Caulking around ladder

[jsmith948]

Just a heads up regarding the ladder attachment points. Noticed that the caulking (putty?) under the fittings that attach to the back of the 5er had become brittle/dry looking. I thought that the factory used butyl tape or caulk but this material crumbles too easily. I think it might be clay caulking.
Removed the screws (careful not to disturb the attachment at the roof) and replaced the putty with butyl tape. The old caulking was cracked and may have leaked (if it ever rains again)

[JRTJH]

I've seen a lot of the "old stuff" that is dry and cracked. Until a few years ago, almost all the "putty tape" was the clay type. Butyl tape has only been available for the past 5 or 6 years (at RV stores). The manufacturers, being concerned with cost, still use the clay putty tape ($1.50 a roll) where they can as opposed to using Butyl tape ($6.50 a roll). They have been using more and more butyl as the years progress, but on things that don't move and don't get a lot of stress, they still tend to go with the clay stuff.

Unfortunately, it seems to last "past the warranty" so the manufacturers are "satisfied".... Us, however.......