Coleman ABS Roof

[Whiplaunch]

I purchased a '98 Bayside recently that's got a couple strips of Flex Seal covering some large cracks and has a little sag in the middle. I believe it's only a matter of when I replace it. So, when you remove the outer ABS layer completely, are you then 'replacing' it with gorilla grip directly onto the core? This seems like a no brainer replacement option if you have the space and time to do it.

 

[Sjm9911]

Thats it, add some bondo to smooth it out. And if you dont have a roof brace add one. Yours is on the cusp , it was 97 or 98 i belive when the brace became factory standerd.

 

[Whiplaunch]

Perfect. Thanks for the confirmation. Those Coleman braces aren't cheap. Probably fab one myself.

 

[Sjm9911]

Look around the portal. People have made unistrut ones.

 

[tooth21]

I’m considering purchasing a 2002 sante fe. It’s in great condition minus a few cracks on the sides of the roof. Looking to get advice if I should attempt repairs or just stay away.

 

[Sjm9911]

If the tenting is good get it if its the right price. Just know, later down the line you may have to strip the abs and coat it with GG. Otherwise it will not leak, and has a support brace.

 

[Sjm9911]

Oh, and it doesn't have the leak prone storage box. I would jump on it.

 

[Homeless]

If the tenting is good get it if its the right price. Just know, later down the line you may have to strip the abs and coat it with GG. Otherwise it will not leak, and has a support brace.

So I found cracking and splitting under the rolled up awning. What can I use to make the repair? The rest of the roof is in good shape so if I can repair this, it should last a few more years.

I am trying a spot with some fiberglass stranded body filler, it appears it may work but is there something better?

 

[Sjm9911]

I think yours is toast, you can fill it and glue it, but water has probably entered under the abs. If putting back the awning, get an aluminum rail, drill through the abs and use a backer plate and bolts. Seal it good. Same as for the roof suport, or cargo racks. I wouldn't put the awning back on that, even if fiberglassed.

 

[Homeless]

I think yours is toast, you can fill it and glue it, but water has probably entered under the abs. If putting back the awning, get an aluminum rail, drill through the abs and use a backer plate and bolts. Seal it good. Same as for the roof suport, or cargo racks. I wouldn't put the awning back on that, even if fiberglassed.

It was just a lot of cracking. It did this when I took off the mounting rail for the awning even though I used a heat gun. No water has entered the roof, it never had a leak so I am going to try to repair this area.

In case it backfires, I need to find out what I should do after removing the ABS. I thought it was wood underneath but it appears to be some kind of rigid foam

BTW, the awning is not going back on

 

[Sjm9911]

It will never leak, the foam core is water tight. The water gets under the abs, expands and contacts with the weather and seperates the abs from the core. The water entered through the cracks, big or small allready. Sealing it will seal on the water and it will crack somewhere else. Its not about it leaking. Fill it and it will last a year , maybe more. Some have luck, but yours I can see between the abs and the core under the brakes. So, it will not last. Strip the abs, fill any holes or gouges in the foam with bondo and coat the roof with bedliner. That will work and last longer. The time you take to fill and paint the area, and probably have to do it again in a year or 2 isnt worth it.

 

[Homeless]

It will never leak, the foam core is water tight. The water gets under the abs, expands and contacts with the weather and seperates the abs from the core. The water entered through the cracks, big or small allready. Sealing it will seal on the water and it will crack somewhere else. Its not about it leaking. Fill it and it will last a year , maybe more. Some have luck, but yours I can see between the abs and the core under the brakes. So, it will not last. Strip the abs, fill any holes or gouges in the foam with bondo and coat the roof with bedliner. That will work and last longer. The time you take to fill and paint the area, and probably have to do it again in a year or 2 isnt worth it.

Thanks for the info, I didnt know you could coat the foam with bed liner. Will that be strong enough to not gouge easily?

Also, if I use something like Line X, will that work? Curious about the heat they use when they spray. It is a big popup and maybe I can roll it on from a gallon can but I dont know how good that stuff is

 

[Sjm9911]

Most here use grizzly grip. Its a roll on bedliner. I have no experience other then that. Other used other paint on beliner with good results. It works. Make sure you pop up has a roof suport. What year is the camper?

 

[werkout52]

I have a 98 sea pine that had some cracks and after camping in 105 degree heat sagged and delaminated. I went a different route adding roof brace then pulling off outer abs then put down pvc and replace seal. That was 2 years ago and so far so good. One benefit is it is much cooler than abs which I think helps with not sagging more and has 15 year guarantee. Only drawback is it's a lot of work to get there

 

[Sjm9911]

The roof bracing was added to all colmans I belive in 98, they had a retrofit out. Yours probably missed it. Unless in was 99 , but yea, if you dont have the brace, add it.

 

[Homeless]

Most here use grizzly grip. Its a roll on bedliner. I have no experience other then that. Other used other paint on beliner with good results. It works. Make sure you pop up has a roof suport. What year is the camper?

It is a 99 Coleman Mesa and it does have the factory support. It does sag in the middle some but no problems so far

 

[PopAnimal]

Homeless, I pulled the ABS off and used Grizzly grip, took over 2 gallons and I'm still not satisfied with the coverage. I went and got a gallon of rustoliem elastomeric roof cover for an added layer. The grizzly grip is pretty rigid, Irolled it over the cleaned foam. I discovered some tricks to applying it if you need. Stuffs good but expensive.

 

[Homeless]

Homeless, I pulled the ABS off and used Grizzly grip, took over 2 gallons and I'm still not satisfied with the coverage. I went and got a gallon of rustoliem elastomeric roof cover for an added layer. The grizzly grip is pretty rigid, Irolled it over the cleaned foam. I discovered some tricks to applying it if you need. Stuffs good but expensive.

Thanks, info is appreciated. I am still looking at my options. this 3 foot area is all that is cracked so I may try to repair it instead of doing the whole top. those large gaps were not there until I removed the mounting rail for the awning. If any water got in it wasnt much if any. I am testing a patch of stranded fiberglass to see if it will bond to the ABS

 

[Old Town]

Look at west systems G Flex 2 part epoxy. Its the only product I found to to adhere to the ABS and have a permanent bond. I had a large crack that I wetted fiberglass cloth with G Flex and it lasted until I got tired of fixing hairline cracks all over the top. At that point I removed the outer layer of ABS and applied T-Rex and have looked back.

 

[Sjm9911]

Yup ,my fix worked for a year untill it broke somewhere else. Lol. Its not the amount of water, but its properties. When it heats up it steams and moves under the abs seperating more of the top. Its worse if it freezes also. So, any repair may not last for more then a few years, if that. And the prep isnt much more doing the whole roof.