RV Roofing Material

Today with the exception of some Class A motorhomes most RVs, travel trailer's and fifth wheel's roofs are made of rubber (EPDM) or Thermo Plastic Roofing (TPO), because they are lightweight and flexible. However some motorhome roofs are covered with fiberglass or aluminum because they do provide a hard and less impermeable surface.

In either case all of these products provide RVs with a sleek looking surface. That said, the challenge with rubber and TPO roofs is that they are more susceptible to damage from overhead objects like branches; whereas fiberglass and aluminum roofs are more likely to suffer from stress cracks and pitting from oxidation.

Here are a few tips for those of you with fiberglass roofs on your camping trailers. Whether you have an RV, a travel trailer, or a fifth wheel, fibreglass roofs are long lasting and durable. Leaks are usually found where roof sections join and around the vents and other accessories. The majority of fiberglass roofs are a cap that extends over the edge of your RV s roof supports and are not built to be walked upon and to if you do walk on them there is a very high chance of causing severe cracking. If you come across an area on your RV trailer that requires repair and you are not completely sure how to apply and do large fiberglass repairs it's best to leave it to a professional.

Rubber (EPDM) or Thermo Plastic Roofing (TPO) roofs are designed to provide your camping trailer with a watertight seal, capable of withstanding severe weather conditions and lasting for years on end. A real advantage of rubber roofs is that the construction process allows for people to walk on them. Unlike fibreglass and metal roofs, rubber (EPDM) and Thermo Plastic Roofing (TPO) roofs required occasional preventive maintenance to prevent flaking or streaking. To clean your fifth wheel, toy hauler, travel trailer or RV roof simply rinse off the roof, then mix spic-n-span or a similar mild detergent in a bucket of water and using a stiff brush, scrub the roof of any attached debris. When you are finished scrubbing rinse the roof with plenty of water. If you find any holes, tears or separations in the roof material contact the Sunridge RV parts department and I'm sure they would only be to happy to assist you with your repairs or provide you with the best possible repair product available for your RV.

NOTE - RV rubber roofs are very slippery when wet - please use caution and care when cleaning!

The bottom line is that all RV roofs, left unattended will eventually leak, just like a house!

So from our friendly staff at Sunridge RV where it all happens under the bright yellow roof next to highway #2 in Airdrie north of Calgary, we wish you star lit trails and sunny paths as you make tracks down the road to RV camping happiness.