Waterproofing vintage campers is a must if you want to prevent further h2o damage.  I lost count of the hours I spent removing silicone caulking from the seams of our Shasta Compact.  It is easy to put on, simply it doesn't come up off quiet then fast.  Why was it there in the get-go identify?  Because in that location is no handbook for repairing vintage campers and I followed some communication I found online.  Below you volition notice the products that did end upwards working for united states of america.

The data I share on this blog depicts what worked for us during our camper repair and restoration project.  It may non be what is all-time for you.  Yous may take an alternative stance completely.  Get out a comment and let me know what you hold and don't agree with.

But First…

Yous can see the steps we took to repair h2o damage in this post.  You volition want to right whatever impairment before yous brainstorm the process of waterproofing.

Dos and Don'ts

Do PREP THE SURFACE

Yous will need to remove all of the old caulking, sealant, and butyl tape earlier applying more than to your camper.

Silicone Caulking: I used 3M Caulk Remover and a plastic putty knife to remove this.

Sealant: I removed this with a plastic putty knife and sandpaper.

Butyl Tape: I removed onetime butyl tape with the plastic putty pocketknife.

DO Apply Butyl Tape


Butyl record is used to seal windows and the roof vents.  If your camper has baste edges or J railing, yous should also apply new butyl tape to it as well.  To apply the butyl tape, y'all will need to remove each window or vent, place a strip of butyl record along the edge that butts up to the camper, and put them back in place.  If you are working outdoors, yous will need to pick a warmer day to apply the tape.  It doesn't stick to the aluminum also on cold days.

Once the buytl tape has had a few days to settle, you will want to re-tighten all of the screws.  This will ensure a tighter seal.

Do Use Proflex RV sealant


Proflex RV Sealant is a great product to use on your roof seams.  In one case you take practical butyl tape to the roof vent, you lot tin add Proflex to the border of it equally well.  A minor dot can besides exist place on the screw heads of the windows and roof vents for extra protections.  Proflex tin be painted over if the need should occur.

Don't Use Dicor Self Leveling Sealant

I've seen this suggested many times; so many times that I used information technology myself.  Afterward two years the sealant croaky and it needed to be replaced.  Our piffling vintage Shasta is stored outside, and then this might make the difference on how long this lasts.  If anyone reading this has had a positive experience, comment beneath.

 DON'T Utilize SILICONe CAULKING

Every bit I mentioned higher up, this is hard to remove.  If you want to paint your camper at some point in the future, you will need to remove the silicone since you can't paint information technology.

don't use a heat gun if…

If your camper has already been painted, don't use a heat gun.  It can and will ruin your pigment job.  All the same, a oestrus gun speeds up the process of removing old products if your camper hasn't been painted withal.  Others have used a hair dryer.