If you’re interested in joining the RV lifestyle, purchasing a Keystone RV is a great option. These RV’s have all the amenities you need during your travels. However, one of the main complaints about these RVs is the trouble with the roof.
Whenever you purchase an affordable RV, you’re likely to have some manufacturing problems. Keystone RV is no exception to this rule; the main problem you’ll have to worry about is your RV roof.
Please continue reading to learn how to troubleshoot your Keystone RV roof problems so that you can stay comfortable on the road. The last thing you want to worry about is Water leaking on your head while you sleep.
Common Keystone RV Roof Problems
1. Poor Manufacturing
Keystone RV’s are affordable for people who want to get on the road but can’t afford a luxury option. Unfortunately, when you find a cheap RV, the manufacturing costs are likely lower than the competitors. Poor manufacturing is the main reason people experience trouble with their Keystone RV roofs.
How To Identify
Many Keystone RV roofs you purchase won’t have manufacturing problems. However, it can be devastating if you’re unlucky enough to get one with a faulty roof. You can identify a poorly manufactured roof if it starts leaking even when there’s no damage.
How To Resolve
If you have a bad Keystone RV roof due to manufacturing, there are a few options you can do to resolve this problem. First, contact the dealership you purchased your Keystone RV from. You might have a warranty that covers repairs to a roof within a certain time frame if you can prove you didn’t damage the roof.
However, if you don’t have this warranty in place, there’s another way to resolve this problem. You can purchase roof sealant and detect any holes in your roof.
You can also hire a professional to install a new roof on your Keystone RV, but this option is more expensive. RV roof sealant can get you through for a few months until you can find a permanent option.
2. Damage to Roof
Another reason you can experience common roof problems is that your roof is damaged. Your RV roof is susceptible to all sorts of weather and environmental damage, which is more common than you think. You might not notice damage to your roof until months after the incident happened.
How To Identify
The easiest way to tell that you have damage to your roof is to check the roof after inclement weather. For example, if you drive your RV through a hailstorm, you might have damage to your roof that can result in leakage.
You can also identify damage to your Keystone RV roof by looking on top once a month and inspecting it. Some damage is extremely easy to detect because it will leave noticeable holes or make loud noises when it hits your roof.
For instance, if a tree branch falls down on your RV roof during a storm, you will notice immediately. It would be best to assume that damage occurred and treat the damage before you notice any leaks.
How To Resolve
The best way to resolve damage to your roof is to contact your RV insurance company. You may have inclement weather coverage to help you save money on repairs. However, if your insurance policy doesn’t cover weather or environmental damage, you’ll have to pay for repairs out of pocket.
You can purchase a temporary roof sealant if you don’t have access to a mechanic immediately. However, the roof sealant is a temporary option for a permanent problem, and you will need to visit a mechanic eventually. They can fix any damage to your roof so that you can hit the road safely.
3. Roof Sealing Problems
If you take your RV on the road often, you’ll eventually lose your RV seal. It takes much maintenance to keep your sealing on the roof, and you need to touch it up eventually. This problem isn’t exclusive to Keystone RV roofs, and it’s a problem every RV encounters.
How To Identify
Get on top of your Keystone RV roof and check the corners for any sealant that lifts. If you notice that the sealant isn’t in place, It’s time to touch it up.
If the weather has been especially harsh lately, it would be best to check your roof sealant. Inclement weather can wear down your sealant and make you need a replacement sooner than you expect.
How To Resolve
Peel off the old roof sealant and add a brand-new layer to your Keystone RV roof. You don’t want to layer it on top of the old stuff because it will make it harder to maintain moving forward.
Check sealant reviews before purchasing to ensure you buy a high-quality product. It won’t hold up long if you lay your low-quality sealant onto your Keystone RV roof.
How To Maintain Your Keystone Roof
Every part of your RV requires maintenance, and your roof is part of that. Maintaining your roof is one of the most important aspects of owning a Keystone RV because you can damage your product otherwise. Follow these guidelines to maintain your Keystone RV roof.
- Clean your RV roof once every six months: you can clean it more than that if you prefer, but it’s important to keep it clean. You can check for any damage during your cleaning session and keep your RV in tip-top shape.
- Be mindful of your roof cleaners: purchase RV roof cleaners that are appropriate for your material. For example, fiberglass and rubber are the main roofs you’ll encounter during the RV lifestyle. You need to purchase a cleaner that’s appropriate for the type of roof you own.
- Add a protective coating to your roof: to prevent weather damage from destroying your roof, you’ll want to add a protective layer. This is the best way to keep your roof in great condition when traveling.
- Repair any damage to your roof when it arises: many people urge to ignore roof problems when they arrive. It’s no secret that repairing an RV roof can get pricey, but it’s best to do these repairs as soon as possible. The longer you wait to repair your RV roof, the more money it will cost.
- Maintain your roof seals: plenty of spots around your roof require sealant. For example, you may overlook the sealant surrounding your AC. However, each part of your roof that has sealant requires maintenance, or you can leak.
Maintaining your Keystone RV roof is not the most glamorous part of RV ownership. However, when you maintain your roof, you will encounter less trouble than other RV owners. You shouldn’t worry about springing a leak in your RV roof while driving.
Unfortunately, RV trouble happens at the worst time when you don’t keep up with your maintenance. You’ll be in the middle of a fun road trip and encounter a vehicle problem that interrupts the enjoyment of your travel.
Keystone RV roofs aren’t the most durable options in the RV industry. You may need to maintain these roofs more often than other RVs. However, if you take great care of your roof, you shouldn’t encounter much trouble.
Do You Need a Professional for Keystone RV Roof Problems?
There are some RV roofing projects you can do on a DIY basis. For example, you can clean your roof and apply sealant without assistance from a professional. Doing these DIY projects independently is a great way to save money on RV roof repairs.
However, there are some situations where it would be best to enlist a professional for assistance in maintaining your RV roof. When you receive severe damage to your Keystone RV roof, it would be best to take the vehicle to a mechanic.
They will ensure that they resolve your roofing problems, and you won’t waste time learning the ins and outs of this DIY project. Before you tackle the project independently, you should call your RV insurance company for more information.
Some insurance companies refuse to cover DIY projects, so you’ll have to go to a mechanic to save money. Understand your insurance policy before making DIY resolutions to your Keystone RV roof.
You can also visit a professional to handle your Keystone RV roof problems if you don’t have time to do it yourself. Sometimes, life can get in the way of you performing your RV repairs, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
Final Thoughts
Now that you understand the most common Keystone RV roof problems you’ll encounter, it’ll be easier to keep your roof protected while driving. You shouldn’t worry about springing a leak when you and your family take a road trip in your Keystone RV. Maintaining your RV’s roof is the best way to keep it in great condition while you travel.
Most RV roof problems you encounter include weather damage and poor manufacturing. However, these issues are easy to resolve, so you don’t have to purchase an entirely new RV anytime soon.
We have a 2021 290RLS cougar that presently has a broken truss, it’s scheduled to go in for service next week our floors are very squeaky and popping I’m afraid that we may have got a lemon
I purchased a new 2020 Keystone 280 URB in Jan. 2021. Before purchase, I inspected the roof. The rubber coating was separated from the plywood. Keystone covered a new roof by the dealership. After 4 months, 5 staples were backed out & it had to be replaced again. Six months later, it has 3 staples backing out. I may make a claim under the Lemon Law.
Had a 320mls sprinter staples come out 2019 keystone refused to fix it said I did not have a problem till it put a hole in the rubber will never buy a keystone again 40.000 dollars so I sold it back to the dealer poor service
Hello,
We have a 10 month old Keystone Cougar fifth wheel. We took it in for normal maintenance and have been told that the roof had twigs and sticks on it that put holes in the roof and that we need a whole new roof. This is hard for me to wrap my head around. We were told that the camp sites have a lot of trees. Really? I don’t get it. Any advice?
Thanks,
Debbie