How To Repair An Abs Plastic Coleman Tent Trailer Roof

Fleetwood Folding Trailers (FFT), which was then selling popular ups under the make name Coleman introduced the ABS (plastic) roof in the 1996 model yr. During the early years of introduction the ABS roof was included on nigh all Coleman Pop Ups.

FFT manufactured the ABS roofs themselves in their Pennsylvania assembly facility. Information technology was soon plant that some roofs began to sag for unknown reasons. The first thought was that the A/C unit of measurement caused it and they had dealers retrofit the roofs of pop ups equipped with A/C installed units with a metallic bar inside the camper to provide boosted support. This bar was added as a regular item to ALL pop ups manufactured quondam in 1998 and a retrofit kit was fabricated available for all older units. The absence or presence of a bar in a popular upward does not denote a "new" roof.

They continued having problems and other factors were investigated, such as exposure to heat. Information technology appeared that pop ups in warmer climates experienced a greater number of sag cases than cooler climates. FFT tried dissimilar formulations of ABS plastic but roofs continued to sag. Additionally, the problem appeared more in 12 foot box pop ups than in ten foot boxes.

The final cause ( as well as anyone tin like us tin can effigy out ) is that roofs manufactured under sure climatic weather condition (temperature and humidity) did not allow the ABS plastic to cure properly. It was these roofs that eventually sagged. The number I hear thrown about is that x% of the ABS roofs manufactured were bad. I think this number is a fiddling high, simply who is to know other than FFT.

Sometime around 1999/2000 Coleman finally stopped making the roofs themselves and began buying ABS roofs from an outside vendor. At his indicate the the sagging problem seems to take lessened to a caste or disappeared. Now those roofs existence supplied by the outside vendor began to showroom other problems, which have been chronicled on cyberspace forums.

They include:

Delamination: Part of the ABS plastic delaminates from the core of the roof and a blister forms on the surface.

Bowing of front & back seal: The seal expanse of the front end and back portion of the roof, where information technology contacts the box in the down (or travel position) bows upwardly sufficiently to allow water penetration during driving in pelting. This condition appears to go abroad afterward 24 to 48 hours sitting in the down position. Some believe that the shepherds hook used to push out the bed end canvas pushes upwards into the seal during use and bends it out of shape. At least 2 different styles of seals/gaskets were introduced in an attempt to right this problem.

Both of these bug appear to be limited to a pocket-sized number of roofs.

In 2003 the vendor FFT was ownership the roofs from went out of business. At that signal FFT began enforcing the letter of the written warranty. The roof warranty is detailed on the following table:

Year Fleetwood Pays - 1996 Parts and freight are paid years 3+ of ownership Labor later year ii
Owner Pays - 1997 Parts and labor are paid years 3+ of ownership Aircraft after twelvemonth two

Second and subsequent owners practise non accept the protection of a warranty. In the past some accept reported that FFT seems to be working with these owners to find a solution. The virtually common solution that has posted hither is that FFT will supply a new roof to a FFT dealer if the owner will pay shipping and labor for the installation. They volition not send one to an possessor for cocky installation. Parts prices for the roof itself have been posted at betwixt $one,200 and $two,000 with aircraft and labor running between $700 and $900. I have not heard about anyone getting this deal later FFT began enforcing the warranty.

Starting the 2003 1/2 model twelvemonth, Coleman is phased out the ABS roof and replaced it with the new AlumiTite Krystal Kote Composite Roofs for the GT and GTEs. The AlumiTite Krystal Kote Blended Roof didn't last long either, and has been replaced likewise.

Now, I get a lot of e-mails from folks asking virtually "fixing" their roof. I'chiliad sorry to say, if you take a astringent sag or your sides are bowing out fixing information technology may be out of the question. But, if you lot have a few small cracks you may be able to accept care of information technology yourself.

First of all, should y'all attempt to do this call up, y'all decided to practise information technology and you are on your own. I do not guarantee anything. It's upwardly to you. Secondly, the repair should exist done in a well ventilated area. The things you are going to be working with PVC/ABS gum and MEK are toxic solvents and are probably non real skillful for your lungs. As always, wear clothing to protect your pare and safety spectacles/goggles.

The all-time ABS crack repair y'all can do is with MEK (MethylEthylKetone) and ABS pulverization or chips. MEK tin can be found at nearly hardware stores equally PVC/ABS glue, and it will melt ABS plastic given sufficient time. While ABS plastic tin can unremarkably be found at hardware/habitation improvement store store in the PVC expanse, it is usually blackness. Y'all could also stop by a FFT dealer as they may have damaged roof and wall panels lying out back that they may give y'all a piece of.

1. Drill the end(s) of any cracks to reduce the stress and keep it from smashing farther. Information technology doesn't have to exist a big hole, just sufficient size to round out the finish of the crack and stop the stress at the "pointy" terminate of the scissure.

2. Crude upwards the ABS around the crack and make clean it with ABS/PVC cleaning solvent.

3. Grind upward the ABS plastic you accept by whatsoever method yous may have , the smaller the ameliorate. Mix about equal parts MEK and the ABS you basis up in a drinking glass jar (with a chapeau). Let this mixture sit down for a few minutes , and so open the jar and stir the mixture. Repeat until you have a "slurry" or "goo" of melted ABS plastic.

4. You can now utilize the slurry of ABS to fill the cracks with. This slurry should have sufficient MEK in it to melt your slurry to the roof, sealing the cracks. Work quickly as it dries quickly. Also, exist conscientious almost letting the slurry or ABS/PVC cleaning solvent drip/run downwards the side of the roof equally it can melt/stain the good areas of your roof.

Coleman ABS Top Repair Directions

Commodity courtesy of Natasha's Camping ground Site

with...

Coleman ® 􀀂 Folding Trailers

by Fleetwood ® 􀀂 ...

the 2 Virtually Trusted Names

in Outdoor Recreation!

NOW INTRODUCES ...

The Manufacture's Simply

True One-piece Seamless ABS

Roof with Luran® 􀀇 Southward ASA!

This brochure is provided so that

you may better empathise the

construction, properties, and care

for your new Coleman® 􀀉 Folding

Trailer's seamless ABS roof system.

Coleman® Folding Trailers

by Fleetwood® ...

the 2 Most Trusted Names

in Outdoor Recreation

Over 27 years ago, the Coleman® Company introduced its commencement folding trailer based on the aforementioned tradition of quality known for its popular outdoor camping products. The Coleman name has come to symbolize ''The Greatest Name In The Great Outdoors" with anunparalleled commitment to quality and client satisfaction. The Fleetwood􀀉 proper noun has also established a reputation of beingness the world'southward largest recreational vehicle manufacturer, producing nearly one out of every three RV's on the route today. Over the by years, both Coleman and Fleetwood names accept steadily grown together in establishing a new level of product value and customer satisfaction.

Your new Coleman® Folding Trailer by Fleetwood ® features a revolutionary new camper acme technology that makes it rigid, durable, and seamless. Its . structure consists of a plastic outer skin, approximately .080" thick, a core of injected high-density cream, much like inside a Coleman Libation, and a plastic inner skin also approximately .080" thick. The plastic skins are a material called ABS, which possesses high impact resistance and easy formability. ABS has been extensively used in the RV business for over xx years.

The Coleman Folding Trailer'due south ABS roofs outer peel is co-extruded with a UV resistant layer called Luran® Southward ASA which is produced by BASF®. UV resistant co-extruded ABS is excellent for outside applications and in fact has been used in this fashion by Coleman every bit front and rear body panels on its camping trailers for over fifteen years. Other mutual exterior applications for weatherable ABS are in outdoor spas, pickup truck caps, lawn and garden equipment, and trunk moulding on cars.

Because ABS is a "Thermoplastic" fabric, information technology is formed past heating a large canvass and then "draping" the softened sail over a mold and allowing the sheet to cool to the shape of the mold. Considering of its thermoplastic nature, ABS never loses its heat formability, thus parts fabricated of ABS will expand in estrus and shrink in cold. At colder temperatures, ABS parts will compress and at warmer temperatures, ABS will aggrandize. Nosotros have extensively and successfully tested Coleman Folding Trailer roofs to temperatures every bit low as -20°F and as high every bit 140°F.

The trailer roof is designed with the power to shrink and expand. This is why the trunk of your trailer is longer and wider than the roof and why the roofs perimeter gasket will sometimes be tucked behind or exist protruding out from the roof. The perimeter gasket is gratis to whorl as the roof expands and contracts while maintaining a atmospheric condition tight seal to the body of the trailer.

You lot may observe the top surface of the trailer'due south roof will bow slightly upward or down and the side walls of the roof will bow inward and outward. This is caused past the expansion and contraction of the ABS textile. ABS has a •retentiveness• which allows it to regain its original shape in one case the material returns to a moderate temperature. Shape distortions volition be most noticeable when in that location is a great temperature deviation between the material'due south core and its surface; such equally when a cold trailer is exposed to the hot sun or when a trailer warmed past the sun experiences cold night time temperatures. If equipped with a roof-peak air conditioner, the top surface may bow downward under the air conditioner'south weight. This .does not impairment the roof and is minimized past the improver of an interior brace.

As with all plastics, cleansers containing abrasives, solvents, and caustics should be avoided. Your trailer came with a BASF hang-tag which gives cleaning instructions for the Coleman Folding Trailer's ABS / Luran® S ASA roof and these instructions must exist followed. In the example of gouges or cuts to the exterior and interior plastic skins, the factory Customer Service Department or your local Fleetwood Folding Trailer Dealership tin instruct y'all how to repair this damage to a fully functional state, although about repairs will not be cosmetically invisible. If an accident should result in pocket-sized dents to the trailer roof, it's likely that no structural damage has occurred. If a severe impact creates a creased dent, information technology'south possible that the structural foam core has been cracked and the skins accept delaminated from the foam. This will not render the roof unusable, but volition weaken it in the surrounding area.

This information is provided so that you lot may better understand the construction and backdrop of your new Coleman Folding Trailer'south seamless ABS roof system and how to properly intendance for information technology.

The roof on your new Coleman® Folding Trailer pastFleetwood® is made of LURAN® Due south ASA, a highly durable thermoplastic from BASF® Corporation.

Luran S ASA makes your folding trailer roof better by delivering superior forcefulness and protection even under the harshest weather conditions. Luran Southward ASA also delivers long lasting skillful looks and if properly cared for, your new roof will retain its advent through years of service and exposure.

To keep your Coleman Folding Trailer roof looking expert, it'due south of import to following the full general simple cleaning instructions below.

Cleaning instructions for your Luran S ASA folding trailer roof:

•Ever use the cleaner according to themanufacturer's directions.

• Utilise a soft, make clean textile to apply the cleaner.

•Apply the cleaner to the cloth rather thandirect to the roof.

•Clean only a small portion of the surface at in one case.

•After cleaning, rinse off the surface every bitcompletely as possible.

For specific information regarding full general and heavy cleaning, refer to the cleaning instructions '"Care and Cleaning Directions for Your Coleman Folding Trailer Roof located in your owners packet.

If you have specific questions about cleaning your

Luran Due south ASA roof call BASF Corporation Plastics

Materials at (800) 527-TECH {8324).

BASF®

We Don't make a lot of the products you lot purchase. Nosotros make a lot of the products you buy amend.®

Luran is a registered trademark of BASF Aktlengesellschaft

BASF and Nosotros don't brand a lot or the products y'all buy. We make a lot of the products you buy better.• ere registered trade marks of BASF Corporation