Winnebago Fiberglass RV Roof Sealant [DON'T USE THE WRONG STUFF]

RV roof maintenance is one of the most important things to perform. Using the right RV roof sealant on the fiberglass roof of your Winnebago RV is critical and chances are if you own a Winnebago motorhome with a fiberglass roof, you're probably using the wrong sealant on it. Winnebago fiberglass roofs are different that most RV roofs in that Winnebago uses a silicone self-leveling sealant instead of the traditional Dicor type sealant. Nuflex311 is the sealant the Winnebago factory uses on their fiberglass roof. Most RVers use the well known Dicor, but Dicor will not stick to the Nuflex 311 self-leveling silicone sealant used on the Winnebago fiberglass roof. RV DIY repair is a good way to keep rv roof maintenance costs down and avoid costly rv roof leak repairs, but selecting the wrong sealants can really cost you too. RV roof maintenance is critical and selecting the right sealant for a Winnebago RV fiberglass roof is one of the most important maintenance tasks to keep RV roof leaks at bay. At a minimum, you should inspect and reseal the roof of your RV annually. In this video I show you how selecting and using the wrong sealant type for your RVs roof could have disastrous results. Winnebago Industries recommends using a self-leveling silicone sealant, such as NuFlex 311, on the fiberglass (Filon) roof used on many of their coaches.
We are Brian and Shawnna, a full time RV couple who enjoy the full time RV Living lifestyle. We are empty nesters who recently quit our corporate jobs, sold our home and auctioned off just about everything we own to live a simpler, more purposeful life in our RV. As Full Time RVers, our goal is to experience life and make awesome RV lifestyle videos for our community. We decided to "retire" from life as we knew it so we traded our stuff for experiences. We travel in a 2008 Winnebago Motorhome (RV) with a preference for RV boondocking. We vlog, blog and update social media with our RV travel experiences, advice and challenges with a goal of helping other RVers along the way - find beautiful places to stay and save money by seeking out low cost campgrounds and awesome boondocking sites. The RV life is a great life, but it's not without its challenges. We plan to share those with you and offer advice along the way.
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[@LyfUninterrupted]

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[@sweetds1]

Omg so glad I found your video. I bought the wrong sealant but so glad Ive not used it yet. Ive just got all the black spots off the roof. A job in itself. Im a single gal trying to maintain my 90 winnebago Le Sharo. Thank you!

[@cherishhughes9796]

I am so glad I found this video! My family just started full-time RVing and is learning all the time. My dad and I were going to use the wrong stuff when we sealed our roof.

[@LyfUninterrupted]

Awesome. We’re glad it was helpful! Be sure to clean the surface well!

[@jimpikul8551]

Nice job on the application! Looks smooth as possible!

[@LyfUninterrupted]

Thanks! The key is to cut the nozzle down to about 1 inch long. This way the sealant flows easily.

[@ChattieCathy71]

Thank you for the tip. I need to get on my roof and go over two of my sky lights before this double hurricane hits here near Houston this week.

[@LyfUninterrupted]

Yikes! We are hoping to get to South Padre Island in a month or so. We’re glad you found this tip helpful!

[@rickwheeler7480]

Thank you so much. I also thought dicor was the way to go. Will be checking the roof when the snow goes away. (were in Alaska)

[@LyfUninterrupted]

Glad it was helpful!

[@prestok888]

I’d always heard that when replacing sealant, the best thing to do is to remove the old sealant first, then reseal with the new sealant & it’s never a good idea to simply apply new sealant over the old stuff.

[@LyfUninterrupted]

True, but you can apply new over old after a thorough cleaning.

[@craigscroggins5076]

Brian,thanks for this info. I've got dicor I was going to reseal my Winnebago Adventurer 35A with,glad I saw this first,like you I was no wiser. We love your vids, hope to meet up with y'all in the very near future. Craig & Cheryl, Forever Open Road is our new youtube.

[@LyfUninterrupted]

Glad I could help!

[@craigscroggins5076]

@@LyfUninterrupted did you put eterna bond tape before sealant?

[@LyfUninterrupted]

No. I just cleaned the surface with mineral spirits and rubbing before laying down the NuFlex 311.

[@mdv1033]

Brian - glad I came across your post. Seasoned RVer, but a new Winnebago owner... out with the Dicor... Subscribed :)

[@LyfUninterrupted]

👍 Glad we could help!

[@mdv1033]

@@LyfUninterrupted Been watching AZ Expert a lot! I now have NO faith in any RV roof...

[@LyfUninterrupted]

Perhaps lack of, or poor, maintenance practices are the major contributors to failures?

[@mdv1033]

@@LyfUninterrupted agree - but I still have Winnebago roof radius nightmares....wake up sweating.

[@LyfUninterrupted]

What sealant do you use for the roof cove channel? I called Winnebago and they sent me an updated sealant callout sheet. Manus Bond 75-AM is what they recommended for the roof cove channel.

[@RunawaywithUsRV]

Good information! 👍🏼

[@LyfUninterrupted]

Thanks guys!

[@chandracarol232]

I'm so happy I saw this video. Silicone on silicone ..

[@LyfUninterrupted]

👍😉

[@geneduclos4003]

Brian, thanks for taking the time to make this video. The roof structure is constructed of fiberglass, what is the top coat; Gelcoat, rubber sheathing, TPO...?

[@LyfUninterrupted]

Hi Gene! The roof structure isn't really constructed of fiberglass, per se. It's a laminated structure consisting of an interior layer of fabric, a 1/8 inch Luan board, 4 inches of polystyrene foam, another 1/8 inch Luan board, a thin Aluminum foil type sheeting and then the top layer of Filon, which is about 1/16 inch thick. No other coatings, at least on ours.

[@ynAMe6Aj]

Saved me from the same mistake. You should put this stuff in you amazon store.

[@LyfUninterrupted]

Phew! Looks like our video came you at just the right time! Thanks for watching.

[@ThisAdventureFamily]

Very helpful

[@LyfUninterrupted]

Thank you!

[@snapstring3134]

That is good to know. 👍

[@LyfUninterrupted]

I think the tell-tale sign is how the Dicor developed long cracks and separations. Thanks for watching!

[@jolenefredette5006]

I’m going with your recommendation and AZ Experts who has done more roof repairs and replacements than anyone else I have seen on KZbin I am however going to use Dicor fiberglass cleaner and coating recommended by RV Street KZbin channel

[@LyfUninterrupted]

Clean, clean, clean, then clean again before applying sealant. Also, if you have a fiberglass roof, make sure to check the cove seal where the roofing material wraps around the edge of the roof. Loose or missing sealant in this area will make the roof material prone to separation.

[@atubeviewer4942]

Did you ever do a follow up on this? How did the 311 seal? I find it had to believe if you use mineral spirits and scrubbed down to the metal, dicore still wont stick to it, is that right?

[@LyfUninterrupted]

The nuflex 311 is still sealing fine. Thanks for watching!

[@michaelt2961]

Thanks for the information. I have a 2015 Winnebago Navion. Would you know which year Winnebago started using Nuflex311? Thx.

[@LyfUninterrupted]

Not sure, but you can got to the Winnebago website and search for the sealant callout sheet for your RV.

[@barrymaddox4610]

At least it came off easy looks factory now good job.

[@LyfUninterrupted]

The key is to cut the nozzle so it’s only about an inch long. That way a nice thick bead of sealant flows out and levels easily.

[@user-vl7di4qz8g]

@@LyfUninterruptedcan you make a how-to video on cleaning the area the putting down the new 311 please?

[@user-vl7di4qz8g]

I wish you had videoed you actually putting down the 311 silicone for us to see the process. Do you have a video of that anywhere? Ty!

[@LyfUninterrupted]

Sorry, but we don’t.

[@artandadventurerv]

Hi Brian, I have just purchased a 2018 minnie winnie and I need to reseal the roof and well, everything else too. Door, windows, all the vertical seals, plus the roof. Where is the best place to find the Nuflex 311Rv Self Leveling Silicone? I'm having a heckuva time locating some. Also, what is the type to use for the vertical things on a winnebago? I was considering Geocel but I want to be sure I don't use the wrong thing. TYIA.

[@LyfUninterrupted]

Look for Hengs 311. I’ve found it at most RV stores and on Amazon.

[@the_luminary]

Sorry for the newb question but So can this be used on top of Henry's Tropi-cool RV roofing? Its for a shuttle bus, looks like original roof but i want to waterproof the roof and add new skylight so im wondering if i should put that soft flex sealant u got before or after the TropiCool(if at all compatible)

[@LyfUninterrupted]

Thanks for reaching out. Looks like the Tropicool product is 100% silicone. Check with the manufacturer of Tropicool to see how they recommend preparing and applying their product to a particular substrate. Hope this helps.

[@NackDSP]

AZ Expert youTube channel ( not EZ Expert ) is really amazing. I assume that's who you were talking about.

[@LyfUninterrupted]

I did say AZ Expert. 😉 Perhaps you misheard. Thanks for stopping by our channel.

[@Kaegis]

Sikaflex 291 Marine sealant. 👌

[@LyfUninterrupted]

👍

[@OurCamper]

So where can you find Nuflex 311? I've tried everywhere and can't find it in the San Antonio - Austin Tx area or on amazon. I agree (from experience) Dicor does not stick at all to the stuff winnebago used during manufacturing. Having said this even the Winnebago dealers are saying they use Dicor. Which, by the way, doesn't give me much confidence in Winnebago dealer services.

[@LyfUninterrupted]

Hi Joe. In the past I’ve ordered it from Lichtsinn RV in Forest City, Iowa. Most Camping World retail stores carry it as well. Johnsons Surplus has it for $8.50 a tube. www.johnsonssurplus.com/products/camc-roof-vent-cover-40433?currency=USD&variant=39298625077357&Google%20Shopping&matchtype=&network=g&device=m&keyword=&campaign=909371242&adgroup=pla-293946777986&gclid=CjwKCAjwieuGBhAsEiwA1Ly_nbaWLmZi8H9PAWUCumjzw9tGpKjJ8zISmcSr_UWmLU3efJo1yfBQYxoCIkEQAvD_BwE

[@user-vl7di4qz8g]

@Lyfuninterrupted that link gives an error message

[@eagerlawncare3700]

So just to avoid any problems it's probably best to just use the silicon products ?

[@LyfUninterrupted]

As long as your RV manufacturer’s sealant call out sheet specifies silicone. Nothing will stick to silicone, except silicone, once you use it. Most rubber roof manufacturers do not use silicone sealants, so de sure to confirm the type of roof material.

[@tomnorman457]

Best place to buy the recommended sealant? It’s not on Amazon or eBay. Camping World?

[@LyfUninterrupted]

It is hard to find right now, but I did buy two tubes from Camping World. Pretty pricey at $14 a tube. You can call Winnebago as well. Was lucky to find some at a RV campground store in Nevada for $6 a tube so I snatched up all they had. Good luck on your hunt!

[@marshaadams5501]

Makes me wonder if Forest River uses something that Dicor won’t stick to. It appears to look the same so there’s no way to tell by looking if it’s silicone or Dicor correct?

[@LyfUninterrupted]

Hi Marsha! In my experience, Nuflex 311 that Winnebago uses has a much smoother appearance than Dicor. If your RV has a rubber (EPDM) roof then most likely the manufacturer used Dicor, or something similar. If you're not the original owner then all bets are off as previous owners could have used anything. Forest River should have a sealant callout sheet that tells owners what types of sealant to use for various applications. Perhaps give them a call.

[@marshaadams5501]

Lyf Uninterrupted I have a fiberglass roof. I am not the original owner but I believe the caulking is the original.

[@LyfUninterrupted]

If your RV is more than a few years old, chances are the caulking is probably failing in some areas and needs to be inspected.

[@marshaadams5501]

Lyf Uninterrupted oh definitely...that’s my very next project, cleaning the roof and checking out the sealant. I was just concerned if FR used something different because I’ve already purchased the Dicor which is what I would have bought if I purchased a Winnebago also. There were 4 Manufacturers that I was considering this time around and Winnebago was one of them. I knew I wanted a fiberglass roof after having two different RV’s with rubber roofs. Our new to us coach is a 2014 Georgetown XL 360DS...we first figured out what we wanted in a floor plan and then we found the models that worked...there were only a few with all of our desires, fiberglass roof, full body paint, king bed, 2 bathrooms, 2 a/c’s, washer/dryer, outside entertainment center, etc...so now I’m doing all the projects and enjoying it. My son and I have already been up on the roof to service the a/c’s and we looked at the seals and everything looks good on a quick visual but I’ll know more after we clean the roof real good 😄 Thanks for the info, it’s good to know,

[@LyfUninterrupted]

👍

[@itchntohitch4143]

It was mentioned in the video that Winnebago front caps are silicone sealed on the roof as this individual mentioned in passing, they are not. Be very leary about rv forums, KZbin videos, and conjecture. The misinformation is legendary. Every RV owner has some theoretical fix for any problem. Be very careful where you get your information!

[@LyfUninterrupted]

Thanks for chiming in on this subject. I did misspeak when referring to the roof/top cap sealant. The sealant used by Winnebago during manufacturing of my coach is urethane based, not silicone based. This is why it’s important for every owner to review the Winnebago sealant callout sheet to the specific year, make and model of RV they own.

[@itchntohitch4143]

No worries! The product on most Winnie fiberglass roofs at the front cap seal is a product called Manus Bond. Thanks for the vids. Happy Trails!

[@007nige]

How about a follow up video showing how well the sealant worked around your skylight or your fan hood? I’m not sure I agree with you about not using Dicor. When I had my Winnebago, Filon roof, painted in Indiana, they had to remove the back trim. When they put it back on, they use Dicor to seal the back seam. There was no problem whatsoever, and I believe it is because they cleaned the area extremely well of all the old sealant used by Winnebago. If you don’t clean it, the Dicor will not stick. It certainly will not stick to silicone. However, if it is cleaned well and abraided, Dicor WILL in fact stick . The proof for me is that all sealant used by the body shop is intact five years later, and it IS Dicor.

[@LyfUninterrupted]

Dicor is not on any Winnebago factory sealant callout sheet that I have seen. And for good reason. Frankly, the widespread prevalence and use of Dicor is simply due to the fact that it’s readily available. Most RVers and repair shops don’t know any better, so they just slather Dicor on everything only to learn later why it’s not a “ one size fits all” sealant. Dicor is a fine sealant as long as it’s applied correctly and used where appropriate.

[@rickc9873]

How many tubes for that sky light ?

[@LyfUninterrupted]

2 tubes!

[@travelingecho]

Can you find it home Depot or gander

[@LyfUninterrupted]

Not sure, but more RV parts suppliers seem to be carrying it now.

[@markt7291]

Dang. Who knew!!

[@LyfUninterrupted]

Thanks for watching!

[@ferrelx]

fyi us hard shell guys..Itasca/Winnebago..maybe others idk..scotchbrite pad and acetone for sealant removal..matter of fact on any surface for any residue removal should be your 1st goto option

[@LyfUninterrupted]

Curious if this method should be used solely on the roof? Otherwise, the scotch-brite pad might mar the paint. Yes?

[@ferrelx]

@@LyfUninterrupted correct..the same method is used if you want to reapply clear coat..both methods are called "scuffing" if paint/clear coat is involved with sealant removal most methods are going to show some sort of distress..once again i will goto acetone and a blue shop towel with a little finger nail action or some sort of soft plastic scrapper depending on the area that needs to be covered and hope for the best :) i was going to respond back here when i found the link that i tripped over when i redid my roof..maybe put it somewhere more permanent---> www.winnebagoind.com/diagram/Sealant.htm just follow the prompts for your particular rig..you will see that they use multiply sealants including the nuflex 311 which has showed up on peoples doorsteps with a Winnebago parts sticker on it :)

[@LyfUninterrupted]

👍. Thanks for the info.

[@ferrelx]

@@LyfUninterrupted :)

[@lonesomedovefree1429]

Some folks say silicone won’t even stick to itself

[@LyfUninterrupted]

Not sure to be honest, but a worthy experiment to see if it's so. Thanks for watching!

[@GaryYoung-eq1ph]

Used fiberglass as a leak proof sealant ,sounds good but harder 2 remove on metal roofs , what tool 2 use to remove it on 'Chinese made skylight" which I thought would last forever? Chinese what a joke!

[@mrvern1973]

I just want make sure this is what your using??? Manus Bond 75-AM???

[@LyfUninterrupted]

According to Winnebago, Manus-75AM is used on the front cap as well as the roof cove seal along the entire length of the roof. The silicone sealant used for the skylight is NUFLEX 311.

[@mrvern1973]

Last question, What are you using to seal Marker lights ??? This is great information by the T.Y..even better that you have an Amazon page for it.

[@LyfUninterrupted]

No worries. I use NUFLEX 311 as well. I’ve also starred using a silicone sealant called ProflexRV by Geocel. There is a RV Tech with a channel called AZEXPERT. He highly recommends ProflexRV sealant.

[@danesauer2921]

Least it looked like a easy pull up.

[@FunDuude]

Hmm, Yeah the AZ guy...He said he'll never recommend a Winnebago again because he's seen too many roof problems. Sadly it's not a Good Blanket statement to make, After Thor and Birshire, winnebago is the 3rd largest RV company for market share. And to Generalize in such a manner is imprudent. But if I tell him that he'll tell me to create my own RV channel. LOL. Yeah he's a Dick but he does more good than bad. I appreciate his knowledge sharing. God bless y'all thanks for sharing.

[@LyfUninterrupted]

Seems like a no-nonsense kinda guy. The issue with RV roofs is that they are generally not well maintained. So many people use the incorrect products and/or application techniques. I’m betting he sees most of the problems due to lack of care and maintenance.

[@FunDuude]

@@LyfUninterrupted ...No doubt, no doubt. I get on my roof and wash n' wax it 3 times a yr.

[@amygoodrich3735]

Have you seen "RV roof install" He hates Dicor and uses Something called Durlink and M1 Chemlink. The guys videos are pretty crude but he can repair RV roofs like nobody else.

[@LyfUninterrupted]

Thanks for the info. 'll check out his channel.

[@billsiclari7151]

This past summer I re sealed all the molding on my coach . Took them off and cleaned them then primed them with the chemlink primer And then sealed them with m-1 sealer turned out fantastic and changed out all the molding insert with the stuff that goes in and over .

[@19Clutch69]

Have you tried the M1? On thinking about going pro flex

[@bipedalbob]

Nope, nothing sticks to silicone, not even silicone.

[@LyfUninterrupted]

🤔 A couple of months ago I tested the new silicone and it adhered very well. The key, at least in my situation, was to clean the old surface with mineral spirits and/or rubbing alcohol before applying the new silicone.

[@bipedalbob]

@@LyfUninterrupted thats surprising to me , especially concidering mineral spirits is an oil base, rubbing alcohol is a alcohol base which I could see maybe would work, I'll have to experiment with this myself cause in the past I've not been impressed with silicone in general. Perhaps its which kind you use as well, there is a multitude of different types for different applications.

[@LyfUninterrupted]

I think Silicone gets a bad rap due to improper or poor application practices. The front and rear caps on our 2008 Winnie coach are sealed with self-leveling silicone. All of those lap joints still look perfect. In fact, all factory applied silicone on the roof still looks really good.🤞. P.S. I’ve heard good things about Sikaflex as well.

[@NVPJ]

I have a 2004 Winnebago Minnie Winnie - Fiberglass roof with silicone sealant. If you remove silicon and then try to apply new over the slightest haze or remnants, it is not going to last long. Six months or a year - sure. But try testing it after a couple years and it'll start to show signs of becoming detached. Redoing the entire roof every 2 years is time consuming and expensive. The only fixes I trust are when I pull off all the old silicone and mechanically remove every trace of it. That means using a putty knife to scrape it off, then razor blade to scrape off the last bits, then abrasive to get the final bits. Cleaners/solvents won't do enough to clean off silicon. (But once it is removed, I clean the base with rubbing alcohol.) Then I apply DiCor, because it is far better about being fixed by simply removing with putty knife and applying fresh - doesn't have to be completely cleaned away.