Bump out liner wear = Soon to be a hole. Weird?

[upacreekk]

We bought a nice 2017 Bullet Premiere 19FBPR last year. It is well-maintained. However, on our first trip last summer, I noticed this weird bubble (wear spot) on the top, outer side of the bump out. My obvious concern is that the bubble will wear further and become a hole. Here are some pics:
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https://www.keystoneforums.com/forum...p?albumid=1391

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My repair guys want to cut the entire strip lengthwise and put in a new 6" wide piece. Anybody seen anything like this before? Fixit ideas?

[chuckster57]

If it’s a cable slide, that may be oil dripping from the gearbox. BAL has a pan you can install to fix that part, and I would leave it alone and watch it.

[upacreekk]

The bubble is about 1/2-inch in height and located in the middle on the top outer side of the bump out, about 6" from the edge. Are you saying that there is a cable running lengthwise ABOVE it, just inside the trailer frame?

[chuckster57]

Pic didn’t show up, link didn’t work. If your slide is cable driven, there will be a motor and gearbox mounted on the interior wall above the slide. When the slide is fully retracted, that bubble is where the drips would land.

[upacreekk]

Interesting. Thank you. Try this link to the 4th and final pic of the area:

https://www.keystoneforums.com/forum...pictureid=8211


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[jasin1]

Originally Posted by upacreekk

We bought a nice 2017 Bullet Premiere 19FBPR last year. It is well-maintained. However, on our first trip last summer, I noticed this weird bubble (wear spot) on the top, outer side of the bump out. My obvious concern is that the bubble will wear further and become a hole. Here are some pics:
.

https://www.keystoneforums.com/forum...p?albumid=1391

.

My repair guys want to cut the entire strip lengthwise and put in a new 6" wide piece. Anybody seen anything like this before? Fixit ideas?

It looks to me like somebody closed the slide with debris or leaves or maybe pine needles with sap on top….the bubble is where the debris was pushing against the slide seal and stretched the roofing material…the sun would soften the roofing material on a hot day.

If you look at the black line on the slide roof i’d imagine that’s where the slide seal hits…the close up picture of the bubble shows the line slightly curved like something bunched up there…wonder if sap breaks down a roofing membrane ?

[NH_Bulldog]

Based on my personal experience, that looks like a drip of oil from the slide motor gear box. The oil reacts with the rubber membrane causing it to bubble. I had a spot in that exact area from when the slide was in, and another spot on the inside edge from when the slide was out. The slide manufacturer was aware of the issue, and sent me a free drip pan to add to the gearbox mount. I then followed the Service Bulletin instructions to cut/patch the roof and it has been fine ever since (3-4 years).

[upacreekk]

It looks like Chuckster and NH Bulldog have figured it out. I will contact Keystone and see if they will give me a pan. Thanks guys!!!

[JRTJH]

There was a Keystone Service Bulletin (KSB191007) back in 2019 about this problem. The first page of the KSB indicates the manufacture date for affected trailers. Your trailer weight certification decal, located on the front roadside corner of your trailer has the manufacture date for your trailer. If it falls within that date range, it may be "an affected trailer" and you may have some leverage to get help (probably just a free drip pan and a set of instructions on how to repair the roof membrane).

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/20...69047-0001.pdf

Keep in mind that your trailer is 6 years old, the KSB may not even be currently an open item and this far out from manufacture, the "immediacy of the problem" has lost much of the potential for any priority service.

It won't hurt to at least ask, maybe you'll get some "no cost repair parts, maybe even more help.... Worth the time, IMO, to at least contact Keystone and ask. Depending on what they say, maybe contact NORCO and see if they'll help if Keystone says, NOPE.....

This NORCO information may no longer be current, but is a starting point:

Norco Industries Plate
3300 Reedy Drive
Elkhart, IN 46514-7665

Phone number is 574-262-3400

[upacreekk]

JRTJH, et al. -- I contacted Keystone. Even though my problem is exactly what you all have experienced, the initial contact said that it falls outside the Service Bulletin dates, because it was too early! However, the customer service person (who was very nice) suggested I send my information in and see if it could be taken care of by Keystone. I will keep you all updated on their decision.

[Kirk's Keystone Outback.]

Originally Posted by JRTJH

There was a Keystone Service Bulletin (KSB191007) back in 2019 about this problem. The first page of the KSB indicates the manufacture date for affected trailers. Your trailer weight certification decal, located on the front roadside corner of your trailer has the manufacture date for your trailer. If it falls within that date range, it may be "an affected trailer" and you may have some leverage to get help (probably just a free drip pan and a set of instructions on how to repair the roof membrane).

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/20...69047-0001.pdf

Keep in mind that your trailer is 6 years old, the KSB may not even be currently an open item and this far out from manufacture, the "immediacy of the problem" has lost much of the potential for any priority service.

It won't hurt to at least ask, maybe you'll get some "no cost repair parts, maybe even more help.... Worth the time, IMO, to at least contact Keystone and ask. Depending on what they say, maybe contact NORCO and see if they'll help if Keystone says, NOPE.....

This NORCO information may no longer be current, but is a starting point:

Norco Industries Plate
3300 Reedy Drive
Elkhart, IN 46514-7665

Phone number is 574-262-3400

I also have a spot on my slideout just like the pictures, and never knew what caused it, until now. I'm a pretty good DIY'er, is there a picture of the drip pan than can be fabricated?

[jasin1]

Originally Posted by upacreekk

JRTJH, et al. -- I contacted Keystone. Even though my problem is exactly what you all have experienced, the initial contact said that it falls outside the Service Bulletin dates, because it was too early! However, the customer service person (who was very nice) suggested I send my information in and see if it could be taken care of by Keystone. I will keep you all updated on their decision.

Originally Posted by Kirk's Keystone Outback.

I also have a spot on my slideout just like the pictures, and never knew what caused it, until now. I'm a pretty good DIY'er, is there a picture of the drip pan than can be fabricated?

here is a couple of places to get a drip tray…need to verify if it works for you

[NH_Bulldog]

For what it’s worth, I never bothered dealing with Keystone. Like any other issue I had, I went straight to the component manufacturer. In this case, NORCO and they sent me the drip tray at no cost, and even the Eternabond patch if I recall. I followed the instructions for the roof repair and it went smooth. I only patched the outer blister and didn’t mess with the inner one since it never passed the sweeper seals and was always on the inside

[Kirk's Keystone Outback.]

Originally Posted by jasin1

here is a couple of places to get a drip tray…need to verify if it works for you

Awesome.

Thank You!!!

[upacreekk]

I contacted Keystone directly and they said they will ship me a new pan. Can't wait!

[JeffJohnston]

Love this thread. We recently (Oct 2023) bought a 2017 Bullet 220RBI that has this exact same issue. I sent a note to Keystone to see what they have to say. If I have to buy the materials and drip pan, so be it (dirt cheap compared to a new roof on the slide). Without this thread, I'd ahve never known about the KSB article or how to contact Keystone. thanks again! I'll let you all know what I find out.

[upacreekk]

Keystone sent me the drip pan for free. Together with the service bulletin, I will have my trailer guy install it. Thanks to Keystone for their help in making this right.

[CedarCreekWoody]

Originally Posted by upacreekk

Keystone sent me the drip pan for free. Together with the service bulletin, I will have my trailer guy install it. Thanks to Keystone for their help in making this right.

I hadcthe same issue. The fix is simply cutting out the damaged area and applying the patch over it. No need to cut out a long strip.

[upacreekk]

CCW - That was the "fix" in the service bulletin. The addition of the drip pan will prevent it from happening again.

[markdol1]

I had a bubble too so i took a small needle and syringe from my wife/r.n. and squeezed a small amount of yellow 3m adhesive ,we call it gorilla snot and used a small roller on it to flatten it out and its been good to go. I would be nervous about opening a hole any bigger than needed.