RV Fam65
RVF Regular
- Joined
- May 10, 2021
- Messages
- 23
- Location
- FL
- RV Year
- 2004
- RV Make
- Winnebago
- RV Model
- Itasca Suncruiser
- RV Length
- 35U
Greetings. One year ago today Hurricane Sally made landfall and sat on top of us, bringing wind and a torrent of rain. The fiberglass roof membrane on our 2004 35U began tearing away in the winds. Although it was an insurance claim, it sat with the repair shop for nine months while they fumbled with ordering parts and the wrong kind of glue, breaking an exhaust fan and skylight (as well as the retractable stairs), and a “hit-and-run” on their own lot.
We had a successful trip for Mother’s Day. Alas our good fortune was fleeting. Although it was several hundred miles to our west, the outer bands of Hurricane Ida tore a piece off the new roof. Took rig to an alternate shop but not an insurance claim this time; a “warranty” claim due to shoddy workmanship on the replacement roof (in the opinion of the alt. shop). Original shop won’t take it back until late November. Another round of holidays without the rig. Not feeling hopeful for prompt or quality work based on the last experience. Oh, and the HWH control box appears to now be dead. ?
Having taken a close look at how it’s put together, in my opinion the 35U’s roof membrane design is flawed due to the rather lengthy turn-down at the side of the rig. It seems to behave like an airfoil when hit with a crosswind; thus the lower pressure on the flat part “lifts” the membrane, untucking it from the aluminum rail and peeling back in the direct wind.
And so it goes. If another storm comes we couldn’t evacuate with the rig even if we wanted to.
How are things going for you? ?
We had a successful trip for Mother’s Day. Alas our good fortune was fleeting. Although it was several hundred miles to our west, the outer bands of Hurricane Ida tore a piece off the new roof. Took rig to an alternate shop but not an insurance claim this time; a “warranty” claim due to shoddy workmanship on the replacement roof (in the opinion of the alt. shop). Original shop won’t take it back until late November. Another round of holidays without the rig. Not feeling hopeful for prompt or quality work based on the last experience. Oh, and the HWH control box appears to now be dead. ?
Having taken a close look at how it’s put together, in my opinion the 35U’s roof membrane design is flawed due to the rather lengthy turn-down at the side of the rig. It seems to behave like an airfoil when hit with a crosswind; thus the lower pressure on the flat part “lifts” the membrane, untucking it from the aluminum rail and peeling back in the direct wind.
And so it goes. If another storm comes we couldn’t evacuate with the rig even if we wanted to.
How are things going for you? ?
