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5. EXTRUSIONS AND VENTS
All components installed on the exterior of your coach have some
type of “putty tape” placed between the mounting flange or surface to
guard against water entry and leakage.
Additional sealant, referred to as “cap seal” is used to protect along
the edges of extrusions or be a secondary surface sealant. All of these
sealants are subject to weather elements such as UV rays from the sun,
rain, snow, cold, heat, air pollution, frost and other exposures causing
dry-out, shrinkage and possible cracking.
Cap seal must be examined each year, preferably each spring and
fall, for looseness, cracking, and separation from any attached surface.
If upon inspection you find the above conditions, repairs must be made.
These conditions will permit water to enter slowly and eventually cause
major damage to your RV.
Corner and roof extrusions have putty tape sealant between the
components. This material can and will also dry and/or crack from
weather elements, permitting leakage and eventually major deterioration.
Open Range RV Company advises the owner to remove these extrusions,
clean out old putty tape, and replace with new sealant material every five
years.
Windows, entrance doors, and cargo doors use a black closed cell
foam tape, for sealant needs, plus an inside butyl tape. These sealants
may also deteriorate over time, loose its memory, shrink with weather
conditions, etc., over a period of five years.
All sealants must be maintained to prevent failure plus leakage
damage. For best results, sealant requirements are:
1. Resistant to checking
2. Resistant to shrinking
3. Dry’s rapidly
4. Adhere to metal and fiberglass
5. Expand and contract with temperature changes
6. Color should match
Suggest Sealants:
Dicor = #502LSW-25
Quad = pro series
6. VINYL TIRE COVERS (OPTIONAL)
To clean vinyl tire covers use the same soap and water as used for
washing your coach. Sun rays may cause “bleed through” on the cover
from the black rubber in the tire. To minimize this condition use a separator
such as a garbage bag, thin vinyl, etc. between the tire and cover.