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Caulk/sealant for RV vent

caseyr | Posted in Construction Techniques on October 24, 2008 03:15am

Well, not even Fine RVing much less Fine Homebuilding, but I need to replace the crank up vent in the ceiling of my old RV. I may want to replace the vent with an a/c unit in the future, so while I don’t want the vent to leak, I don’t want to make it too difficult to remove at some point. The vent is a standard 14″x14″ crank up vent with a sheet metal flange about 1 1/2″ that is secured to the metal RV roof with screws. The existing sealant appears to be some type of rubberized material that formed a layer about 1/8″ thick and never leaked but peeled off from the painted metal flange fairly easily.

I have tubes of clear silicon caulk as well as the siliconized acrylic caulk but I am wondering if these will adhere more tightly than I might want.

(Oh, and the RV is an old Toyota based Dolphin that is pretty gutless 4 banger which gets about 17+ mpg – but which almost comes to a standstill when trying to drive into the Columbia Gorge winds…)

Thanks, Casey

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  1. User avater
    Sphere | Oct 24, 2008 03:17am | #1

    For temp. use plumbers putty. Or, I have seen a caulk tape ( on a roll, with paper release) that is similar to OEM.

    Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

    Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations

     

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  2. LIVEONSAWDUST | Oct 24, 2008 04:41am | #2

    Check an RV service store. they will have a self leveling sealant in both a standard caulk tube or a brush on type. This is even more important if the RV has the white rubber roofing as some caulks might be incompatable.

  3. ponytl | Oct 24, 2008 05:35am | #3

    Vulkem.... thats all you need to know...     just clean the surface area well... when time to remove you'll need a razor  or a wire to cut it loose... main thing is for it not to leak now...  or you'll have bigger issues than try'n to get it off later... 

    i'm not real sure you want to add 200lbs to the roof of your RV anyway... that puppy is already top heavy ad'n 200lbs to the highest point could add a 1000lbs of load to your tires in a turn....

    i get 12mpg in my 35ft rv... and only 11mpg in my pickup... never could understand that...

    p

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