Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 

Go Back   Thor Forums > Thor Tech Forums > Maintenance and Repair
Click Here to Login
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 03-24-2022, 03:39 PM   #1
Member
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Chateau 27R
State: North Carolina
Posts: 56
THOR #25266
Black streaks?

Whenever it rains, I get these black streaks on my 2022 Chateau. What’s causing them and is there any way to prevent them? Thanks.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	0E9C45D3-B980-4C4F-BA54-D209E6E4182D.jpg
Views:	45
Size:	164.7 KB
ID:	36600   Click image for larger version

Name:	B44D67F9-48AD-46D0-ABB3-02E91A31F13C.jpg
Views:	42
Size:	145.0 KB
ID:	36601  

Click image for larger version

Name:	138F098B-8763-4FB8-AACB-55B9052489C0.jpg
Views:	41
Size:	103.5 KB
ID:	36602   Click image for larger version

Name:	2E94EEF6-7541-4EEE-863F-42C5A1EA53F1.jpg
Views:	43
Size:	132.9 KB
ID:	36603  


__________________
MichaelMaduske is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-24-2022, 05:55 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Chateau 24F
State: Ohio
Posts: 4,087
THOR #16721
Everyone has that issue... those streaks are from "dirty water runoff" from your roof. The cleaner you keep your roof, the less black streaks you'll see on the sides of your RV.

There are specific washing instructions depending on your roof type. You likely have a TPO roof - which can be cleaned with a soft bristle brush and mild detergent (RV wash). The roof naturally "sheds" over it's lifespan... you have to keep that shedding and dirt washed away.

https://youtu.be/XGLSiG88S5c

Next, give your entire RV a good wash and wax. After that, provided you keep your roof fairly clean, any black streaks will be very faint... and the wax will allow a simple wash job to easily remove them. But... I can't stress enough how important it is to keep your roof clean as prevention!
__________________
Be creative, and have a fun life...
...and don't be an @**hole! -Ken Block
Chateau_Nomad is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-24-2022, 06:17 PM   #3
Member
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Chateau 27R
State: North Carolina
Posts: 56
THOR #25266
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chateau_Nomad View Post
Everyone has that issue... those streaks are from "dirty water runoff" from your roof. The cleaner you keep your roof, the less black streaks you'll see on the sides of your RV.

There are specific washing instructions depending on your roof type. You likely have a TPO roof - which can be cleaned with a soft bristle brush and mild detergent (RV wash). The roof naturally "sheds" over it's lifespan... you have to keep that shedding and dirt washed away.

https://youtu.be/XGLSiG88S5c

Next, give your entire RV a good wash and wax. After that, provided you keep your roof fairly clean, any black streaks will be very faint... and the wax will allow a simple wash job to easily remove them. But... I can't stress enough how important it is to keep your roof clean as prevention!
Awesome! Thank you so much for the great information!
__________________
MichaelMaduske is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-24-2022, 06:20 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Hurricane 29M
State: Texas
Posts: 2,672
THOR #11781
Were I live, we get two pollen blooms, one in the spring and one in the fall. I wash the roof after each bloom and don't really have to deal with black streaks.
__________________
Lt Keefer
2018 Hurricane 29M
CHF, Saf-T-Plus, SumoSprings
Lt Keefer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-24-2022, 10:40 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Forest River Forester 235
State: Indiana
Posts: 4,883
THOR #6826
This stuff is absolutely magic on black streaks. Wash your roof often.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_3451.jpg
Views:	43
Size:	85.6 KB
ID:	36607  
__________________
Pete'sMH is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-24-2022, 11:07 PM   #6
Junior Member
 
Brand: Keystone
Model: Montana HC 375FL 5th whee
State: Indiana
Posts: 21
THOR #25836
There are those who say you really do not ever need to wash the roof of an RV. After all, who can see up there.

Well, now you know why we, who are a bit anal about it, wash our roofs 2 or 3 times a year.

FYI, WD40 will also remove the streaks and melt away road tar without hurting the finish a little bit. After you are done with the WD40 .... which by the way will put on a spectacular shine, wash with soap if you feel uncomfortable leaving the WD40 on there... which, by the way, will probably run off the first time it rains.
__________________
DutchmenSport is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-24-2022, 11:18 PM   #7
Site Team
 
EA37TS's Avatar
 
Brand: Entegra
Model: Accolade 37TS
State: South Dakota
Posts: 8,726
THOR #1469
Same streaks that appear on the gutters or roofs of house. Cause is the same and the solution is the same.
__________________
EA37TS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-25-2022, 02:08 AM   #8
Member
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Chateau 27R
State: North Carolina
Posts: 56
THOR #25266
Thanks for all the comments. I will clean the roof ASAP. Brand new 2022 unit, owned since Oct. Guess I will have to wash the roof monthly and get to waxing too. Lol
__________________
MichaelMaduske is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-25-2022, 02:25 AM   #9
Site Team
 
16ACE27's Avatar
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: ACE 27.1
State: Florida
Posts: 14,121
THOR #7035
__________________
Ted & Melinda
2016 ACE 27.1
2016 Chevy Sonic Toad - Selling
2020 Chevy Colorado Z71 Trail Runner Toad
2024 Chevrolet Trax 2RS - Soon 2B TOAD
16ACE27 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-25-2022, 03:28 PM   #10
Member
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Chateau 27R
State: North Carolina
Posts: 56
THOR #25266
So I climbed up there today. Is this the “dirt” you guys are referring too?
?
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	43C610CF-C23D-488C-A0CB-845BE81D6CA5.jpg
Views:	32
Size:	131.1 KB
ID:	36613   Click image for larger version

Name:	3BC3B6E7-DB8A-4245-A900-2DAE332F193F.jpg
Views:	32
Size:	83.2 KB
ID:	36614  

Click image for larger version

Name:	295FB129-EB0B-43FE-AA5C-363C6605D487.jpg
Views:	29
Size:	61.8 KB
ID:	36615  
__________________
MichaelMaduske is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-25-2022, 03:50 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Chateau 24F
State: Ohio
Posts: 4,087
THOR #16721
I think that's the culprit... what do you think?

P.S. You can scrub a little harder on the lap sealant areas than the actual roof membrane - you'll figure that out after washing the roof a few times. I occasionally use one of those dish sponges - the green "scrungie" side on the lap sealant, especially around vents where dirt tends to collect. I avoid using overly aggressive things like Scotch-Brite pads and such - but that's just me.

As you're up there washing, it's a great opportunity to look for cracks and voids in the sealant which may turn into a leak. It's a good idea to keep a tube of Dicor (or similar) self-leveling lap sealant in your RV tools arsenal to seal anything that looks suspicious.
__________________
Be creative, and have a fun life...
...and don't be an @**hole! -Ken Block
Chateau_Nomad is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-06-2022, 11:46 PM   #12
Senior Member
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: South Carolina
Posts: 694
THOR #22342
Here is what i did, i got so tired of washing the sides after each rain. I finally purchased a few rolls of 5/16 Dia weather stripping and laid a strip fwd and aft along the RV top edge. I came in about 3-4 inches. I then made a sealant bead along the seam with a high quality sealant. Now. the water is forced to drain fwd and aft and run down the fwd side windows and/or aft edge of RV. If its really going to rain hard like tonight, i will actually raise the aft a little and all the water is forced fwd. Not a streak now down the sides, a little black streak remover in the front is all it takes now...

The RV would really stain bad along that strip over the awning strip and window awnings, now its clean,

I can send a picture next time i am on top of RV.

Its probably not widely advertised, but it worked for me and no more scrubbing. I used Mikes picture of his roof to illustrate.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	2022-04-06_20-50-56.jpg
Views:	23
Size:	64.3 KB
ID:	36822   Click image for larger version

Name:	2022-04-06_20-54-44.jpg
Views:	23
Size:	104.4 KB
ID:	36823  

__________________
txc2936@yahoo.com is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-06-2022, 11:48 PM   #13
Member
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Chateau 27R
State: North Carolina
Posts: 56
THOR #25266
Brilliant!
__________________
MichaelMaduske is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-07-2022, 03:08 PM   #14
Senior Member
 
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: South Carolina
Posts: 694
THOR #22342
We had a pretty hard rain here last night in SC. I went and inspected the RV for water stain marks this morning.

The FWD and AFT ends have the streaking only. The side with the awning is clean. I show a picture of the drivers side window and the area just aft of the awning. I am limited on photo loading here, so no picture of the aft end of RV.

I have included a few pictures of thee strip install. The water will run aft in this picture and drain off the roof top at this point with arrow. This certainly reduces the amount of work cleaning the sides, and if be, I can easily remove the weather stripping with a putty knife.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	2022-04-07_11-02-54.jpg
Views:	21
Size:	57.7 KB
ID:	36848   Click image for larger version

Name:	2022-04-07_11-04-03.jpg
Views:	22
Size:	59.1 KB
ID:	36850  

Click image for larger version

Name:	2022-04-07_11-05-56.jpg
Views:	32
Size:	44.5 KB
ID:	36851   Click image for larger version

Name:	2022-04-07_11-06-15.jpg
Views:	27
Size:	22.9 KB
ID:	36852  

__________________
txc2936@yahoo.com is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Thor Industries or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.




All times are GMT. The time now is 07:14 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.6.0 PL2