Fixing Stress Cracks on back side of camper

[Raiderboy]

Does anyone have any recommendations on fixing a 6" stress crack on the back side of the camper? I also have a few smaller ones, but they are not spreading.

I read on the internet I should drill a 1/8" hole just below the crack to prevent the crack from spreading any further. Also, I should use gorilla clear tape or awning tape to help seal it up. However, not sure what caulking or glue I should use to seal up the crack and small hole before putting the tape over the stress crack.

I believe the side of the 2004 22T HILO is plastic, not fiberglass. But I could be wrong.

Any recommendations for the caulking or sealing glue I should use to fill the stress cracks?

Ken

 

[JackandJanet]

Ken, the hole you drill should be at the end of the crack. It spreads out the stress over a wider area instead of the pinpoint location at the end of the crack.

I'd seal the crack and the hole you drill with Lexel. You should be able to find this in ACE hardware. I've done this to a crack I found at the front corner of my trailer and have not seen a need to apply tape over the repair.

- Jack

 

[hilltool]

Lexel may be a good idea. I have a series of cracks on both end caps that I attemptrd to repair with a flexible epoxy. It did not work well and dried yellow. Now I need to do it over and figure a way to cover the old repair.
Live and learn
Rick

 

[Garry-HILO]

Lexel may be a good idea. I have a series of cracks on both end caps that I attemptrd to repair with a flexible epoxy. It did not work well and dried yellow. Now I need to do it over and figure a way to cover the old repair.
Live and learn
Rick

Rick, Were the sides of your end caps secured with more than two screws on each side? Yesterday I was cleaning the exterior of the trailer and noticed the calking on the rear end cap was pulling loose and just realized there were only two screws on the sides of the end caps, but the underside has six screws. I want to add more screws to the sides but I'm concerned about creating cracks if I do. The front cap has three screws on each side and I have had a crack on one side near the middle screw.

 

[hilltool]

mine has multiple screws spaced about every inch along sides, bottom, and top.

rick

 

[Garry-HILO]

mine has multiple screws spaced about every inch along sides, bottom, and top.

rick

Rick, thanks for the response. I do plan on adding more screws, just strange this wasn't done at the plant.

 

[hilltool]

Just looked at mine this afternoon- I have eight screws on each side and about thirteen on the top and bottom. And they are not, by the way, every inch. more like 4 or 5 inches. My bad.

 

[stroker-HILO]

I drilled my cracks at the end of crack and used quad sealant to seal it up not pretty but it is functional