Scargo
Va. Bch., Va.
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A friend of mine has a 2004 Coleman Bayside with what I believe is refered to as an, Alumi Tite Krystal Kote Composite Roof. This is not the same as the ABS roof which I have on a 2000 model Niagara.
He is experiencing a deterioration of the roof surface in all areas of the roof. The roof surface is showing signs of blistering, swelling and in some cases, the roof finish appears to be popping off. In some cases it has started to allow water into the interior of the camper.
We'd like to know if this problem has been identified or previously discussed here, and if it has, what are some of the recommended repairs that have been successfully carried out to rectify the problem.
Prior to posting this question, I tried doing a search on he subject but I was unable to bring anything up.
Thank you in advance for any assistance you can offer.
hc
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Guest
USA
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Huh? How does Aluminum blister?
The "Alumitite" roof is textured and painted aluminum with standing seams concealed beneath the roof rack tracks.
I can't picture what is happening to his, unless it is maybe 2 unrelated problems: 1. Peeling paint on the aluminum and 2. Leaking seams under the tracks letting water in.
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Scargo
Va. Bch., Va.
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Hear me out on this one.
I've been toying with the idea of having a body shop guy lay up some fiberglass over the entire roof as a way of combating the leak issues assoiated with this roof. Another option I've been considering is the installation of a fully adhered white single ply membrane roofing material. Any thoughts on either of these two options?
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Mark Baroni
South Carolina
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I have a 2003 Niagara with a Alumitite Krystal Kote Composite Roof. I just discovered the same problem when I noticed some blistering on the interior ceiling a few years ago. I didn't think too much about this problem as I thought that it was just cosmetic. This past Labor Day as I set up the camper, the hook that holds the tent support in place pulled out of the ceiling. I peeled back the ceiling vinyl and found black mold and delaminated plywood over 75% of the ceiling. In addition, the exterior aluminum sheeting is deteriorating from the inside out. I found several holes, coated in white powder where the aluminum has deteriorated. I am the original owner and have a limited lifetime warranty which I will inquire about this week.
Scargo wrote:A friend of mine has a 2004 Coleman Bayside with what I believe is refered to as an, Alumi Tite Krystal Kote Composite Roof. This is not the same as the ABS roof which I have on a 2000 model Niagara.
He is experiencing a deterioration of the roof surface in all areas of the roof. The roof surface is showing signs of blistering, swelling and in some cases, the roof finish appears to be popping off. In some cases it has started to allow water into the interior of the camper.
We'd like to know if this problem has been identified or previously discussed here, and if it has, what are some of the recommended repairs that have been successfully carried out to rectify the problem.
Prior to posting this question, I tried doing a search on he subject but I was unable to bring anything up.
Thank you in advance for any assistance you can offer.
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p220sigman
Tallahassee, FL, USA
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Joined: 09/16/2004
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Scargo wrote:Hear me out on this one.
I've been toying with the idea of having a body shop guy lay up some fiberglass over the entire roof as a way of combating the leak issues assoiated with this roof. Another option I've been considering is the installation of a fully adhered white single ply membrane roofing material. Any thoughts on either of these two options?
I don't know how well the membrane material would hold up as I have no experience with it. You would have to be careful of the weight with either option. The fiberglass has the potentional of being very heavy depending on how thick it is layed on.
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mobeewan
Hampton, Va
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Joined: 01/03/2007
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I have been thinking about using the same rubber roof material that is used on TT's layed over the original aluminum skin. I have several pin hole corrosion spots accross the front end cap of the roof that I have patched with C-10 RV caulking.
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Beacher
Long Beach, CA
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The issue with the aluminum Krystal Kote panels disintegrating from the inside out is due to electrolysis damage.
Where a weak point, (a small unpainted and exposed surface) exists in an aluminum panel that has any fasteners of a dissimilar metal, a galvanic reaction occurs. Unfortunately, aluminum is the lowest metal of the "galvanic series", and will corrode before any other metal.
I had the side panels of my 2004 GTE Niagara's slide out replaced under warranty back in 2005 due to the aluminum disintegrating, (due to the steel staples used to hold the plastic friction panel).
The Alumitite roof has steel screws holding on the Yakima rails which will eventually cause the galvanic reaction to occur at any weak spots in the Aluminum, (microscopic spots of bare unpainted metal). The original steel screws should be replaced with sealant/adhesive and aluminum rivets to attach the Yakima rails in order to minimize further electrolysis damage.
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mike4947
N. Syracuse, NY
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First to Mark. Sorry, but you are out of luck considering a warranty. The company has been closed and sold off so there is no warranty for anything, anymore.
As to the main issue, 2003.5-early 2004's had a major problem with roof leaks. Fleetwood/Coleman in their infinite wisdom decided that the wrap seams used to make a three piece roof did not need any sealant to prevent moisture incursion.
The ends,screw locations, and the wrapped seam leaked like sieves on these models. Some folks were lucky enough to catch it before any major structural damage was done.
The cure was to dry the roof out. (takes some time for all the moisture to migrate out) then bed the roof rails and ends in sealant.
As for recovering the roof you need to figure the weight of the covering. Remember the weight limit for the roof is 300 pounds CLOSED and only 150 pounds OPEN.
You need to subtract from that anything attached to the roof such as an air conditioner (90-100 pounds), awning (25-40 pounds), and roof racks as well. Solar panels also need to be deduced from the 150 pounds open weight limit.
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opnspaces
San Diego Ca
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Joined: 12/22/2004
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Maybe you could have the roof Rhino lined like they do for truck beds. Or there are a few do it yourself applications that you might be able to use.
If in fact it is because of steel on aluminum electrolysis, you are either going to have to find and replace all the steel that touches aluminum, or research ways to find something that you can add to the system that would act as a sacrificial anode.
I did a quick google search and it looks like the price to rhino line a truck bed is about 3-400 dollars. So I would think it would be about the same for the trailer roof.
* This post was
edited 10/19/11 06:34pm by opnspaces *
1996 Suburban 4x4. 350, 4.10 3/4 ton
2005 Jayco Jay Flight 27BH
1986 Coleman Columbia Popup.
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jhtyndall
atlanta
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I have a 2003.5 coleman cheyenne with the alumitite roof. The weird thing is a rather sizable bubble appeared aft of the air conditioner with cracking and what looks like rust? Im considering borrowing my fiberglass experience from boat building in plywood to cut out the bubble and layer fiberglass and epoxy in place. What I don't know is what the material is under the aluminum. Any body know what the roof layers are made of?
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