Correct Tape For Underbelly

[Nankipoo]

I've done the search and still confused on which tape to get. My underbelly is the cardboard type. There are two kinds of tape. Just wanting to make sure I get the correct one to tape back up the spot I cut to fix the black water valve.

[wiredgeorge]

Originally Posted by Nankipoo

I've done the search and still confused on which tape to get. My underbelly is the cardboard type. There are two kinds of tape. Just wanting to make sure I get the correct one to tape back up the spot I cut to fix the black water valve.

Perhaps if you added a signature to your query by clicking the UserCP tab at the top of the page and put your year, make and model along with the same for your tow vehicle, these questions would have more context. Not sure Keystone ever used cardboard under a camper.

[jsb5717]

Most likely coroplast which looks like corrugated cardboard. I've used 4" wide Gorilla Tape with good success.

[chuckster57]

The product used by the factory is called “scrim tape”.

[ChuckS]

Originally Posted by chuckster57

The product used by the factory is called “scrim tape”.

I know you work on RVs daily... would you say the scrim tape is the better choice over the gorilla tape? I’m not real impressed with gorilla tape for anything... doesn’t stick as well as plain old duct tape ....

And what surface prep do you recommend to use on the colorplast prior to applying the scrim tape? I was thinking alcohol would be best to clean surface prior to applying scrim tape ??

[sourdough]

Chuck I know your post was to Chuckster but here is a link to scrim tape;

https://www.amazon.com/Surface-Shiel...a-569451568248

I've used the above with good success. Cleaned with a alcohol soaked cloth, let it dry, apply the tape and lightly run over it with a hair dryer to heat it up and help it bond - good stuff.

[ChuckS]

Thanks for the tips on the heat.. that should help bond it nicely..... ordered some today from your link... thanks

[chuckster57]

I’ve worked on RVs that have had scrim tape over 10 years old. Yeah it’s the shizznizzle

[Nankipoo]

Originally Posted by wiredgeorge

Perhaps if you added a signature to your query by clicking the UserCP tab at the top of the page and put your year, make and model along with the same for your tow vehicle, these questions would have more context. Not sure Keystone ever used cardboard under a camper.

I thought I had done that don't know why it's not showing up. Keystone Laredo 329RE.

Thanks for the other replies. Going to look at that link.

[KRumm]

https://www.amazon.com/Gorilla-Tape-...e%2C266&sr=8-4

[Bill-2020]

Originally Posted by sourdough

Chuck I know your post was to Chuckster but here is a link to scrim tape;

https://www.amazon.com/Surface-Shiel...a-569451568248

I've used the above with good success. Cleaned with a alcohol soaked cloth, let it dry, apply the tape and lightly run over it with a hair dryer to heat it up and help it bond - good stuff.

I used Gorilla after a good wipe down with 99% IPA. Didn't think about the hair dryer... good idea. Just looked at the link, Danny. Sounds like that stuff would fix the darco issues under slides we hear about so much. Just cover it all with this and be done? haha... probably not that simple but with the statement on Amazon's site of "permanent" it made me think for a moment of the possibilities... Uh oh... there goes the brain again, thinking!

[sourdough]

Originally Posted by Bill-2020

I used Gorilla after a good wipe down with 99% IPA. Didn't think about the hair dryer... good idea. Just looked at the link, Danny. Sounds like that stuff would fix the darco issues under slides we hear about so much. Just cover it all with this and be done? haha... probably not that simple but with the statement on Amazon's site of "permanent" it made me think for a moment of the possibilities... Uh oh... there goes the brain again, thinking!

It IS really good stuff but.....the darco, or the scrim tape if over it, then slides over the wear bar. For some reason on my last trailer the factory installed a 4" (6?) strip of scrim tape from the outside of the slide to the inside right down the middle of the slide..never saw it until it rolled up under the slide and caused it to bind. Finally got it all off and there wasn't a seam to be found anywhere....they just ran a strip across the bottom. All that to say that I'm not sure the wear bar will play nice with just a strip of tape or edges that might secrete a little adhesive when it got 100+.

[DWBinRI]

I used flex seal on mine. Make sure its aligned where you want it no second chance to correct.

[sonofcy]

Originally Posted by Nankipoo

I've done the search and still confused on which tape to get. My underbelly is the cardboard type. There are two kinds of tape. Just wanting to make sure I get the correct one to tape back up the spot I cut to fix the black water valve.

This is it. Note URL is for Canada, change it to .com for USA

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[Nankipoo]

I ordered this from Amazon and installed it yesterday. Appears to be better than the flex seal or the gorilla tape I used. Time will tell. Wow that pic blurry.

[sonofcy]

That's what the factory and dealers use.

[Mikelff]

I used some 3m 6” tape very similar to the gorilla tape from HD. It says it is permanent an you better believe it. Tried to get a small piece back off. Not happening. I pre cut my pieces and laid mine in the Texas sun for a couple minutes. It was HOT when I applied it., Lol

[rlh1957]

Originally Posted by Nankipoo

I've done the search and still confused on which tape to get. My underbelly is the cardboard type. There are two kinds of tape. Just wanting to make sure I get the correct one to tape back up the spot I cut to fix the black water valve.

2” or 3” “Gorilla” Tape not Duck or Duct Tape.
I use the black Gorilla Tape.

[JRTJH]

SCRIM tape, https://www.amazon.com/Mobile-Flex-P...3461861&sr=8-8 is the correct tape to use under the slide. It's much thinner than Gorilla Tape, has a completely different adhesive, won't "leach glue" to the surface or the edges (like other tapes) and prevents the "gummy residue" that fouls the slide function.

In my way of thinking about it, we all "complain about HF tools being so cheap" and then "slap anything that sticks" on the bottom of our slides, as long as it "works"....

I'm not preaching (at least that's not my intention) but using Gorilla Tape, Flex Seal tape or EternaBond tape on the bottom of a slide, especially a cable operated slide, could very likely lead to having to remove that slide, replace the bottom DARCO and the wear bar, some of which are no longer available.

SCRIM tape sticks best when the adhesive is warm, so applying it to any surface when the ambient temperature is less than about 70F will not produce a good result. If you have to apply it in cooler temperatures, use a hair dryer (set on low) to warm the tape after it's in place, then use a paint roller to apply even pressure over the surface while the tape is warm, that will complete the application.

If your DARCO is damaged beyond what a 4" or 6" strip of SCRIM tape will repair, you can replace the entire fabric (not the best way to do it) by removing the entire section of fabric and replacing it, using a quality spray contact adhesive to adhere it to the slide subfloor. The fabric is sold in 4'x14' sections for about $15. https://www.amazon.com/Mobile-Flex-B...MH52JJZDNET2X1

[PDMarlowe]

I used this tape for repairs this summer.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I actually had to replace some tape that was coming off that my dealer had installed when they did some work.

I cleaned the underside as well as I could with a car wash wand then wiped the specific areas with denatured alcohol before applying the tape. I smoothed it with as much pressure as I could apply without deforming the coroplast and none of it has come loose since.

To be frank, I honestly believe all of the tapes mentioned by all of the posters will work if the surface is properly cleaned and the tape is "wetted out." Cleanliness is the biggest factor in any adhesive working as designed.