RV Membrane Roof Replacement: Prepping the Roof 

James, I have watched a great many of your videos. As a 20-year mechanic it is truly a joy to watch someone with your integrity and attention to quality work. Keep up the great videos..

I’m convinced RV companies don’t give a crap about making a durable roof.

You do amazing work. Hard to find a technician with so much dedication to quality and work ethic. Traits I consider to have myself but I am not a wood craftsman.

The best one-handed technician I've seen.

You are; Expert. Talented. Intuitive. There are NO half measures in your work. The customers you have are very fortunate to have you doing the repairs. I put you in the top 5% of service technicians.

It's cool to see an older camper getting taken care of. It's also sad that I considered 2007 to be an old camper.

James is one of those people on my list to have with me after an apocalypse, he would be handy to have around to fix stuff

2007 30ft Sunny brook. Bought it 2 years ago. Roof was white and black. Some rot. We replaced the rot, added an extra truss under where the ladder goes into the deck. Upgraded from R-7 to R-13. We also replaced all the decking. We used 3/4" marine plywood. We plan on keeping this for a while. We are waiting for a sunny day to put the membrane on. Been almost nonstop rain in New England.

Love the roof videos. Always a nightmare for you, but somehow they always come out great. I like how you tell the manufacturers their designs are not very good without really saying it. 😅

James I really enjoy your vids, I’ve been a diyer forever the only thing I’m weak in is electrical. I build my own engines in my cars, trucks and motorcycles as well as boats. Your videos give me another avenue for learning. My wife had an adult daughter and her boyfriend who live right there where you are. I really am looking forward to coming up your way and hopefully I will get a chance to meet you. Take care.

I wish you had spent a bit more time stressing to your viewers that the temps during the recording of this video were in excess of 110F every single day for the last 30 days. You did a great job, as usual. Thanks for sharing your work!

Every time I think I have a question you always answer it a few seconds later!

I love the extra steps you take to make every job correct. Thanks for you videos.

That hole saw trick to create a patch panel, makes so much sense! I feel stupid that I didn't think of doing it that way before!!

I like the attention to detail like grinding the edges and installing the duct tape to protect the roofing material. I agree with you on the front cap arrangement. great editing too!!!!

👍 Wheww brother, I used to live in Mesa and worked in Fountain Hills and those summers could be brutal, I can imagine how it must have felt this past month, no thanks. This is the first time here in Los Cabos I've had to use my AC all night for over a week in a row in 26 years. Really enjoy the videos.

Great attention to detail. Your integrity is second to none. Thanks Don

So awesome to see your channel grow. Great, helpful info. Truly appreciated. Happy travels 🍻✌

Love to watch how you take an old, damaged roof and make it new again. Can you provide content on your opinion on Armor Flex on roof?

The manufactures could learn a lot from James the man does not half ass stuff he does it right thank you sir for the great videos 👍👍

Great work! I feel like a drive from FL would be worth having you do the repairs in the event I ever need a roof. Thank you for the videos, I'm sure it slows your progress.

Just as strong as Eterna-bond....ha ha.....Finally a budget roof job. That's what I do. Good one James

Great video. Although I don’t think I’d ever attempt this myself, your workmanship and detailed video is extremely helpful. Thank you

Here is James: "We are going to deconstruct the old roof, troubleshoot all of the contributing problems, fix them, then we are going to replace the old roof with a brand-new roof" "...all with one hand tied behind my back" (Well, holding a camera, but pretty much the same thing) 😂😂😂

James ... I always like your videos. Informative and your work is excellent!

Good repair ,the owners minds will be put at ease knowing the roof is all good.

Love the explanation of your process. I am currently redoing the roof of a 2012 ORV (also a Ron Nash product). They used OSB and I was just going to overlay. Now I am going to replace.

Hey James, no caulking under the metal front & back to help ensure no water can flow :)

I though I came up with the way you did those hole saw patches, I did that exact same thing with drywall years ago. Oh well. Thanks for your video.

Love ur videos! I’m rebuilding an older class 3 and your my main teacher. Once I get the deck done I want to go back with a single sheet of aluminum instead of rubber membrane. Any thoughts?

prep w/ patience and success will follow, great video ! thank you

11:50 Ours came with flashing over the edging. We went and bought some and mounted it. We also taped over all the edges to make sure.

This looks like a really good recipe for a good restart 😊thanks for sharing 💸

This video could not have come at a better time for me! Sent you an email with some inquiries! Thanks for creating this channel!

Great contents. More videos like this please. Give me an idea how much work it would be to work on an RV roof lol.

Would be nice if RV builders would use Marine Grade plywood. Good video

“Just as strong as Eternabond…” you’re really asking for comments with that line! :)

Or, just do an aluminum wrap like Airstream. Great work, if I need a repair I'd go to AZ for a fix!

Thank you sir for the information. I would worry about the comments on how you do your job, just do a good job and teach us as you go along. I need to replace my roof but the cost is prohibited in my area. More then the 5th wheel is worth, lol. I will try this my self but as all my building projects I try to make it perfect or last a very long time... So I am thankful for the information you provide. I was pondering replacing the sheathing with plywood vs the osb used. I am thinking it would last longer and "if" it did get wet dries out and does not immediately go into rot like osb (vertical mulch) seems to. I also would like to use or profile the edges more round radius vs. The squared off currently, maybe use this sheet metal or aluminum. I want maybe eliminate the skylight since the fail so often and the sun seems to beat down through there anyway, maybe install a light there? Is there not a better product to install then tpo/rubber roof that will be more durable in the harsh environment and maybe less maintenance? Metal/aluminum/ azdell/ pvc...? Thank you and maybe some viewers have tried something different.

As a recent retiree my concept was to purchase an RV trailer and pickup truck and we'd travel care-free to see the country. but the more I learn the more I realize that a carefree turn-key drive-camp-sleep trailer life isn't so simple. (thank God for RU-vid!) Serious question: is it possible to get an RV trailer than will not require unexpected repairs and constant attention to maintenance? is there a care-free RV trailer? Is there a make / model that would allow this?

Yikes. Way to go James. Happy trails!

You are the MAN! 😁👍👍🇺🇲

You do amazing work! Wish you lived near me...I'd hire you in a second. You're one of those Jack of All Trades I can tell. :) Your videos are extremely informative and great to watch. Thank you!

Excellent video, thanks for making!

Any videos or suggestions for delaminating sidewalls on a 2009 30' Southwind ??

love your videos and have learned a lot. I likethat you pay attention to quality while still realizing we all have budgets. one thing I would offer idms I have had great sucess using car bondo/ body filler as a wood filler. Such as around the round plugs you used. Please dont see this as criticism, but rather wanting to support you and share some of my experience.

Thank you for sharing your video. Really enjoy and learn a lot from from you.

this helps me alot. i just found that i have 2 softs spots on my 2017 27ft camper.

The attention to detail is first class. Could you share with me the final cost of replacing the roof? Thank you.

As one of the clips at the end, you could have someone pull up and say that they’ve been trying to get in touch with you about getting an extended warranty on your vehicle. 🙂🤣

Your videos on this subject have been very helpful. Thank you for this education. My husband and I are seniors trying to repair my motorhome roof. We are thinking it's too much for us but we don't have the funds. Noticing you may be located near Mesa and am wondering where you're located? Maybe we need to pay you a visit in the winter. Thanks again.

Another great job James, Thanks for the video

Prep is everything!

Love watching your videos and I don't even own an RV

James have you thought of putting a plastic radius like a drywall corner on instead of grinding the outside corners, I did that to my trailer last year when I replaced the roof. Seems to be holding up and looks much better as well

22:59 My man is trolling now! hahaha

This helped me so much. Thanks

At the 14 minute mark you mention OSB.I have to replace my TPO on my trailer and it came with the OSB so from what you said maybe I should replace it with plywood?I have to replace the OSB already so putting a better board down would be better repair.Also would it help, if it is possible, to dab some lock tight on the screws so they will not back out.

great video. thanks. I kept it for future reference.

Great job. Also You can push down with the putty knife and pull on the drywall tape and it gives you a perfect cut. And I check my rubber roof each camping trip or at least once or twice a month

Being a ceiling fixer fixing holes like that done thousands of times

The back corner of the plywood on the roof of my RV has some water damage from a bath fan vent. The bath fan vent leak was repaired. The water damage area is maybe a foot in the very corner. The rest of the roof seems to be in good condition (2014 trailer). Is it possible to just cut the roof membrane in the corner and replace the plywood, then use the eternabond tape to seal things back up? Trying to avoid removing the entire roof membrane unless recommended.

Excellent

Nice job. I pity you working in the heat you guys are getting now. Cheers

Your advice has been so helpful in my own RV repairs. I am curious, can you tell me the staple gun you are using? Mine is a 1/4 wide stapler and it seems too small. The factory staples are more like 7/16 wide. Thanks for all your helpful videos and knowledge!

How many labor hours did all that tear down and prep take?

So what did this roof replacement cost?? I recently bought a 2006 our vision Cruiser, I did a bunch of research and I found out it's a rubber roof which says on the pamphlet which says in the manual which many of the RV places near my house said it was a river roof so I purchased a rubber roof coating to put on the roof. 2 and 1/2 gallons later there's a chemical reaction with the roof apparently it might be PVC? Or something other than rubber. Now I have coded camper roof that is not drying and is staying tacky after several weeks. What do I do now?

So glad I found your videos! Watching them is so incredibly helpful, thank you! One thing that makes me crazy is the way they mount the top of the awning. I have a 2007 Jayco and they go right through the termination strip without sealing it. Why do they do this??? Is there a better way to mount the top or a good way to seal it when I mount the top brackets?

Awsome as usual! Thanks so much. Have learned alot

Great videos! Preference on 30mil vs 60mil? I only see 30 mil unless you buy 100 ft.

Hi James. I have a 2014 cougar 5th wheel and yesterday I hooked an eve trough. I have no structural damage. But I did tear the membrane and minor damage to the side moulding and gutter. I am hoping to detach the moulding cut out the frayed damaged membrane. I need a small piece of membrane 50”x 16”. Is there a supplier that can send me a patch kit this size?

Can you add a link for the replacement screws for everything in the project also will that glue adhere to osb got a 2019 heartland pioneer, they used osb for the roof just have to replace two sheets

I was wondering if is it possible to put a more of an A-frame like roof on the RV cause I would like to add side slants to the roof so when snow is on top it slides off and has water ducks to keep the water draining off the roof or would it be better to make a slanted top to put over the pre-existing roof unjust wondered cause I have to fix water damaged roof so thought i would some research before starting and if any ideas seem better I did see a concept where someone added a loft to the back of the trailer and it gave it more headroom like they built the structure to the frame but I wasn't sure how to make it with movement and the bending during driving like how would the integrity stay and if it's safe

I'm curious why the patches were smaller than the hole you made in the roof to repair the small holes from the antenna and satellite prep. Other than that this was very informative.

James, With so many roofs under your belt, at today's prices, what would the per foot cost be for membrane roofs. Thanks

Getting ready to pull the trigger and replace the roof on my reflection 337rls. What brand or type is your preference? Doesn't look overly difficult, just time really

Need a roof done

Hey bud, I have a question for you…. Next year I’m planning to replace the EPDM rubber roof membrane on my wife’s travel trailer. She got a good 19 years out of it !!! And while it is definitely at the end of its life, there are no holes, rips, tears, leaks etc. I maintain that camper ALL THE TIME for her. But still, it needs done. So here’s my question: Can I use the eternabond tape along the sides of the walls where you used the gorilla tape ? My concern with that is will the membrane glue adhere to the smooth eternabond and keep the membrane glued together ??? I truly do not know so I am asking. It seems to me IF I can use the eternabond tape that it would definitely help prevent leaks along the walls. Also, I really like your method of not putting the membrane under the end caps. I mean, whoda thunk it ? Keeping water out of the end caps ? What a GREAT IDEA LOL !

I wish i was young enough for a career change. I'd come work for ya!

What is probably the best trailer brands? Looking for something under 20ft.

You should try a head-worn camera, like a coal miner. Would allow you to teach us using both hands.

Membrane video??

I'm new to fithwheel and I have one that needs new plywood and rubber where's the cheapest place to get that done

Thanks James for another video. I am rebuilding the roof on my travel trailer. I has a flat 3" roof of foam and luan glued together and very thin aluminum tubing. The roof sagged from the weight of the air conditioner and some water damage. I am installing solid wood with an arch cut on top to give natural drainage. Needless to say your videos have helped me immensely. The original roof membrane was EPDM. I see several types of rv roof material on the market. EPDM, TPO, and PVC. The EPDM takes a lot of maintinence to keep it up. The PVC and TPO are somewhat maintinence free. What is your opinion on the PVC membrane? What type of membrane do you feel is best?

How can I get a hold of you

thanx. can we use 60mil vinyl membrane?

Good job

How bad is to bad? I’m full time living and got a screaming good deal on a fifth wheel but the roof above the hitch is really bad and has signs of caving

James, you said you put the membrane over the front and rear caps. how do you terminate the leading edges? Is the adhesive enough?

Could you use low expansion spray foam to patch the smaller deck holes?

For small holes, a dowel would be easier.

Best one yet. All my problems😂

what the ballpark of what a repair like this costs?

What’s the ball bark on how much this cost to repair from a shop?

I pulled the epdm membrane off my camper and it has osb board but it's sticky from original adhesive. Will my dicor 901ba properly adhere the new epdm to the old stickey adhesive?

mask is good to avoid metal in your lungs. nice job!

Sure could use your expert help. Where are you located ? And are you available for repairs?

Can I place an asphalt shingles on top of rubber membrane on my destination trailer? Trailer is not planned to move on the road. Thank you!

Fantastic roof video James 🙂 Questions: Does the owner plan to just park it or go out on the road? How does the undercarriage look? Rusty or Clean Thanks

Do you have a video on a partial membrane replacement?! Not ideal, but our trailer is not worth a full new membrane