciate your concern, as some of us age, getting on and off RV roofs is getting more challenging. To say "Get up there every couple months and wash and treat and seal the roof" is a bit much for some people. And taking it to a dealer that often is also difficult and can get very expensive. For these reasons, I'm looking at a spray on roof...but I'm not opposed to the eternabond method as I have read about it a lot and have not read a lot of horror stories about it. I don't want to be ugly but it seems most of the people saying don't use it are techs who gain by having to continually seal people's roofs.

@TehDubster

4 ай бұрын

100% these guys. Lying to consumers to get them into their shop and spend upwards of 30x as much to fix the issue. Fuck what everyone says. It isn't stupid if it works.

Eternabond has a claim that it still viable after 38 years...most RVs are in the landfills before that tape is scheduled to start failing.

Totally disagree. But having said that nothing lasts forever. Not even eternabond. The other option is recaulking which has to be done more often. I used a hot air dryer and the eternabond will come off. If it came of easy the product would not be any good.

WOW First off as a commercial Roofer, I must say we do not have 1 RV manufacture that is installing the roofs correctly. Its a shame even the TPO EPDM they use is so thin its a boom waiting to blow let alone WTH is dicor? that doesn't qualify as lap sealants it will last a yr or 2 at best before it cracks open and starts to leak. I am not a Eternabond person ether but Dicor VS Eternabond? I will take Eternabond any day of the week with correct installation the mule-hide coat it. I see class actions lawsuits coming. I have a 2022 Montana and having to redo the roof already thankfully I no how to do that my self ..... I will be using a 45Mil commercial roofing product TPO with real water block lap sealants that last for 10yrs!

Most people who sealed their roofs with etherna bond or similar product are still happy after 10 years of applying. So I didn't understand what's wrong with that.

Put Eternabond tape on my new trailer in 2017 and it's still holding up and looks great. Haven't noticed any degradation at all.

I have watched many videos over the use of Eternabond, even the ones like this that discourage extensive use so as to at least attempt to come to an informed decision. I am a sucker for over researching and over prepping. I am extremely handy with the vast majority of RV maintenance and repairs so I am not afraid to tackle most issues that pop up. With all of that said let do a simple Value Proposition (VP) comparison to see what we come up with. Lets start with a few not-unreasonable assumptions: 1 - my RV service center numbers are likely overly conservative. 2 - the rate at which I calculate my own time is not really something any DIY'er does. But to be fair to both sides of this proposition, we have to put a dollar value on our time. So... let see what the value proposition is for a ten year cycle of RV service center applied lap sealer vs a DIY'er Eternabond effort. Average RV service center shop rates vary between 150-175 per hour. From what I can tell from fairly extensive reading, most roof reseal jobs are charged between 6-8 hours. So nominally 7 hours. 7 hours @ 162.5/hr (also the nominal rate) is 1137.50 for labor. Now lets add material costs. My RV would require 6 (plus 1 for any touch up) tubes of Dicor Self Leveling Lap Sealant... which is 13.99 a tube currently on Amazon, which totals 97.93. However, we need to consider material mark-up costs... which is usually around 30-50%. So we'll use the nominal number of 40% which adds another 39.17. For a total of 137.10. Now lets add it all up.... 1137.50 (labor) + 137.10 (materials) = 1274.60 for one reapplication of Lap Seal. RV manufacturers recommend this as an annual maintenance item.... but lets just be your average RV'er and do it every three years. Over the course of 10 years, for three (once every three years) applications of Lap Sealer by your typical RV service center (not adjusted for inflation) you'll spend a total 3823.80. Now lets look at Eternabond over that same 10 year period. Two roles of 6"x50', one roll of 4"x25", one 28oz bottle of Dawn Dish Detergent, and one medium bristle brush total 216.72 (with free shipping). Now my time is worth money, so to be fair to our value proposition, we have to account for my time in dollars as well. For this project, I'll pay myself 40.00 an hour. My best guess is that it would take me about 3-5 hours to properly clean/dry my roof, and apply Eternabond to all seams. So like above, I'll use the nominal number of 4 hours @ 40.00/hr for a total of 160.00. My TT isn't that big at 22 feet so I don't think my estimates are that far from actuals. Lets add in three hours of Enternabond patches over those ten years to account for normal wear and tear. So that's 7 hours at 40.00/hr. The grand total is (DIY labor and materials) is .... 496.72. In a nutshell, on a VALUE PROPSITION basis only.... you save 3,326.28 over ten years by one proper application of Eternabond. That's 7:1 cost ratio. On a VP basis alone, why would ANYONE take their RV/TT to a service center for routine Lap Sealer. The savings increase by several factors the bigger your RV/TT is. If you properly prepare your roof, and carefully apply Eternabond per Eternabond directions.... I mean, the math adds up.... you'll save many thousands of dollars. For bigger RV/TT's it could be in the ten thousand dollar range. Just my .02 cents....

Eternabond tape has a life of 18+ years.......also, manufacturer's don't use it because self-leveling caulks are cheaper and easier to install.

Warning- do not buy any of the knockoff products claiming to be the same as eternabond. Speaking from experience it fails within a year. The true eternabond product lasts 15-20+ years

I used it on front cap seam and rear seam and down both sides of the roof line curve down into the rain gutter and covered all roof trim that seals the roof to the wall. I did this 12 years ago and it still is holding strong and still looks good. I also used it to protect the slideout awnings that are exposed to the sun and it still looks good. I believe in this product and have had no issues at all with it.

Eternal bond tape has worked for us. It's been in use for several years and hasn't broke (deteriorated )down. It stopped us from having to apply caulking every year or years. Solved the micro leaking problems. Great product.

Removes easy with a heat gun. Last the life of the roof. Can be coated just like the roof.

@yourrvspecialists

2 ай бұрын

Thanks for your feed back.

@rwind656

25 күн бұрын

@user-dm5eb9cm4i question regards using a heat gun on Eternabond tape on an RV roof. Sounds like you've used Eternabond. Do you think using a heat gun while applying Eternabond at first will give you a better / smoother surface without the wrinkles? Or does it affect the adhesive too much to use the heat gun? Thanks for any answer. I am looking at Eternabond for another application, not an RV but I'd sure use it rather than seal frequently with the inferior products I've seen all these years.

@user-dm5eb9cm4i

24 күн бұрын

@@rwind656 -- the heat gun is only to soften tape and other calking for removal not during application of new. I’m afraid it would ruin it..

The tape easily comes off with a heat gun 🙂

@yourrvspecialists

4 ай бұрын

Sometime, but makes a hell of a mess.

Good info. This week I found that I had some rotted wood on my 4 year old trailer's roof. It looks like during manufacturing the builder missed a small spot where the roof membrane meets the side gutter drains and water was able to get in there. This weekend I cut the plastic membrane back, replaced all the rotted wood & insulation, and reinstalled the plastic roof membrane. When reinstalling the roof membrane I used the Eternabond tape around all the cuts, but I also sealed the edges of the tape with good RV self leveling material. I'm hoping that between the tape and the compound I won't have any further issues. i don't think I'd like all the edges of the roof with it, but for covering seams where I had to cut the roof it feels like a solid repair.

Whatever picture you’re showing at 2:43 isn’t Eterna bond. It’s some cheap knock off. There is no structured webbing in eternabond. If You prep the surface and apply this properly it will outlast your coach.

@yourrvspecialists

Жыл бұрын

Randall - Even though we disagree, I appreciate you joining in on the conversation. I will say, I do believe the Eternabond tape job in the post appeared to have been prepped very well - something I wish would have mentioned in the video. Being a repair shop, we do see a lot of strange things owners do to their units, and we have seen some very poor Eternabond tape jobs. At the end of the day, we still are not fans of having Eternabond tape around all seams as it would make any repairs/upgrades a nightmare. Not to mention you risk damaging your roof membrane when attempting to remove the items and tape.

Manufacturers probably dont use it cause its more expensive Eternabond seems to be holding up pretty well for alot of people if applied properly

@TJ-qz6hr

Ай бұрын

Exactly, it’s too expensive.

I have used enternabond quite awhile on several projects and never had problem'' I had emergency leak in my boat when I was fishing and I happen to have eternabond on hand and it fix the leak and it been patch 5 years ago with eternabond and it work great

What do you expect someone who gets paid to work on these is going to say. They want customers. Not someone that is one and done. They want you coming back as often as possible

@yourrvspecialists

10 ай бұрын

You know we don’t sell RV’s right in our job is to help you keep a maintain what you have not saw you a new one. So if you want to slap that on your coach by all means, go ahead and do it but when it devalues it that’s on you. Everyone will run because they’ll think that you have sidewall, a roof water damage concealed behind it.

@phillmckrakin2518

Ай бұрын

That's exactly what I was thinking. That white putty stuff is junk. I have seen many nice campers and RVs with water damage from that leaky lap sealant.

@topgun5399

Ай бұрын

​@@yourrvspecialistswouldn't look at it this way I would look that they found something better then making a hobby caulking every year. Not to mention checking the inside of a rv. Bringing someone with you that had campers wouldn't hurt alo.

I don’t feel like this video aged well because there are people that have done 5 year videos and the tape is still in good shape, I wouldn’t put it around areas that may need maintanence like a fan skylight or ac because it’ll make replacing those annoying and more difficult, but for places like the sides and ends of your roof where it won’t need to come off ever unless you had a major problem like an accident this works well.

@TehDubster

4 ай бұрын

These guys thrive off of having people come into their shop. These guys are very biased and should not be trusted.

@rwind656

25 күн бұрын

@Knight0vvl about removing the Eternabond tape on RV's they say it's easy to remove with a heat gun.

@Knight0vvl

25 күн бұрын

@@rwind656 it’s removable but not easily, it’s not worth putting in areas that may require its removal especially because it’s not cheap.

Your video is the first one for not using tape over the sealant. I for the life of me can not figure out why other than costs why the RV manufactures do not use something better, In my opinion using the tape over the sealant that is still in good condition gives you a double layer of protection against leaks. If you need to make a repair, you cut remove the tap and sealant make the repair reseal with caulking let that set up and then replace the tape. Thanks for the video gives me something to think about

@yourrvspecialists

Жыл бұрын

Myles - We do believe Eternabond tape is a great product for what it was created for - a strong patch. We are not fans of putting Eternabond tape over all seams as it will make doing any repairs or upgrades a nightmare. Eternabond is not the easiest to cut and pull away from the roof, and my biggest concern is damaging the roof membrane when doing so. I do agree that sealants on the market aren't the best product out there as it does require a bit more maintenance than the average RVer is willing to do. Whether you are at my shop, friends on social media or stumbled across one of my various KZread videos - my message to you will be the same; you're RV needs to be maintained. While it's not glamorous or fun for most, nothing beats keeping an RV roof scrubbed, routinely inspected and sealed as necessary. Thank you for the discussion. Have a great day!

@topgun5399

Ай бұрын

I use eternabond on all seams. This way at 70 yrs I don't have to get up there and keep caulking . And you mention seal the edges of the eternabond.well I do one better in order to keep my camper cooler I use Henry's tropical cool sealer witch as you know is rubber when dry. I cover the whole roof right over the tape and put 2 coats 2 days apart to make it thick. The white version color I use and looks great and so far all I do is take the ladder once a year and have done nothing to it for the last 5 yrs. One more thing this Henry is easy to clean and does not collect dust. I also go up there with a 303 for uv protection on all my covers A/C etc to keep from cracking etc. 5yrs and going strong. Even if you need to replace a cover or vent just cut it heat it to lift the tape off. So I highly recommend eternabond tape and your video in my book doesn't hold water altho the tape does.lol

@rwind656

25 күн бұрын

@@topgun5399 could you please tell more about "Henry's tropical cool sealer?" Is it like the water barriers laid down on walls and floors of showers until ceramic tile? (Those form a rubbery coating over the material they cover, waterproof.) Thanks.

@topgun5399

24 күн бұрын

@@rwind656 This stuff on rv's is fantastic. It seals keeps the camper cooler if your using white and easy to clean. Eterna bond at the seams then put this on half hr later ready for water. And it last! This is my 2nd camper and used this on both. The 2nd camper is a 2021 and the roof was like new but in order to keep it cool I used Henry's and the tape to double waterproof. I have never used it indoors but some applications it might work. It's definitely a hard rubber finish. Looks great also. Been great on both campers. Piece of mine in my book.

So if we dont use eternabond to stop leaks and live in California and needs to maintain it by sealing yearly, are you suggesting that your company should be the right ome to maintain it for the rest of us yearly on a sky high price?

Nice video for roof repair business's such as yours. (jk) Do you have data to back up your opinions? If Eterna bond is such a great patch like you stated many times, I dont see any reason not to use it to patch all the seams from the get go. Im reading a ton of anecdotal evidence that is pro Eterna bond... and not many to the contrary. Net.... In God we trust, all others bring data.

Companies don’t use it because lap sealants are cheaper. The tape lasts way longer than lap sealants. The info you put out is so wrong. The tape is uv protected.

So,i think you answered your own question about why the factory don't do this? Time and materials. Just like you said, they move fast to get the rig out the door and this would be too time consuming and costly to do on the factory floor. Not that this the right thing to do. Also, you say the self leveling caulk takes 30 days to dry. Well my 2022 Jayco actually had oak leaves stuck in the caulk when I picked it up. So it basic was laid down and pushed out the door almost instantly.

@yourrvspecialists

Жыл бұрын

Scott, thanks for the comments. Yes, you most certainly received your Jayco "hot off the press." We believe Eternabond tape is a great product for what it was created for - a strong patch. This videos intent was to warn against a craze we see multiple times - covering all seams on the roof with Eternabond tape. As stated in the video, items on your roof (such as vents, skylights, antennas, etc) do get sun damaged and brittle. You also might hit a tree, or you might even want to make some upgrades. Having Eternabond tape around all seams would make those repairs/upgrades a nightmare. Not to mention you risk damaging your roof membrane when attempting to remove the items and tape. This is why mfg DON'T use the tape when producing their units. My complaint with the mfg is their sealant jobs are too thin (aka their starter ink cartridge). My RV repair shop has 3 - 5 units (all makes, models and ages) come through on the daily. I see Eternabond tape jobs when they are fresh and several years old. Repairs and upgrades done on units with endless amounts of Eternabond tape in the way are charged far more labor than those with sealant. Whether you are at my shop, friends on social media or stumbled across one of my various KZread videos - my message to you will be the same; you're RV needs to be maintained. While it's not glamorous or fun for most, nothing beats keeping an RV roof scrubbed, routinely inspected and sealed as necessary. I believe the RV industry hasn't done the consumer justice with educating them on maintenance required. While others may feel covering every seam with Eternabond tape is "the bees knees," I don't. We can just agree to disagree.

He says not to use it because he can’t repair them anymore. Permanent fix means less $$ in his pockets

What do you recommend using on the roof to help slow UV damage? 303? And just on the plastic rooftop elements? Thanks!

@yourrvspecialists

Жыл бұрын

YES. I am a huge advocate for 303 Aerospace Protectant. It is great for anything vinyl or plastic. I don't just use it on the roof, I use it around the entire RV - decals, awnings, slide-out toppers. The list goes on and on ...

So what does that have to do with the roof?

My question would be, what is the lesser of two evils? Dicor separating/cracking and getting water damage, vs the pain to remove tape in the event of a replacement of one of the penetration components. My guess would be, the $$ amount repair difference of water damage vs removing eternabond tape to replace a component would be quite different, in favor of the tape.. I don't know this to be true, what say you? Or the other way to look at it would be, for seams of components that are least likely to fail and need replaced (front cap seam, side/rear seam, plumbing vent, fridge vent) those would probably benefit more with tape, and then dicor the skylights and such. At the end of the day, the way RV roofing systems and penetrations are designed are lazy and absolutely garbage. there should be flashing or curbs, or something that is the primary line of defense to redirect water, and sealant would simply be a secondary measure. We wouldn't accept this on our house, I don't know why we do on RV's.

@yourrvspecialists

Жыл бұрын

Sorry for late response. I completely missed it. I would just use the sealant and if it’s sealed thick enough at the beginning and kept clean and when treating the roof surface you can apply the uv treatment to the clean sealants as well and it will last you a very long time. The roof and the sealant are the most neglected parts on RVs. They don’t explain enough to keep them clean.

@nortonnewmann3711

Жыл бұрын

I just installed two MaxxAir fans on my RV roof. The originals had the the obligatory thin layer of Sikaflex from Thor. I used a heat gun on LOW with a PLASTIC scraper to get to the original fan flange to remove the screws. I removed the old fans and cleaned the roof area with lacquer thinner... NON petroleum based! Once the new fans were installed, I carefully applied Eternabond tape, lapping up onto the vertical part of the fan flange, and well off of the flange edge onto the roof. Then I used a steel roller to completely compress the butyl under the tape. I GUARANTEE I will NEVER have any leaks - and the only maintenance is regular cleaning. If I ever need to remove the fan - I'll simply carefully cut through the tape along the flange edge. I'm going to re-seal it anyway!! The tape over the screws can be softened with a heat gun on LOW, and again use a utility knife. Here you're not cutting into the roof, so be a little more aggressive. It peels up easy enough to get to the screws - you DO NOT need to completely remove it to do that! After installing a new fan, simply lap new Eternabond over the existing tape that's there. I'll never understand why people freak out over this... it's like a mental block or something! I'd rather permanently seal my roof components and GO CAMPING than worry about the roof leaking! But I guess some folks must enjoy crawling around their RV roof with a caulking gun... ???

Thanks for your opinion video. For me, actually, using a heat gun and scrapper carefully and responsibly to remove eternabond tape is easy! A lot less work and time than you think. Even if you're older or not that strong, it comes right off. I find overall it is indeed more cost, time and energy efficient to use eternabond. You have to repair/maintain those seals less often if using eternabond. With that said, kepp in mind whether or not your roof is in the shade or sun more often makes a difference on your overall maintenance requirements whether you use eternabond or recaulk it. Always maintain as your situation truly requires. 🙏

i think the guy that you are running down actually did an incredible job and i am doing same as he did specially what he did it on the side of the rv no way any silicon's gonna fix that miss and he seems very knowledgeable your question to why manufacturers don't use it because it's too expensive for them .i think Why all you maintenance people run this stuff down using the tape because if everybody uses it no one would have leaking roofs to fixed and no need for you guys services to reseal roofs in the future and there's multiple clips on youtube that people have had use this tape it for four or ten years and it looks like the day they put it there

@yourrvspecialists

Жыл бұрын

Mike - Even though we disagree, I appreciate you joining in on the conversation. I will say, I do believe the Eternabond tape job in the post was done very clean - something I wish would have mentioned in the video. Being a repair shop, we do see a lot of strange things owners do to their units, and we have seen some very poor Eternabond tape jobs. At the end of the day, we still are not fans of having Eternabond tape around all seams as it would make any repairs/upgrades a nightmare. Not to mention you risk damaging your roof membrane when attempting to remove the items and tape.

@billzawlocki4148

9 ай бұрын

@@yourrvspecialists Remember your perspective is very colored because you look at it from the repair side. You are the hammer that only see nails. All you see is how difficult it is to repair something that has Eternabond on it. That's really a minor issue for the vast majority of RV owners.

Hi. I just bought a Bigfoot camper and the person who sold it to me used a TON of that terrible tape. And recommendations on how to remove it? Should I use a goo gone or solvent?

@yourrvspecialists

2 ай бұрын

You have to be very careful when removing it, use a low heat gun and mild solvent to clean off the surfaces. In some cases you have to replace the tape as needed and just live with it, now that it has been added. You can always seals around the seams and even if needed apply a coating over it as well.

@bravethewildreviews

2 ай бұрын

Thanks! Do you happen to know what sort of coating I can apply over the tape?

The thing is, for the prices of these RVs they sure are built poorly and i mean everything! Wiring, appliances, plastic junk vents, Workmanship, everything, unbelievable! And Who has time too climb unto 10-12' roofs many times a year to inspect ,clean and maintain them? Especially when you are 70 years old, I mean I'm a mechanic by trade but i hate climbing ladders in the first place , yeah 10ish feet isnt that bad but still. I understand keeping an eye on things and I do but come on! I also undersand that RVs need to be built as light as possiable as well. Otherwise you would need a Mack semi truck to haul them. But they surely could be built somewhat better. I have an small 30 year old gulfstream fifthwheel that's still in decent shape and the roof on it has been surprisingly good, no leaks. But the axles should have been a bit farther rearward on those old ones. I've found there isnt quite enough weight on the kingpin, so I try to be sure to try travel with the rear mounted grey & black tanks empty otherwise it will sway sometimes. But get this, it wears tires rather fast because the wheels aren't in line. Also I found the kingpin was factory welded two inches off center to the left which im sure contributes to the sway, which fifth wheels & goosenecks normally don't do.. I've been contemplating cutting it loose and rewelding it centered, because i see some cracks in the weld corners of the pinbox anyway, but have been advised not too for liability purposes. But who cares , certainly not the factories the way it sounds! :(

The only reason camper shops don't recommend eternabond is because it keeps camper owners from coming back to have their roof resealed. Camper shop loses out on service revenue!

Maybe in your California climate this would not hold up...but it seems to be working for everyone else...for over 3 years.

Hello, I am Installing a new PVC roof membrane on my 2008 40' toyhauler that we fulltime. I have upgraded to all new roof fixtures. would you still advise against having a butyl seal between membrane and flanges like industry standard and then diligently and correctly (not streching it so it rebounds and wrinkles like the insert in your video) eternabond in place of lap sealant? Im not looking to shirk work. I believe all things have a maintenance/service life correlation. Could there be a better way?

Hi I have to say that you are right about the Eternal Bond tape. But they didn't finish the job, You just don't put the tape up there and then say okay it's finished. As you said the tape will deteriorate over time and you have problems. You put the tape up first and then you seal the roof with a good liquid rubber coating. So now the liquid rubber coating has UV protection in it to prevent the tape from deteriorating. So now the tape will last as long as the silicone rubber roof last. So you talking maybe 30 to 40 years before you'd have to even start to think about resurfacing that roof again. 😎

@seanoconnor1731

Жыл бұрын

That's a good sensible comment -thanks.

@oldmanrock7542

Жыл бұрын

I hope your right. That's what I did. Tape and then rubber roof coating over the top.

The performance of the tape likely depends on the climate. Cold, wet with 4 seasons will damage the tape. IN Florida's climate , the tape is more long lasting.

why aren't all the manufacturers using it? Probably the same reason why they make such cheap stuff.

@yourrvspecialists

5 ай бұрын

Typically it’s only used on the slide outs.

Manufacturers aren't using this product simply because it is more expensive and the labour is time-consuming. The only time you'd ever wanna remove that "tape" is if you've got some serious structural failure happening, aside from that, it does last longer than lap.

I have never had an issue with it. I don't even buy Dicor, just an off brand. I go one step further and seal all seams and edges of it with clear Pro-Flex. It's there forever!

I have had eterna bond tape on my roof seals for 8 years in South Florida. No failure of the plastic or any other portion of the tape. You are lucky to get a year or two out of any of the lap sealants and I have used most all of them. So, every one has an opinion. Mine is based on impirical evidence of using eterna bond tape in a very harsh enviornment without failure. I have not been able to do that with any lap sealant. I don't think it takes rocket science to figure out which product holds up better. I am sticking with eternabond. It is a proven product. Show some scientific evidence instead of a jaded opinion.

@PoorMansInvesting

8 ай бұрын

I bet you get a lot of complaints of how bad the roof looks though 😅

@peacecourage5011

8 ай бұрын

Who ever looks at a caravan roof??? @@PoorMansInvesting

@HolidayRambling

7 ай бұрын

@@PoorMansInvestingWhat looks better, blobby uneven self leveling lap-sealant? Ive been researching how to get clean edges with self leveling sealant, scoured the internet, doesn’t seam to be a thing. If someone can show me a clean even job with Dicor type product vs Eternabond please do. Most of my seam tape was still intact almost 40 years later, about half its life when new in Florida and the rest mostly sitting here in New England.

Manufactures do not use it because it is expensive, many people post how great it last, some have had it on for 5 years and still looks new.

What would you recommend on the sides of a fiberglass trailer for UV protection? Are dealer installed protectants like Eco RV Pro worth the price tag? ($1500)

@nortonnewmann3711

Жыл бұрын

Remove ALL the oxidation and apply 2 coats of RejeX twice a year. Do that EVERY SEASON and the fiberglass gelcoat on your RV will outlive YOU!

It funny to me that Caulk is a finish material but Tape in this application is somehow just a patch. Caulking is patch (Not try to ruffle any feathers here)

@yourrvspecialists

Ай бұрын

No feathers ruffled over here. Thanks for adding to the conversation.

Did I hear 24 tubes of silicone caulking? Wow that's a few more tubes than I would use... And it's funny that you hear countless old timers saying their eternabond tape has been in place, trouble free, for 20,30+ years! I makes me wonder about the motives of the naysayers...

I think it depends on the roof and your needs. Eternabond is a more permanent 'fix' in that its not going to wear and leak like caulks and sealers for a long time but its going to be a bitch to take off. So folks that make money working on RV roofs won't get as much business and the business they get will be a hard job they may cuss the whole way through. So i get why anyone working in the field will say its a bad idea. I do think the roof also matters... if you have a 'modern' rubber RV roof your likely to have to change the roof before the eternabond tape and the tape will make that job harder. But if you have an RV with an aluminum / metal roof especially a vintage RV with decades of caulk and patchwork as previous owners have fought leaks... then eternabond tape is an ideal solution IMO as it seals up the seams and the solution will likely outlive your use of the RV if not you.

@bearbull88

Жыл бұрын

I agree but as far as having to replace the rubber roof it appears that there are coatings that may last nearly as long as the eternabond tape these days. Henry's 887 has a lifetime warranty.

What are your thoughts about SikiFlex sealants? Thanks for your on hands knowledge.

@yourrvspecialists

Жыл бұрын

I honestly haven't uses SikiFlex in years.

We sealed all seams with RV Roof Magic then applied Eternabond from front to back with one piece, then sealed Eternabond edges with more RV Roof Magic. A lot more protection than the RV manufacturers will ever do. Also cut out holes in Eternabond and put over running lights on front top of camper. I’m not a betting man, but I’ll bet this lasts 15 years.

@danlux4954

2 ай бұрын

What’s RV roof magic?

@jaccole

2 ай бұрын

@@danlux4954 Just Google it. They have their own website.

@jaccole

2 ай бұрын

@@danlux4954 Huh? Thought I responded to you. Google it, they have a website. Think they are in CT. Easy to use, no mixing.

@thefix2573

27 күн бұрын

@@danlux4954 Dicor Product, Acrylic coating, nothing special.

What products do you recommend for UV protection for the roof? Thanks for making great videos!

@yourrvspecialists

Жыл бұрын

Sorry for late response. Completely missed this, there is a bunch of different options available now a days. I typically like to use 303 on plastics, Thetford purchase protect all company and I like there roof cleaner and treatment. Camco, Dicor and Alpha all make good products for cleaning and treating as well. My combo would be 303 and protectall brand.

@williamsampler3474

Жыл бұрын

@@yourrvspecialists Thank you for replying - please forgive my newbie questions! So just to confirm, your recommendations are to use Eternabond tape if there is an emergency puncture or leak, but should be remediated as soon as possible using Dicor or some similar product? IOW - Eternabond is not recommended for a long-term sealant around fans, ducts, A/C's, etc. - Is that assumption correct? Thanks Again!

Okay, I get your point about just using a roof tape like Eternabond. My experience with the tape has been very good. Twelve years ago I put Eternabond over the factory sealed seams on my RV roof and it's holding up very well in the Texas sun. Perhaps its longevity is due to the roof on my RV is aluminum and not that rubber stuff.

What do you recommend for sealer on 1971 camper with unknown coatings And chem to clean before caulking

@yourrvspecialists

Жыл бұрын

Can you share some pictures of it?

Everyone has a right to their opinion. That is all this is. An opinion. I think the viewer should judge this opinion against those who have used Eternabond Tape and have used it for years. Many videos show the process of replacing roof attachments with this product. A little more time in prep work for the replacement seems to be well worth the effort considering the peace of mind. Respectfully.

What do you recommend using to reseal the roof??? I just bought a camper & I want to reseal it now just for peace of mind. What about Flex seal liquid rubber? I watched a video of a couple that used it & they seem pretty happy with the results in a 2yr later post hurricane video. I'm definitely clueless now. I've seen the Eternabond method as well, I'm definitely skeptical about it.

@yourrvspecialists

4 ай бұрын

Dicor, Hengs or Geocel

Interesting, i was planning on doing something with my roof soon. But one thing that sounds a bit contradictory, like the printer company, the maker of the RV want more work after the warranty goes out... Then if the tape works amazing, they would not want it, cause they want the job fixing the roof? Im not sure what i will use to fix my roof yet. But that's why i need to see these videos and make up my mind :)

Of course manufacturers would prefer that you spend the money to replace your entire roof. When cleaned prepped and dried properly my eternal bond has been on for 8 years

If you want to add some strength with a roof seal lay some product down, in-bed cloth material in the bed and cover over that with your roof coat material.

Like to see pictures of Eternabond failing.

What about putting this tape on the underside? Especially when repairs have been done and the underlayment wasn't out back as good as it was when new. It seems to be perfect the prevent water and critters from getting into the belly of the RV.

@yourrvspecialists

Жыл бұрын

Mark - I've never used Eternabond tape on the underbelly, but it doesn't make it wrong to use. I do prefer to use underbelly tape material. It's a permanent adhesive patch (like Eternabond), but it is black to match the underbelly material and a heck of a lot cheaper! I like to keep a small roll in my unit should I need to make any bandaid repairs while in transit. amzn.to/3Uxmsjv Thanks for the question!

@mwyandell

Жыл бұрын

@@yourrvspecialists Thanks. I actually used Flex Tape. It was priced ok and came in long rolls. I like the idea of keeping a roll on hand just in case. Thanks again.

@TJ-qz6hr

Жыл бұрын

I used Eternabond tape to enclose the fifth wheel pin box to keep birds out of it.

Manufacturers are all about fast and cheap. It is much faster to put down thick globs of "lap sealant" from a gun, even if the "lap sealant" is total garbage and fails after a few years. RV companies are all about speed and cost. It would take three times as long for an employee to roll down eternabond over every seal and it takes skill to avoid wrinkles. So there's no way they will use it. Lap sealant only protects the already sealed joint. The actual joints are sealed with caulk. If they did a proper job with the lap sealant and sprinkled white roof sand over it before it cured, they could form what is the same as an asphalt shingle on your home roof, that would last 20 years in the sun with the sand protecting the sealants from UV.

The man is just sharing his opinion and his wife acts like he’s on a tirade.. it’s all good, we get that you’re passionate about your expertise 😂

@yourrvspecialists

2 ай бұрын

Thanks John, she surprised me and hey lets do a video...

Why would the manufacturers want to provide long term solutions like an impervious UV resistant seam tape, when they can sell gallons of overpriced goop and also claim no warranty when they say you put the goop on wrong and or not often enough? It’s about some of the biggest consumer marketing rip off ever.

Brinkley uses it during the building of there fifth wheel Rv’s????

What do you use as a sealant on the roof ?

@yourrvspecialists

Жыл бұрын

We use sealant. If it's a TPO or EPDM roof, we utilize Dicor. If it's a fiberglass roof, we utilize Heng's NuFlex.

@bounderchris

Жыл бұрын

@@yourrvspecialistso you use dicor for even alpha Tpo roofs? I have an alpha roof and I bought alpha lap sealant but I don’t know what the previous owner used… I plan to reseal soon as it’s been a year or two but not sure about mixing (if he used dicor or something else) thanks! Also where are you guys located?! I am in Riverside

So why the manufacturer use the tape on slide out ?

@TJ-qz6hr

Ай бұрын

Because it works.

Im not a fan of Dicor, What are your recommendation for better quality sealants? I started using Sikaflex 715 and 505UV recently, chemically it (on paper anyway) seems far superior

@yourrvspecialists

Жыл бұрын

I appreciate the discussion, Scott. I do have to agree that the sealants on the current market aren't best. With the government controlling the amount of chemicals in sealant, they simply don't make sealant these days like they used to! But I would put Dicor rather than Eternabond tape any day! Eternabond is a great product for what it was used for - a strong patch. It has been quite a few years since I have tried a Sikaflex product, in the past I found them to be somewhat on par with Dicor but more expensive. I have a bottle of it in my cart now, and want to do some testing .... I appreciate the recommendation!

@schlz69

Жыл бұрын

@@yourrvspecialists I think Eternabond has a place, like when I relocated a few solar panels and needed to patch the bolt holes. The make up of Dicor being like 70% solvent makes it so it just continues to shrink and harden year after year. Sikaflex is around 30% solvent, so it wont shrink nearly as much, and tends to not crack for a very long time. The biggest drawback I have found is it stays tacky for a long time as well, so it will pick up dirt, but Personally, I will take its sealing performance and longevity any day over it picking up a little dirt.

@yourrvspecialists

Жыл бұрын

@@schlz69 Yes, there is situations where Eternabond is the answer! I appreciate the additional information on Sikaflex. I've got some ideas for a future video ..... thanks!

@grantmccabe8966

3 ай бұрын

​@@schlz69If you can get a roof contacter to pick you up some Mulco Super Expert caulking that's the best, I don't think you can buy it stores but the contracters can get it, it's good for 20 plus years.

If he's worried That the plastic is going to. breakdown? Why wouldn't you just use the eternal bond tape with the aluminum backing?

All manufacturers are not using it because 1. It's more expensive, 2. people would not need repairs so they would lose business. Eternabond is sun resistant AND It has a outdoor exposure life of.....THIRTY YEARS.

@yourrvspecialists

2 ай бұрын

It doesn’t have the same thermal properties at the sealant. If the manufacturer would inject some of the areas, secure molding better and use the right about of sealant they wouldn’t leak. But that’s my 25 plus years experience in this industry.

so besides using screws, what is the best way to hold down solar wires to the roof?

@nortonnewmann3711

Жыл бұрын

Small strips of Eternabond.

@empowereveryone7063

3 ай бұрын

You don't need or want something as strong as eternabond just to hold down electrical wires because you would have to do a lot of cutting to remove the eternabond and the wire would definitely be damaged. You could however just eternabond a piece of PVC pipe and just have the wires run through that

@grumpyshorts1056

3 ай бұрын

@@empowereveryone7063 I like that... thanks. Will use that going forward on a few other things to put on the roof!!!

Although I agree on some of your points, as far as the industry not using it is an easy answer, $$ cost $$. The RV industry is notorious at cutting corners to lower cost and rise profits, in an industry that gives quality control a passing glanc, using Eternabond is just too cost prohibitive.

Would it be okay to use the tape just hold down solar panel wires?

@TJ-qz6hr

Жыл бұрын

I do, in small pieces. If I remove the cables, I just cut the tape on each side of the cable and leave the rest of the tape on the roof, otherwise you’ll rip the roof up trying to get it off.

@gunrightsfan

Жыл бұрын

@@TJ-qz6hr That was going to be my plan. Thanks

@gunrightsfan

Жыл бұрын

@@TJ-qz6hr actually if u don't mind I want ask u a question. I am getting ready to put 6- 215w solar panels on the roof of my 5th wheel. After a month or 2 thinking about it I am not sure I want to use the Z mounts. Actually leaning towards Unistrut Channel. I would think aluminum strut would be strong enough to use. I am thinking laying out 3 foot lengths put butyl tape down first, screwing or lagging them down then dicor. That way if i want to change out panels easy to do no more drilling into the roof. Going back and forth on aluminum or galvanized unit strut. Aluminum cuts the weight down. Have you heard or know any bad experience with aluminum? Wood screws? Or small lags?

@yourrvspecialists

Жыл бұрын

Jim - Yes, we use Eternabond tape to hold down solar panel wires (and coax cables). The videos intent was just to warn against the craze of covering all seams with the tape. We had no idea we would ruffle so many feathers!

@gunrightsfan

Жыл бұрын

@@yourrvspecialists to be honest it's kinda a no brainer to use that tape around openings. I think it was said in the video if it was so great for around skylights and vent it would of cam from the factory that way.

Eternabond sure is a PITA to remove, as I found out on a skylight replacement and a roof vent replacement..

@yourrvspecialists

4 ай бұрын

It sure is. Thanks for sharing with us.

Your concerns are the same as mine when it comes to the weathering. However rv manufacturers most are not concerned with doing the best for the rig/Customer. They are more concerned with speed and cost. Eternabond is expensive. They would never increase the cost of the roof to this extent just to make the customer feel better because most customers won’t. Wondering weekend has a video of 4 year weathering and it looks great!

If you believe the adhesive and tape will fail, explain why builders use butyl tape to permanently seal windows to houses

@yourrvspecialists

9 ай бұрын

Houses are nothing like an RV. Houses are 12 x’s bigger than an RV. The walls are 5 x’s thicker than an RV. And houses aren’t constantly driven on the roads and subjected to road vibration.

@jjclarkson3261

9 ай бұрын

@yourrvspecialists HaHa. And if my Grandmother had wheels, she'd be a bike. None of those are factors of adhesion.

Same when you have a PVC roof, not rubber?

Asking why RV makers wouldn't do something if it was so good is a really silly statement. You can see terrible choices all over an RV that only make sense when you think about it from the perspective of "what way can we do this that is the easiest and cheapest, but still LOOKS good enough to sell"? By your own words and reasoning, it seems like the only disadvantage to eternabond is that its harder to get off. But it also lasts longer than Dicor. Dicor is easier to get off, but doesn't last as long as Eternabond. So it seems like an even trade off to me. It doesn't make one worse than the other. Any failure due to application is the fault of the installer, not the product. A dummy with dicor is going to have leaks too. Personally, I plan to eternabond the front rear and sides of the trailer and continue to dicor the accessories on top (since those are the ones that may need replacing. The one thing I do agree with you on is that RV manufacturers do a TERRIBLE job of informing their buyers of the maintenance. But then again, RV manufacturers do a terrible job of a lot of things.

@yourrvspecialists

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing, Mother Nature depending on where the unit is at also effects it differently. Same as soaps and cleaner and cleaning methods. Thanks for watching.

The mfr is going the cheapest route possible, they don't care about longevity.

Great video and great advice. What products do you recommend to clean dicor? Also was I correct in hearing you say that applying a 303 UV protectant will help dicor last longer or should I avoid that? Thanks again great video I know people may not agree but you make total sense. No tape for our TT. Great channel Glad I found you keep it up very interesting stuff well presented.

@yourrvspecialists

Жыл бұрын

Thanks so much, Mark! You can clean Dicor sealants with Acrysol [amzn.to/42mLI0L]. You can apply 303 UV Protectant to help keep your sealants last longer.

Would much rather try to get old caulk off than old eternabond tape. From a service point of veiw, cant stand the stuff, but from an emergency patch point of view, its great.

@yourrvspecialists

7 ай бұрын

Thanks for the comment. YES - eternabond tape is excellent as a patch for an emergency!

Your first comment is a remarkably dumb one; if it was so great then why wouldn't all RV manufacturers do it? RV manufacturers don't do a lot of things that would make the product better.

@Khaymen223

Жыл бұрын

Exactly 💯...! RV manufacturers use the cheapest and quickest stuff possible. Most of it garbage. Owners using high quality materials on aftermarket fixes are what make the rv last. Not the factory junk.

@oni_goroshi

2 ай бұрын

You mean like make frames that don't crack? Lol

Bad advice. This tape has been working great for me. IMO everyone should use it. It's really a no -brainer

why wouldn't RV manufacturers use tape... because they are cheap AF and just want to turn out campers as quick as possible. The sealant they use will surely outlast their 1 year "warranty." They could careless about YOUR water damage 5 years down the road.

Awesome advice, but U knew that already. Thx

@yourrvspecialists

Жыл бұрын

Thanks, Shaun!

You make sense 100%! I never thought of all factors of how all the sealants degrades overtime. Thanks for putting this content out there.

@yourrvspecialists

2 ай бұрын

Thank you, if it’s sealed thick enough from the start it would last a lot longer.

@bairfreedom

2 ай бұрын

He's wrong. Eternabond has a 30 year exposure life. He don't want people to use it because he's an RV repair guy. He would lose business.

The RV business is in year after year maintenance . They want repeat business.

Why don’t RV manufactures use Eterna Bond tape? My guess is that it’s more expensive. I know many RV folk who used it and swear by it.

They are not using the product because it is more expensive than lap sealant Every penny counts in manufacturing

why aren't the manufacturers using it? Because they know they wouldn't make money for bringing their shitty product back.. once you put the tape on you paint roof paint on

Thank you ❤

@yourrvspecialists

10 ай бұрын

You're welcome!

Installed properly I think eternabond is an excellent solution. Sealing down the edges of eternabond is critical for the reasons you mention. True this stuff is hard to get up but doesn't that means it sticks like crazy. RV makers don't use it because it takes too much time to do repairs. Sorry to disagree with you on eternabond. I think you are looking at it from a RV repair person point of view. I've been using it for 15 years and I have no issues with eternabond. My suggestion is for the good of your business you take down this video - it does not help your credibility.

@yourrvspecialists

9 ай бұрын

We'll just have to agree to disagree! Have a great day!

Because they need other people to replace or repair the roof, and also it will be sooner to purchase another RV.😁😁😁

You are giving terrible advice. Based on your comments, your only real complaint against it is that it's hard to remove when your shop has to do repairs to someone's roof. Umm.. OK... Price worth paying for piece of mind that you'll never have to reseal your roof again. I've had to replace my air vent before. Simply cut the Eternabond at the edge of the vent, then clean and retape over the residual old tape. This is literally an acceptable repair according to Eternabond. Saying don't do it because it makes your job harder is like saying automotive technology needs to go back in time to the 1920's because cars were a lot easier to work on back then. You mention you're ruffling a lot of feathers on social media. Did you stop to think maybe because you aren't giving good advice and maybe they all know something you don't?

@yourrvspecialists

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the comment, Chip. As mentioned on Facebook, we'll just agree to disagree.

its good in a last ditch effort in a emergency

If the manufacturers didn't cheap out in the 1st place none of this would be an issue. RV leaking is the stuff legends are made of. Eternabond is the best way to do a very long lasting repair that I probably will never have to touch again. So we will agree to disagree.

Stumbled across this as I was surfing reviews on RV butyl tape brands including Eternabond. Been using them for years on RV and many other applications that need a long term (longer than lap sealant) seal. To answer your concern on why dealers don't use it? The cost. More expensive and takes longer to apply. If your knowledge about other areas related to an RV are the same, you have lost any respect from me. Do a little research before you speak or better yet, try the product first?