race trailer roof

Just thought I'd share this.

I was on my trailer roof the other day cleaning, and checking the caulking. Roof is one piece of aluminum, with the edges sealed. Nice hot Georgia sunny day, about 92 degrees. I knelt down on the roof in shorts (anthem was not playing) and burned my old knee. Holy cow I had no idea plain al would get that hot. I pressure washed the roof, went to the depot, and coated the entire roof in cool roof white heat barrier.

I CANNOT BELIEVE I DIDN'T DO THIS YEARS AGO!!


The environment inside the trailer is radically different now. With the sun beaming down on the roof, it's cool to the touch, and not even hot inside the trailer. Actually cooler inside than outside with the doors open. I honestly cannot believe the difference. I'm sure my AC will have a much easier time of cooling it now.

I have Diamond plate on the inside floor and ramp door. You should see how hot that gets on a sunny day. Same as the roof. When I had my trailer built in 2004. I had them insulate the walls and the roof. It does make a big difference.

That's a great idea.
Doug

My ceilings, and walls are insulated too, but still a major hot box in the sun. Would take the AC an hour just to make it decent in there. Now, it's like it's been sitting in the shade. Just amazing to me the difference.

I'm doing every trailer I own now. Even the horse trailers.

I resealed the roof of my enclosed trailer last fall and it was a cooler fall day with jeans & sweatshirt on kind of weather & I could feel the heat coming off of it while I was sealing the edges. I may have to try the coating on the roof of mine also because it is hot inside.

Here's some updated findings too.

Since I had extra material, I thought why not apply a second coat. (if a little is good, then way too much is just right)

The trailer has been in the direct sun all day, in the middle of one of my parking areas. Around 2 o'clock I thought ok time to sweat it out and do the second coat. Well to my surprise all the dew that had fallen last night was still on the roof, now in puddles at all the low spots. Had to get a squeegee, push off the water, and towel dry it. That's how little the 90 degree sun had heated it.

According to the coating manufacturer, and I agree, the seals, and caulk will last much longer as the roof sees far less expansion, and contraction from heat loading.

There are days where it’s 130+ in my trailer out here..... this thought never crossed my mind! Only thing is my current trailer is of the “value meal” variety. My old Haulmark I could walk on. Very solid. What coating and how much did you use? (Thinking weight...)

I used black jack ultra roof 1000 siliconized cool roof.

I'm sure there are better products out there too.

I used about 3.5 to 4 gallons to do 2 coats. The stuff is heavy, from the solids I'm guessing. Still spread out like that, I'd think rain on the roof would weigh more.

I have been thinking about this for a while now! Spent Days researching different coatings and still haven't decided on one.

My roof is one pice as well and last year when I was on top replacing the AC unit I could not touch the roof it was so hot. Mine is basically uncoated aluminum with a calk seal around the edge. I was replacing the AC unit because it wouldn't cool the trailer down...... It is a 13.5k btu and the new unit wont cool down the trailer either.

It is insulated on the side walls, but not the front one for some reason. Not sure about the roof, that is why I was thinking about coating it. Glad you posted this today. It helped me make up my mind

-Dave

Thanks for the idea, I now have something else on the to do list.

This may also help avoid the black stripes I get on the sides

I hope it works out good and I bet it does make it more reflective=good.

I have used it on 2 different RVs over the years.

But too many cons IMO.

Adding weigh to your roof.

That adds weight to your trailer walls at the worst possible place(more top heavy). So then suspension works harder to control the added weight up top.

Then it holds more dirt and is harder to get clean. Then it's more likely to start bleeding grey stripes down the side of your trailer during rains.

Then I would worry about 100% adhesion and durability for when I am on top of my trailer roof cleaning it from mostly diesel deposits from long roads trips so I don't get grey stripes down my trailer. I use a pressure washer which would not be good for the coating. If it starts cracking you have no control where the water goes under the coating then.

Good points.

The streaking was already occurring from the aluminum oxide, and dirt, but I keep it pretty clean.

The weight I'm not so worried about given it can' be more than 35 pounds front to back.

I can see it holding dirt from the texture caused from rolling it on. I have 3 motorhomes that all have different roof systems. Prevost has aluminum, travel supreme is rubber, and the monaco is fiberglass. I keep them all clean with a soft bristle bush and soap, so I'll add the trailer to the routine in hopes of keeping it effective against the sun.

I have a couple 5th wheel campers we use for our grooms at horse shows, and they both have either this same type stuff, or something very similar on them, that's been on them for years. They're both 7-10 years old and I haven't done any roof maintenance on them yet, but I bet they're due.

Should it start to crack, I'll get after it with caulk or whatever. The difference in temperature is worth whatever comes to me.

Before it was really a hot box, take your breath away, in the summer when sitting in the sun. The AC was on constantly at the track, or doing anything in the trailer. Totally different inside now, and with the doors open and the clear strip doors pulled back it was fine in there, and no need for the ac.

Just curious but do the trailer sales places offer this service? I ordered a new trailer last year and I didn't see this coating as a listed option. My roof is a one piece, no air conditioning, and my vents are on the side of my trailer. I raced in 92 degree temps this year many times and it stays fairly nice with a box fan moving some air.

I don't know if they do, but they should offer something. They like to nickel and dime ya to death for every conceivable option they can come up with lol.


Roof coating would be an option I'd pay for, especially if it was some super duper baked on high VOC, magical, whatever that would work.

The roof, and one side is usually in the sun. The roof is close to the same area as one side. Stopping half the exposed area from heating up seems to really help.

I hope they develop some affordable radiant coatings to do the sides with one day.

Would be nice to be able to just leave a car in the trailer without it roasting, if the trailer ha to be in the sun.