Bubbling Exterior Wall

First trip of the year and I was out doing some maintenance and saw something troubling. The wall on the passenger side behind the end cap is bubbling up.

What is that about !?!?!?!?!?

It seems to be extending down from the flood light? Any ideas on what is causing this? Would this be an insurance, ext. warranty, or factory issue?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

The Heathcote's


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Delamination uasually cased by water intrusion. Water may have gotten in by a seam or the light not sealed properly do to the ageing of the calking. I do not think that a insurance covers water damage caused by lack of maintenance of the caulking. If your fifth wheel is over the warranty, then it is not covered by Heartland. I check mine once in the spring and once in the fall before the rainy season.

I've got a couple small areas on my BH like that near slide out corners. Am going to investigate some exterior refurbished this fall as I have decals that are bad also. Hopefully they can do something with the delamination at that time. Not aware of anything an owner can do themselves.

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Heathcote4 said:

Would this be an insurance, ext. warranty, or factory issue?

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Manufacturing defects are covered during the warranty period. Once the warranty has expired, it's expired. Occasionally Heartland will fix something after warranty, on a goodwill basis. But since most delamination is due to water intrusion, which is not usually a manufacturing defect, it would be a longshot. You would have to have pretty clear evidence that the delamination was not caused by water.

As for insurance or extended warranty, it depends on the terms and conditions in the policy. I think a typical insurance policy probably doesn't cover it, and the extended warranty from Good Sam, which I used to have, explicitly excludes structural damage.

Job #1 is to look for places where water may have entered.

There are RV delamination repair kits.
http://www.delamrepair.com/
http://www.ervparts.com/caulks-sealants/delam-repair-kit.htm

RV owners that have repaired it themselves:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2W-Q8Dco-w
http://www.rvforum.net/SMF_forum/index.php?topic=61816.0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-M9CB0KRaTM

If you do not want to take in the job your self, there are centers the specialize in delamination repair. There is on in Texas: http://www.coachspecialists.com/rv-delamination-stop-cracks-tracks/ You will have to do a search for more of them. Any RV collision repair place can fix this, but it may cost more. Collision repair may want to remove the section of exterior skin and re fiberglass it back on. Which will mean a repaint in that area and new vinyl stickers. My guess around $1200.00 or less.

??Re: Bubbling Exterior Wall

I have a 2012 sundance 3300ck noticed some bubbling in the side under bedroom slide and above living room slide what are my options or is it time to trade

Re: ??Re: Bubbling Exterior Wall

fordtech 2008 said:

I have a 2012 sundance 3300ck noticed some bubbling in the side under bedroom slide and above living room slide what are my options or is it time to trade

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Trading might be more costly than repairing. If the dealer who takes it in trade plans on repairing, he'll discount the trade-in value by the repair cost plus some. And most buyers will take a pass. The few who consider it will discount the value, same as the dealer.

And as mentioned in prior posts, you might talk with a collision repair shop.