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Old 11-24-2019, 08:31 PM   #1
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Plastic Belly Plate Cracked

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
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Old 11-24-2019, 11:15 PM   #2
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Originally Posted by drchaffe View Post
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.
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Old 11-25-2019, 12:18 AM   #3
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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
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Old 11-25-2019, 12:26 AM   #4
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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
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Old 11-25-2019, 12:22 PM   #5
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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.
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Old 11-25-2019, 01:43 PM   #6
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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!
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Old 11-29-2019, 02:49 PM   #7
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Could try the 4 inch black gorilla tape.
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Old 11-29-2019, 04:54 PM   #8
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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
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Old 11-30-2019, 09:50 PM   #9
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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.
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Old 12-01-2019, 01:24 AM   #10
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Gorilla tape

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!
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Old 12-01-2019, 01:56 AM   #11
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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.
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Old 12-01-2019, 03:59 AM   #12
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Cut or drill holes on either side of the crack, and "sew" it up with zip ties. Cover the sutures with Eternabond.
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Old 12-01-2019, 04:30 AM   #13
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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
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Old 12-01-2019, 11:32 AM   #14
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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
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Old 12-02-2019, 12:25 AM   #15
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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.
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Old 05-26-2020, 09:05 PM   #16
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Underbelly need some advice

Hi everyone, this post is similar to the original post in this thread, but different. Apparently the last time I had my trailer worked on at the dealer, they had to slice and dice my underbelly on my 2013 DUtchman Explorer. I have been reading different posts about what tape to use and best chance for success. It seems like it is a real adventure. Gorilla tape, no gorilla tape didn't work for me, flex tape, a lot of dislikes; now on this forum I hear about the tape that is used on the roof to possibly work on the underbelly. The way they have cut up the plate is there are no cross beam to help support the weight of the plate so the tape has to be the big daddy. I do like the suggestion to use tie wraps and suture up the slices. I plan on doing that before the tape. I the best thing to do is just maybe start off with Gorilla tape as it is obviously cheaper, which I believe you get what you pay for. Or should I just try and use what the dealer used last year and after winter is now lying on the ground. Of course I did think about tying tin cans and old shoes to drag around under the trailer for excitement! Anyway my first ever post turns into a Novel, sorry about that.

Thanks Al
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Old 05-26-2020, 11:35 PM   #17
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Hello Al. You may try two things. They have this underbelly tape and there is ERTERNABOND!

https://www.recpro.com/flex-mend-und...xoCuEwQAvD_BwE

from DICOR. But, know that Eternabond does live up to it's name but it is a pressure applied tape meaning that you put pressure on it to get the sealant to activate so it has to be some sort of solid surface to push against. BUT, once it's on, it's on forever!
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Old 05-27-2020, 11:14 AM   #18
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Go buy a larger piece of chloroplast that will run from one support to the next and screw it through the existing piece, like a large patch.
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Old 05-28-2020, 11:46 PM   #19
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I just replaced 16' of my underbelly on my 37' TT. You can buy it by the foot from RecPro or Trekwood RV parts. Used #12 by 1" self tapping screws with fender washers to attach it to the frame. My underbelly is now in three sections for ease of maintenance when I need to get in there.
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Old 05-29-2020, 12:57 AM   #20
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Thanks everyone. I really like the eternabond idea but there is nothing to press against. I've had some pretty weird ideas but are not practical. I have laced it together with some tie wraps now I just have to coverup to gap.

Al
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