Plastic Belly Plate Cracked

[drchaffe]

I have a 2011 Dutchmen Kodiak 200QB. There is a black corrugated sheet of plastic, about 1/4" or 3/8" in thickness, that covers the entire underneath of the body. I noticed while winterizing that this sheet (I call it the belly plate) has cracked and separated slightly from side to side (width) from just behind the wheels. This allows both sides, where the crack runs, to hang lower. The gap is large enough to allow rodents to enter, I taped it up for the winter and will need to deal with it in the spring. Any ideas on how to fix a problem like that? Thanks

[CSCLARK]

Originally Posted by drchaffe

I have a 2011 Dutchmen Kodiak 200QB. There is a black corrugated sheet of plastic, about 1/4" or 3/8" in thickness, that covers the entire underneath of the body. I noticed while winterizing that this sheet (I call it the belly plate) has cracked and separated slightly from side to side (width) from just behind the wheels. This allows both sides, where the crack runs, to hang lower. The gap is large enough to allow rodents to enter, I taped it up for the winter and will need to deal with it in the spring. Any ideas on how to fix a problem like that? Thanks

Its called coroplast, same thing a lot of signs are made of. If it was me, I wouldn't worry too much about it and would just seal it up with 4" wide piece of Etrnabond tape. You should have some in your emergency toolbox anyways, lol.

[drchaffe]

Originally Posted by CSCLARK

Its called coroplast, same thing a lot of signs are made of. If it was me, I wouldn't worry too much about it and would just seal it up with 4" wide piece of Etrnabond tape. You should have some in your emergency toolbox anyways, lol.

Hello Texas, Emergency Toolbox?? LOL. Thanks my friend, I'll check that tape out

[CSCLARK]

Originally Posted by drchaffe

Hello Texas, Emergency Toolbox?? LOL. Thanks my friend, I'll check that tape out

Just for you: EternaBond White Mobile Home RV Rubber Roof Repair 4" x 20' - 20 Foot, 20 Feet https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AYPCJ9G..._X1Y2DbF2T44A4

[franktafl]

I would wonder why it's coming apart. CS is right, you should have some of that stuff in your emergency toolbox as well as that tape they show on TV to keep their boat from sinking when they saw it in half.

[sundancer 87]

Originally Posted by franktafl

I would wonder why it's coming apart. CS is right, you should have some of that stuff in your emergency toolbox as well as that tape they show on TV to keep their boat from sinking when they saw it in half.

You must not have seen the latest ad for the boat builder's products. He builds a clear boat but doesn't tape it together, he uses his special caulk to hold the parts solid.


Now dats sum caulk!

[chily3]

Could try the 4 inch black gorilla tape.

[ArmyVeteran]

Originally Posted by chily3

Could try the 4 inch black gorilla tape.

I used the gorilla tape last year along the entire edge as a sealer and preventative. Still there. Keeping fingers crossed.



Along the front edge it was almost a necessity. The small gap was acting like a sail when on the road.....OOPS

[OldOneTwo]

Gorilla tape is useless on the underbelly cover. After a blowout that ripped all my wiring form the drivers side to curb side, I had to split the under belly to repair the wiring. I spilt it along the cross member so I could use washers and screws. I put gorilla tape to cover the new seam. After every trip I always had to replace the Gorilla tape. I cleaned the surface before taping, but it still didn't hold. I ended up putting a strip of plastic across the seam with a clear sealer E6000. Worries over.

[videoarizona]

I'm a bit surprised your gorilla take doesn't hold. I bought the thick, black Gorilla tape and taped any and all areas under my rig on and around the coroplast that even remotely looked big enough for a rodent to get in. Then, taped over the bottom seam across the front of the rig. It's been on since September... And even Arizona heat doesn't affect it. I use Eternabond tape on my roof front cap seam and it's bulletproof as well. I keep both in my toolbox!

[OldOneTwo]

Possibly even though we have high heat issues here the problem might be humidity being near the gulf of Mexico. I also used Eternabond on my roof front and rear seams. That is a good product.

[Idcruiserman]

Cut or drill holes on either side of the crack, and "sew" it up with zip ties. Cover the sutures with Eternabond.

[ArmyVeteran]

Originally Posted by OldOneTwo

Gorilla tape is useless on the underbelly cover. After a blowout that ripped all my wiring form the drivers side to curb side, I had to split the under belly to repair the wiring. I spilt it along the cross member so I could use washers and screws. I put gorilla tape to cover the new seam. After every trip I always had to replace the Gorilla tape. I cleaned the surface before taping, but it still didn't hold. I ended up putting a strip of plastic across the seam with a clear sealer E6000. Worries over.

Your mileage may vary

[Craigmkd]

After buying our 2018 233RBSL I was checking the whole rig over looking for issues and noticed the coroplast underbelly was only attached at the perimeter and was just flapping in the breeze in the middle. That bothered me so I purchased some roofing tek (self drilling) screws to attach it to the cross members better. You don't need a lot of fasteners and the cross members are easy to locate. You just have to be willing to move around on your back under the unit. Don't screw into your tanks.
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Teks-12-x-1...4BBw&gclsrc=ds

[drchaffe]

Originally Posted by Idcruiserman

Cut or drill holes on either side of the crack, and "sew" it up with zip ties. Cover the sutures with Eternabond.

That's a good idea. Thanks. I have very cold weather to deal with in the winter....sometimes -30celsius.