Roof Radius Cracks Above Awning

[DandR Hill]

Thanks for the reply. Based on your description, I wonder if they treat each crack in some way to prevent them from continuing to expand beyond the aluminum overlay. Would hate to do this and have cracks reappear from under the cap in a year or two. Did Newmar offer any explanation for why the cracks occurred in the first place?

 

[Kevin D Pem]

Thanks for the reply. Based on your description, I wonder if they treat each crack in some way to prevent them from continuing to expand beyond the aluminum overlay. Would hate to do this and have cracks reappear from under the cap in a year or two. Did Newmar offer any explanation for why the cracks occurred in the first place?

to fix a crack in cast iron we drill a hole at the end of the crack to keep it from traveling. If I were doing the job that is what I would do. I am sure they know this but it wouldn't hurt to make the comment.

 

[MapNerd]

Whew. No carefree awnings on my unit, which I sometimes regret.

Guess they’re not so carefree after all.
You might even say they aren’t all they’re cracked up to be!

I’ll be here all week

 

[Just George]

Newmar did not provide any info to me regarding the cause of the cracks. My best guess is they are stress fractures initiated at the screws in the various locations along lower edge of the radiused fiberglass. I suspect stress at the screw hole combined with flexure as the coach travels caused the cracks to form and propagate. I did not ask about the details of the repair, i.e. drilled holes to stop the crack propagation, if the aluminum has an adhesive to offer any "structural" enhancement. In my experience I think the customer service rep. and or the tech that is assigned to you would be happy to provide any info they have.