Front Radius Filon Dents/Wrinkles?

[Dave B]

Originally Posted by Brown Lantern

It's hard to diagnose a picture and I'm definitely not a RV tech but if it were me that seam would either be completely covered with Dicor or Eternabond.



Dave B, could you share a link to that video?

Here you go:
https://youtu.be/pnH-z0Pp3eI

And another one:
https://youtu.be/kubkNPacNVk


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[Brown Lantern]

Thank you sir!

[Tbos]

I brought the TT home tonight and looked at the front edge of the Dicor very closely. I found an area where if I pushed on the Filon the Dicor didn't go with it. That Dicor has been replaced and I have once again confirmed I have no skills when it comes to working with a caulking gun. It looks like crap but hopefully it is sealed and there won't be any additional issues.


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[chuckster57]

Self leveling Dicor is very forgiving, I bet it will look "professional" in a day.

[Brown Lantern]

The videos Dave B posted were eyeopeners because it shows the leak doesn't need to be at the top to cause a problem. If you think about it, moisture anywhere under the Filon could get heated in the Sun and rise to the top causing delamination or warping. The real problem is a poorly designed product.

[sourdough]

Just wanted to add some comments to this thread.

I came back to our home here in NM from CO today. It is the holiday weekend and lots of folks were hitting the road. This thread was on my mind.

I lost count of the trailers coming at me that had the dented front cap JUST like Tbos posted. ALL of them looked about the same except one Bullet that looked like the finish on the front had melted

There was one common factor; all of them had the same shape of front end as Tbos. Flat front left to right, roll over the top then attach to the roof. ALL of them were that design. All kinds of brands. To me it appears it has something to do with that particular design and the material used for the front. None of the trailers that had flat fronts that attached to the roof at the front edge had issues. None of the trailers that had the sort of "formed" front cap had the issue either.

I know this doesn't help in determining what causes it, or how to fix it, but from what I say I can pretty much say it is the particular design - where to take it from there I don't really know.

[Tbos]

Sourdough, I think you are right. I've seen a few more of them recently too. I think it's that sharp bend at the top that creates an area prone to wrinkles after a few years. FWIW I've also seen some much older rigs with the same construction and they don't have the issue, others do.


2016 Passport GT 2810BHS, 2016 F350 CC DRW

[slow]

I will need to drive by and get a picture and post it if it was what I thought.

A few days ago, I caught a glimpse of what looked like an older keystone TT that had the top radius at the front of the roof covered with aluminum diamond plate. It also looked like the top corners on the side walls near the radius were also covered with diamond plate.

If it is what I think I saw, it would be a more straight forward and cheaper fix than replacing the entire front wall.

[Dave B]

Originally Posted by slow

I will need to drive by and get a picture and post it if it was what I thought.

A few days ago, I caught a glimpse of what looked like an older keystone TT that had the top radius at the front of the roof covered with aluminum diamond plate. It also looked like the top corners on the side walls near the radius were also covered with diamond plate.

If it is what I think I saw, it would be a more straight forward and cheaper fix than replacing the entire front wall.

That's not a bad idea, but if after you start the tear down and find it did have water intrusion/damage, you'll be forced to remove most if not all the front filon. If it's a do it yourself project and you're not in a huge hurry then it would work well. Tear it off to see the extent of the repair, and then order your replacement skin. I may go that route.


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[sourdough]

Originally Posted by Dave B

That's not a bad idea, but if after you start the tear down and find it did have water intrusion/damage, you'll be forced to remove most if not all the front filon. If it's a do it yourself project and you're not in a huge hurry then it would work well. Tear it off to see the extent of the repair, and then order your replacement skin. I may go that route.


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I may be in left field but after the number of trailers I saw with the exact same issue and the exact same construction I have to think it's in the design/construction material. I think it probably has more to do with the heat/expansion/contraction mentioned earlier in the thread and the way the material is rolled over the top. Again, I could be wrong but there were WAY too many of them with the same issue to be a coincidence IMO. I hope there's an easy fix.

[ERLEC]

Originally Posted by Tbos

3 weeks ago we put our 2016 Passport 2810 in the Storage lot. I left the vents partially open and all cabinet doors are open inside. The TT had no dents or wrinkles in the filon front cap when I parked it. We have had a lot of rain off and on including thunder storms. There is no sign of water intrusion. Prior to storing it the Dicor along the top front seam was good. I will inspect it again. I looked at old posts but there doesn't seem to be any resolution. Does anyone have anyone have any ideas?Attachment 13729Attachment 13730Attachment 13731


2016 Passport GT 2810BHS, 2016 F350 CC DRW

Tom, were you able to fix your issue? I have the exact same problem on my 2013 Passport 2300BH. Front cap wrinkles... But also saw wall panel over the bed is damp. I removed it completetly and now need to redo the interior wall. The insulation was all damp.