Roof Vent in Trillium 1300 - Fiberglass RV
Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 09-20-2021, 08:10 AM   #1
Junior Member
 
Name: Alix
Trailer: Trillium
BC
Posts: 12
Is this Roof Vent a problem in Trillium 1300

Hello all,
I am considering seeing a Trillium 1300 but it requires a fairly expensive trip there. It looks like a very lovely restored 1975. The pictures show the roof vent caulked. It looks a bit sketchy to me. Does anyone have advice of what might have been done here? There seem to be two layers of caulking... Would this be a problem? Would it be difficult or expensive to fix? I have not owned a trailer and am just getting into fixing things and building things myself... I would appreciate any advice! Thank you!
Attached Thumbnails
242364061_6127276360679589_4619961941405279882_n.jpg  
Alix F is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-20-2021, 08:37 AM   #2
Senior Member
 
Joe MacDonald's Avatar
 
Trailer: 1981 Trillium 5500
Posts: 1,158
Peeling that off, cleaning and re-sealing is about a 4 hour job, maybe 8 if you are unfamiliar with that kind of work. more important would be the frame and flooringhas the seller provided pictures of those?
At the front of the trailer where the frame bends up, there is a weak spot that is commonly reinforced, make sure that has been done.
Joe MacDonald is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-20-2021, 10:23 PM   #3
Junior Member
 
Name: Alix
Trailer: Trillium
BC
Posts: 12
Thank you

Thank you Joe. I appreciate your advice! Apparently the frame has been reinforced by the previous owner, an airline mechanic. It looks well done except for the roof vent...
Alix F is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-21-2021, 05:23 AM   #4
Senior Member
 
Joe MacDonald's Avatar
 
Trailer: 1981 Trillium 5500
Posts: 1,158
If you search the site, you will find a few articles on what the frame reinforcement should look like, and a few examples of what it looks like cracked or broken.
Joe
Joe MacDonald is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-21-2021, 06:47 AM   #5
Senior Member
 
Larry C Hanson's Avatar
 
Name: Larry
Trailer: Trillium
Arizona
Posts: 440
Dicor?

Hello,

It looks like the vent edge and screws were sealed with Dicor which
is as self leveling caulk designed for use on RV roofs covered with
an elastomeric membrane. The owner probably used butyl tape
between the plastic vent body and the roof. Having used Dicor on
the large 5th wheel trailer I live in I think the caulk would do a
proper job of sealing the vent. Check for any water marks on the
ceiling of the trailer.

The job done looks a little messy. If the trailer were mine I would
remove the old vent and do a proper job of reinstalling it. It would
better to get a new vent with an aluminum body that will
not deteriorate from sunlight.

Uncle Larry
Larry C Hanson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-21-2021, 08:26 AM   #6
Junior Member
 
Name: Alix
Trailer: Trillium
BC
Posts: 12
Thanks very much Larry! Alix
Alix F is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-23-2021, 08:33 AM   #7
Junior Member
 
Name: Alix
Trailer: Trillium
BC
Posts: 12
Frame reinforcement

Hello again everyone,

I received a photo of the welded frame reinforcement. It looks different from what I expected to see (welded on plates). Could anyone with some experience give me an idea whether this looks well done and durable?

Much appreciated! Thanks in advance!
Attached Thumbnails
242655278_4555812957814110_3329888218951609218_n.jpg   242240760_1251855995332095_8496399535333612406_n.jpg  

Alix F is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-23-2021, 08:45 AM   #8
Senior Member
 
Name: bill
Trailer: 2013 Escape 19
The Mountains of North Carolina
Posts: 4,137
Registry
1. On the vent, it doesn't look original. the original roof vent had a raised flange around it. This looks like a sloppy job to me. Raised flange helps strengthen roof and keeps water away from the vent. Good design IMO.

What people do is replace the original 9 inch square vent, basically obsolete, with a 14 inch square vent (modern standard). Because of the size, they cut off the original flange to make a bigger hole, losing the advantages of the raised flange design.

2. On the frame. repair, that might be OK, but it is not the typical repair. I would like to see how the body to frame bolts are attached. The frame usually cracks vertically, right where the bolts go through the frame.

There are two bends in the frame that weaken it. First the frame rails bend inward, then they bend upward. Both bends collapse one side of the frame tubing. Often the failure is at the "inward" bend, as unfortunately, the body to frame bolt tends to be located there too.


This is just one person's opinion!
Attached Thumbnails
64577065-AB3A-445D-B7B5-C37D103D12C3_1_201_a.jpg   C2A16440-6BCA-4604-9063-975A41DF013A_1_201_a.jpg  

thrifty bill is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-23-2021, 03:45 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
David Tilston's Avatar
 
Name: Dave W
Trailer: Trillium 4500 - 1976, 1978, 1979, 1300 - 1977, and a 1973
Alberta
Posts: 6,926
Registry
Bill is correct. That is not an orignal vent. The big indication of this is the fact that it is a powed vent. I'm not aware of any 9" vents with a fan.
David Tilston is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-23-2021, 05:05 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
Name: bill
Trailer: 2013 Escape 19
The Mountains of North Carolina
Posts: 4,137
Registry
Quote:
Originally Posted by David Tilston View Post
Bill is correct. That is not an orignal vent. The big indication of this is the fact that it is a powed vent. I'm not aware of any 9" vents with a fan.
I put a computer 12v fan in my 9 inch vent, not ideal. There is an 11 inch powered vent on Amazon. I thought about installing one of those. The objective is to keep the raised flange, that’s why I have the ruler in my pictures.
thrifty bill is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-23-2021, 08:52 PM   #11
Junior Member
 
Name: Alix
Trailer: Trillium
BC
Posts: 12
Thank you!

Hello Bill and David,

Thanks very much for your input, advice and opinions. I am new to this and find it fantastic to have this forum to get advice! I think I will leave this Trillium alone... It's quite far, quite expensive and maybe a bit "creatively" renovated... Not worth a long trip!

Thanks again!
Alix F is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-24-2021, 08:22 AM   #12
Senior Member
 
David Tilston's Avatar
 
Name: Dave W
Trailer: Trillium 4500 - 1976, 1978, 1979, 1300 - 1977, and a 1973
Alberta
Posts: 6,926
Registry
Quote:
Originally Posted by thrifty bill View Post
I put a computer 12v fan in my 9 inch vent, not ideal. There is an 11 inch powered vent on Amazon. I thought about installing one of those. The objective is to keep the raised flange, that’s why I have the ruler in my pictures.
Bill, I think an acceptable alternative to the factory raised flange is a 1" pultruded fibreglass square tube frame.
https://www.grainger.ca/en/product/S...-FT/p/WWG4ATN8
$28.18 Canadian is not too much, and 5' should be enough for a 14" vent, (might have to round the corners a bit though). The additional height of the frame helps to keep the powered vent from hanging below the ceiling height.
David Tilston is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-24-2021, 10:41 AM   #13
Senior Member
 
Name: bill
Trailer: 2013 Escape 19
The Mountains of North Carolina
Posts: 4,137
Registry
I like the fiberglass tubing! Need to get some. I’d be tempted to keep the original vent, and then center a 14/14 powered vent over the dinette.

On finding a Trillium, I tend to avoid the repainted ones. First, most paint jobs were poorly done. We’re all the windows and every penetration through the shell removed before painting and then properly reinstalled? Secondly, the original gel coat can last a lifetime, while paint means future maintenance.

I’d rather buy one in unmolested, but ignored/needs attention condition.
thrifty bill is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
trillium


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
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


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
New roof vent for Trillium 4500 designed for thicker roof Vic Berger Problem Solving | Owners Helping Owners 1 07-07-2020 07:40 AM
Anyone know how to fix a saggy roof in a Boler??? (around roof vent) idiotsniff Problem Solving | Owners Helping Owners 31 11-17-2014 06:50 AM
Protecting The Roof & Roof Vent Covers , AC, This Winter ???? John Cole Care and Feeding of Molded Fiberglass Trailers 25 01-15-2013 05:57 PM
To Roof Vent, Or Not To Roof Vent Frederick L. Simson Problem Solving | Owners Helping Owners 5 02-22-2009 05:41 PM

» Upcoming Events
No events scheduled in
the next 465 days.
» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 11:43 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.