|
|
04-19-2010, 10:16 AM
|
#1
|
Guest
|
Take a hair dryer on high speed, cool temp ( no heat) and blow it directly at the caulk at about a 45 degree angle to the roof. Watch the caulk carefully. If it is loose, it will flutter. When you probe it, if there is dirt under the caulk it is not sealed. Make sure if you remove it you go several inches into the properly sealed area on each end.
|
|
|
04-19-2010, 11:57 AM
|
#2
|
TrailManor Master
Join Date: Jan 2022
Location: San Diego, California
Posts: 2,851
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by rumbleweed
Take a hair dryer on high speed, cool temp ( no heat) and blow it directly at the caulk at about a 45 degree angle to the roof. Watch the caulk carefully. If it is loose, it will flutter. When you probe it, if there is dirt under the caulk it is not sealed. Make sure if you remove it you go several inches into the properly sealed area on each end.
|
I'd recommend replacing the caulking in the entire seem (at the very minimum), if you find any part of that seem to be loose. If one part of the seem is loose, that means one of 2 things, it either was not prepared properly (dirt or chemicals on either surface) or they used the incorrect sealer (or both). Either way, one must assume that the entire seem may be faulty. If it isn't loose now, it may soon will be. I say, "Do the job once and be done with it".
Judging by the reports that we have seen on the Elkmont, I would re-caulk the entire roof, if it were my trailer.....but that's just me. I wouldn't let the dealer do it either, unless I stood there and supervised the entire job, to be sure that it was done right.
I just thought of a 3rd factor that could be an issue. If the sealer is disturbed at a certain stage of the curing process, it could lose adhesion. Like moving the trailer...... My point is, if you re-caulk any portion of your roof, it's best to leave the trailer sit for the total recommended adhesion curing time of the sealer. That could be 1 hour or 24-hours on some sealers and 7-days on others. The total curing could take much longer but it is the "adhesion stage" that is important.. There are several different stages of curing and different sealers have different times. There is the "Skinning" stage, "Adhesion" stage, "workable" stage and finish stage on some sealants. It's important to read and follow the instruction on the sealant that you use. If it doesn't list the "Adhesion stage" I would call the manufacturer and ask.
__________________
TrailManor Elkmont
640W solar- 230AH LiFeP04 Battery
|
|
|
04-19-2010, 01:49 PM
|
#3
|
Guest
|
Cochise, there's a bunch of plastic stripping on the roof and sides. They use it cover seams and on the edges. In my case the caulk had pulled away from these plastic strips. It still held ok on the aluminum panels, but when I found a loose spot (sometimes with a gap up to 0.5 mm between the plastic and caulk), I could usually grab it and peel off a long strip of caulk. Think I pulled out 20-30 feet.
Not sure what's going on, but I do know some plastics have a mold release agent that has to be washed off before you can stick anything to it.
And yes, my main leak was along the edge, close to the door. There was a slight depression there that allowed the water to puddle on the roof and get up over the caulk and into the gap between the caulk and plastic.
To check my caulk, I wear a leather work glove and lightly rub the caulk. If it pulls away, then out it comes.
|
|
|
04-19-2010, 01:53 PM
|
#4
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 160
|
Is the ELKMONT really safe?
I have been playing with some numbers on the Elkmont and I finally went under the trailer to verify. The axle is DEXTER torflex with a Max cap of 3500 lbs. BUT the sticker on the trailer says the GAWR is 3619 lbs, which is not much above but still?? It does instill in my some fear that TM has no clue what they are doing. No chain is stronger than the weakest link, so even if the wheels can carry 3600lbs the axle is only rated at 3500 lbs. I don't know but something seems not to be quite right here.
|
|
|
04-19-2010, 02:53 PM
|
#5
|
Guest
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by cochise
The axle is DEXTER torflex with a Max cap of 3500 lbs. BUT the sticker on the trailer says the GAWR is 3619 lbs, which is not much above but still??
|
My '08 2720 Says A Max Gawr Of 3640 On It
|
|
|
04-19-2010, 04:26 PM
|
#6
|
TrailManor Master
Join Date: Jan 2022
Location: San Diego, California
Posts: 2,851
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by gocntry
My '08 2720 Says A Max Gawr Of 3640 On It
|
The weight rating that you get from Dexter is the weight bearing capacity of the axle (3500#). The 3640 includes the weight of the axle itself.
__________________
TrailManor Elkmont
640W solar- 230AH LiFeP04 Battery
|
|
|
04-19-2010, 05:44 PM
|
#7
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 160
|
Gawr
Ok.. I may sound stupid, but here is the definition I got:
"The GAWR is the maximum weight each axle is designed to carry safely. It includes the entire weight of the vehicle, occupants, cargo, trailer tongue weight and so forth, but now distributed between front and rear axles".
TM states that the Elkmont has a GAWR of 3619 lbs. The manufacturer states that the MAX capacity of the axle is 3500 lbs.
The GVWR is defined as: "It’s how much weight a vehicle is designed to carry. The GVWR includes the net weight of the vehicle, plus the weight of passengers, fuel, cargo and any additional accessories. The GVWR is a safety standard used to prevent overloading".
The GVWR is stated by TM as 4230 lbs, which I basically don't have a problem with.
My problem is: How can the stated GVWR be 119 lbs OVER what the axle manufacturer rates the axle at, which is MAX 3500 lbs?
|
|
|
08-13-2010, 06:55 PM
|
#8
|
TrailManor Master
Join Date: Jan 2022
Location: San Diego, California
Posts: 2,851
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by cochise
Ok.. I may sound stupid, but here is the definition I got:
"The GAWR is the maximum weight each axle is designed to carry safely. It includes the entire weight of the vehicle, occupants, cargo, trailer tongue weight and so forth, but now distributed between front and rear axles".
TM states that the Elkmont has a GAWR of 3619 lbs. The manufacturer states that the MAX capacity of the axle is 3500 lbs.
The GVWR is defined as: "It’s how much weight a vehicle is designed to carry. The GVWR includes the net weight of the vehicle, plus the weight of passengers, fuel, cargo and any additional accessories. The GVWR is a safety standard used to prevent overloading".
The GVWR is stated by TM as 4230 lbs, which I basically don't have a problem with.
My problem is: How can the stated GVWR be 119 lbs OVER what the axle manufacturer rates the axle at, which is MAX 3500 lbs?
|
As explained previously, the axle does not "Carry" the axle, tires & wheels.
Think of it this way........If a Joe can lift 200# of weight above his head. It is said, "Joe can lift 200#"........ That does not include Joe's weight.....We'll just call the axle, tires & wheels "Joe"....
__________________
TrailManor Elkmont
640W solar- 230AH LiFeP04 Battery
|
|
|
04-19-2010, 01:58 PM
|
#9
|
Guest
|
Apparently they can claim a higher GAWR because the wheel and tire weights really do not affect the axle weight rating. IOW the difference between 3500 and 3619 is the weight of the wheels and tires.
|
|
|
04-19-2010, 02:31 PM
|
#10
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 160
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by brulaz
Apparently they can claim a higher GAWR because the wheel and tire weights really do not affect the axle weight rating. IOW the difference between 3500 and 3619 is the weight of the wheels and tires.
|
Ok... that may be it. Dexter does indicate the following: GAWR- The value specified by the vehicle manufacturer as the load carrying capacity of the axles in a system, as measured at the tire-ground interface. This includes the wheels and tires.
But should that not be lower than the 3500 lbs max cap of the axle? They are quoting the GAWR - Gross Axle Weight Rating. So if the axle is rated at 3500 lbs how can the gross rating be higher?
|
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Threads |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|