New Bulb Seal For Slideout
Today I had to replace the bulb seal on our slide-out. When I went to inspect the condition of the rubber roof on top of the slide-out I noticed seal was sagging in the middle. I pulled the seal back and the metal teeth inside of the rubber that hold it in place were all rusted.
Our Jayco 5th wheel is only in it’s 6th year of service. I would think that the seal should have lasted a bit longer than that. I did find out that it is typical for the seals to give way and fall off. Just wish we could have got a bit longer life out of it.
Some people say you should caulk around the corners of the seal, some say to caulk around all of it. The caulk Jayco used at the factory was impossible to remove so I would advise leaving it in place and just seal over it. What ever you end up doing I am sure the caulk will separate from the rubber anyway. You will be relying on the seal itself to keep the moisture out.
The best method of prolonging the life of the bulb seal on your slide-out is to invest in a slide-out awning cover. This will keep the water out of the seal. It will also keep other debris from becoming trapped on top of you slide-out. It is a wise investment, yet a bit pricey.
