Jayco Roof - Bubbles

[MDSimpson]

I noticed on the weekend, there is a large bubble under the exterior roof lining on my Jayco Flamingo.
It is the two piece roof, sealed down the middle.

Is it a water leak? Is it caused by heat?

Is it anything to worry about?

[MDSimpson]

Anyone

[evolution]

A photo may help.

Cheers
Evo

[MDSimpson]

True, I'll see what I can see tonight, although, dark is getting earlier and earlier must be that time of year again..

[chester ver2.0]

Could be water has started the process of lifting the paint and now that there is an air cap the bubble comes and goes as the air heats up and then cools.

Coulple of things you can do
Have a look during the heat of the day compared to early in the morning is the bubble bigger or smaller

How flexible is the bubble can you make it flex with your finger meaning is it just paint bubbling or is it a actual fibre glass

[RebsWA]

I noticed on the weekend, there is a large bubble under the exterior roof lining on my Jayco Flamingo.
It is the two piece roof, sealed down the middle.

Sounds odd, the exterior roof lining (meaning top surface of the roof) on my 07 eagle is painted aluminium.
A photo would sure help.

[MDSimpson]

Chester, it is the actual fiberglass lifting from the timber underneath, and it flexes to the touch, and yes, it is the outside of the roof...

Rebs, mine is not aluminium, (I dont think anyway) looks and feels more like textured fiberglass. Which is weird as mine is a 2007 model too.

Photos coming later folks.

Thanks

[RebsWA]

The aluminium on mine is "textured" as you say.

[MDSimpson]

Missed the opportunity for photos, stopped in to see guy about some tools for my suspension lift project this weekend and took a little longer than expected

Maybe mine is Aluminium, not 100% sure, but I'll take your word, Rebs. Must be pretty thin though. Hopefully tomorrow with the photos..

[RebsWA]

MD, have a look at these bits I cut from my roof and see what you reckon.
The roof is a sandwich of foam between the ali top and plywood below.

[MDSimpson]

OK, thanks for that Rebs, hope you can get that back in place, otherwise you'll have a big hole in your roof.

It looks like the aluminium roof top, is separating form the foam on mine... Question is, WHY??

[prodigyrf]

OK, thanks for that Rebs, hope you can get that back in place, otherwise you'll have a big hole in your roof.

Rebs reckons you should always deal with those small bubbles early before they spread 

As to why I'd say it's Jayco's renowned QA with the glue originally. Prolly just an aesthetic issue rather than anything to worry about structurally unless it keeps on spreading very broadly. I'd certainly check on all the seam sealing very thoroughly and re silicon if in any doubt. If it really became widespread you might have to consider bonding the aluminium back to the foam in situ by drilling small hole/s and injecting adhesive and then sealing the holes up again with silicon just like you would if a sharp object had punctured it.

[Signature035]

My 04 was Aluminium, when the roof was replaced last year..... it is Glass...   Don't know when the change was.
I would assume at the same time the center roof seam dissapeared?

[RebsWA]

OK, thanks for that Rebs, hope you can get that back in place, otherwise you'll have a big hole in your roof.

It looks like the aluminium roof top, is separating form the foam on mine... Question is, WHY??

No holes, I cut them out to install Seabird marine vents as part of my positive pressure dust exclusion system.
But back to your problem.
It is hard to imagine the aluminium lifting up off the foam as I would reckon the foam and ply would bend down, seemingly being the weaker members.
It's not the paint just lifting?
Still want to see some pics.
 

[MDSimpson]

Rebs, hopefully, I'll get home before dark tonight....

[MDSimpson]

All, finally got some photos this arvo.
Definitely the aluminium coming up off the foam inside. Too thick to be paint, and not thick enough to the foam as well.
I can push down on the bubble, but it is stiff (like one would expect from aluminium).

[prodigyrf]

Yes I'd agree with delamination of alum from foam but what harm is it doing bar aesthetics? It may be the hatch has stressed it a bit to cause the delamination but that may present the opportunity to remedy it. If you removed the hatch presumably you could apply adhesive to the bubble via the cutout and clamp it and refit and reseal the hatch. Less intrusive than drilling the injection holes, etc I mentioned.

Actually looking at my 03 Jayco roof it's a bit wavy looking along it by eye but who really cares if it's structurally sound?

[olddigger]

[
It looks like the aluminium roof top, is separating form the foam on mine... Question is, WHY??
[/quote]

Because it's a Jayco.
 I, too, have a 2007 Flamingo. It leaks like a sieve through the roof, the hose-connected water has never worked since it was new (keeps blowing the hose off). Jayco's advice was to crawl underneath and whack the hose with a big stick to loosen up the non-return valve. Gee, thanks, guys. This is a $25,000 van.
Oh, and don't try turning on the lights that fit on to the bars over the bed ends unless you want to blow every fuse in the van. And a hint for when that happens: the fuse box is conveniently under the table and you have to lie down and crawl to get to it (having first fumbled around trying to find a torch). Don't move your feet back while sitting there either, because you hit the switch and turn off all the power.
And then there's the way in which the curtains are connected . . . but I won't go on (and neither will the curtains).

[MDSimpson]

Rf, that sounds like a plan. I was concerned there was more to it, but delaminating and not leaking is OK.. I can do aesthetics.

Digger, man, sounds like you got a Monday van. Mine does not leak, OK, only once in the most torrential rain we have seen for ages, but not more than a few drops on the floor.
I do not have any issue like what you mentioned, have you had it since new? I can see what you mean about the curtains, I want to take mine off for washing, but not sure how I'd go getting them back on...

[prodigyrf]

In case you were wondering whether you should build or refurbish your own Jayco they have it down pat with large economies of scale-

Jayco - How They're Built - American RV Center - Evansville, IN

but you can see easily how the odd minor finishing touch might get overlooked.

Pay attention to the sealing of your roof seams, particularly where that middle roof joint meets the front as that's where the water blasts at road speeds and I noticed quite a few ceiling water stains there looking at used vans. As for lying on the floor under the table to change a fuse, I know what you mean after I accidently blew one fitting LED lights and the peepers aren't what they used to be.

The curtain tracks are finicky but their design is with anti-rattle in mind when travelling and hence the compromise. Easy to pop some tabs out of the track if you kneel on the curtains getting up on the beds or aren't careful sliding them open and closed. You can force the odd one back in the track but they're actually fed in from the ends but to do that you have to remove the end screw they drive through the plastic track after fitment to stop them coming off.

There's a purpose and weight consideration behind everything Jayco do and it's all a compromise compared to your more robust fixed home on concrete