Fiberglass "delamination" on my 2013 Kodiak 283BHSL - Dutchmen Owners
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Old 09-30-2019, 08:37 PM   #1
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Fiberglass "delamination" on my 2013 Kodiak 283BHSL

Just discovered a delamination bubble on our 2013 Kodiak 283BHSL! It's almost the entire front of the camper. Anyone else having this issue??
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Old 09-30-2019, 08:50 PM   #2
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Can you get a picture of the transition molding across the top of the front skin that attaches to the roof?
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Old 09-30-2019, 08:55 PM   #3
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Sure can. I took it to a dealer and they verified the seals had no leaks.
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Old 10-09-2019, 10:58 PM   #4
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I had more of a delamination ripple. My fault, I failed to notice a water leak and that was the cause. Couldn't find a do-it-yourself fix so it stands as a constant reminder to me....be more mindful of potential leaks. Luckily it seemed to stay on the outside layer. If yours is not a leak it pretty much sounds like a manufacturing defect.
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Old 10-10-2019, 01:39 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jasonarusso View Post
Just discovered a delamination bubble on our 2013 Kodiak 283BHSL! It's almost the entire front of the camper. Anyone else having this issue??
We had the same problem on our 2013 242 rsel. It bugged me for 2 years before I found the leak on the front cap. It was just a very small spot, less than a 1/4 inch but it was just enough. I ended up replacing the entire front piece. It really was't that hard and it took me 2 days with some great friends help. Total cost was just under $500 including the decal and a couple pizzas.
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Old 10-10-2019, 02:11 AM   #6
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Sure can. I took it to a dealer and they verified the seals had no leaks.
So you had a bubble and no leak? I have a hard bubble about two feet from the ground on my front cap 2016 reels, what could it be.
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Old 10-10-2019, 02:13 AM   #7
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Sure can. I took it to a dealer and they verified the seals had no leaks.
So you had a bubble and no leak? I have a hard bubble about two feet from the ground on my front cap 2016 resl what could it be?
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Old 10-10-2019, 12:10 PM   #8
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We had the same problem on our 2013 242 rsel. It bugged me for 2 years before I found the leak on the front cap. It was just a very small spot, less than a 1/4 inch but it was just enough. I ended up replacing the entire front piece. It really was't that hard and it took me 2 days with some great friends help. Total cost was just under $500 including the decal and a couple pizzas.
Nice, good to know. Could you share where you obtained the decal? Thanks
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Old 10-12-2019, 03:00 PM   #9
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Nice job! I have the same delam on my Freedom Spirit and there is no leak. Where did you get the new material? I am considering the same replacement.

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Old 10-12-2019, 07:34 PM   #10
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Rkster, warms my heart to see guys like you do such great repair jobs. Gives hope to us guys with two left hands. Great job.
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Old 02-05-2020, 11:53 PM   #11
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Originally Posted by Rkster View Post
We had the same problem on our 2013 242 rsel. It bugged me for 2 years before I found the leak on the front cap. It was just a very small spot, less than a 1/4 inch but it was just enough. I ended up replacing the entire front piece. It really was't that hard and it took me 2 days with some great friends help. Total cost was just under $500 including the decal and a couple pizzas.
Great job. Where did you get the fiberglass cap? What adhesive? My 2013 221RBSL has the same problem. I plan on DIY also as soon as it gets warmer. Thanks for sharing the pics.
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Old 07-19-2020, 03:37 PM   #12
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I’m seeing the same on my 2013 294RKSS. No leaks. I’d like to replace it but I’m worried about causing a leaking problem by doing that.
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Old 09-30-2020, 11:00 PM   #13
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delamination

My 2015 200 QB has the front cap with "wrinkles in the glass. These wrinkles are hard as concrete. I have no clue why they are there.
Then the rear outside , which is flat, is separating from the plywood.
The glass is coming off as if it were never "glued" on. I am tempted to totally remove the back end sheeting and peel off the glass then re-glue the whole thing back together.
Hope I made sense with my post.

Any thoughts ?
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Old 06-30-2021, 08:57 PM   #14
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Best answer is that Dutchmen makes absolute SH*T. I have a 2012 242resl and it's been nothing but trouble from the start. The A/C started it all,, it was never properly fastened at the factory, but since my slide ripped my flooring the day I took it home it had to sit unnoticed at another dealer to be fixed for the remainder of it's 1 year warranty.
I have a post on here somewhere.. took a hiatus.
The door side sprung a leak where the awning connects and it delammed under the window and around the micro vent, top to bottom. Can't be fixed but has been stable. My front went 3 years ago ,, sucked in same as the photos here. Can't get anything fixed or replaced in Canada. Took 2 years to find a guy who works at a dealers to do it for cash. Cost a bundle. Couldn't even find a supplier to ship me filon sheeting. He seamed aluminum cargo panels for a utility trailer on the front. Came out really nice as it matches the black diamond plate on the bottom.
Now I've noticed that the back panel is separating on both bottom corners!!
WTF???? I thought this laminate was the way to go back then. It was supposed to be vacuum laminated so this wouldn't happen.
What a FARCE Dutchmen is. Their answer to me was that I should say that the damage started from a plumbing leak and put it through insurance. Just after my warranty was up... hard to convince insurance that there is plumbing in the ceiling. lol
NEVER EVER will I buy another sh#tbox from Dutchmen.
I even paid for their extended warranty which turned out to only cover the appliances they said,,, after the fact.
Buyer Beware........ they're all the same,, but Dutchmen has proved that they don't care about quality or customers.
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