2018 310GK Slide Out Rubber Deteriorating

[Nuffsaid]

I have a 2018 Solitude 310GK and last year I noticed that the bulb seals on the slide outs had gotten very sticky like tar and had cracked and were making a mess on the trim pieces of the slide outs. I figured out the proper replacement weather stripping and bought enough to fix the problem. A few days ago I was up on the roof of the 5er doing a yearly inspection and I noticed that the wiper seals around the slide outs are doing the same thing that the prior bulb seals were doing. The rubber is super soft and almost liquid and very sticky. There are black streaks all over the roof and sides of the slide outs. It appears to me that the rubber formula has something wrong with it. I have never seen this before on any slide out rubber. Anyone else have this issue?

 

[Riverbug]

I have a 2018 Solitude 310GK and last year I noticed that the bulb seals on the slide outs had gotten very sticky like tar and had cracked and were making a mess on the trim pieces of the slide outs. I figured out the proper replacement weather stripping and bought enough to fix the problem. A few days ago I was up on the roof of the 5er doing a yearly inspection and I noticed that the wiper seals around the slide outs are doing the same thing that the prior bulb seals were doing. The rubber is super soft and almost liquid and very sticky. There are black streaks all over the roof and sides of the slide outs. It appears to me that the rubber formula has something wrong with it. I have never seen this before on any slide out rubber. Anyone else have this issue?

I haven't seen that personally, but unit is new. I bought some seal conditioner/protectant and I wonder if that will help avoid this problem down the road. Seems like some of this stuff they market actually does more harm than good, but I don't know.

 

[Second Chance]

I've not experienced that on any of our RVs - nor have I seen it on my sister and BIL's RVs (both of us have had multiple, including three GD fifth wheels between us). Are you using any products on the seals that might denature the rubber?

Rob

 

[WhittleBurner]

We get those streaks, have from day 1. GD replaced the seals once about6 yrs ago when it was at the factory service center. The new ones did the same thing so my guess is it's a cheap money saving seal. We just started replacing bulb seals. Hoping the wiper goes as easily.

 

[trailrydr]

I have a 2018 Solitude 310GK and last year I noticed that the bulb seals on the slide outs had gotten very sticky like tar and had cracked and were making a mess on the trim pieces of the slide outs. I figured out the proper replacement weather stripping and bought enough to fix the problem. A few days ago I was up on the roof of the 5er doing a yearly inspection and I noticed that the wiper seals around the slide outs are doing the same thing that the prior bulb seals were doing. The rubber is super soft and almost liquid and very sticky. There are black streaks all over the roof and sides of the slide outs. It appears to me that the rubber formula has something wrong with it. I have never seen this before on any slide out rubber. Anyone else have this issue?

Our 2019 295RL has left streaks since day one. Havent found anything to alleviate the issue. Have even tried baby powder.... still leaves streaks. So we just clean the streaks off the slides.

 

[ajg617]

Same - streaks during each trip and clean off the side of the slides.

 

[Nuffsaid]

I haven't seen that personally, but unit is new. I bought some seal conditioner/protectant and I wonder if that will help avoid this problem down the road. Seems like some of this stuff they market actually does more harm than good, but I don't know.

I have never witnessed this happening to any rubber product before, almost like the rubber is going back to a semi liquid state.

 

[traveldawg]

I have a 2018 Solitude 310GK and last year I noticed that the bulb seals on the slide outs had gotten very sticky like tar and had cracked and were making a mess on the trim pieces of the slide outs. I figured out the proper replacement weather stripping and bought enough to fix the problem. A few days ago I was up on the roof of the 5er doing a yearly inspection and I noticed that the wiper seals around the slide outs are doing the same thing that the prior bulb seals were doing. The rubber is super soft and almost liquid and very sticky. There are black streaks all over the roof and sides of the slide outs. It appears to me that the rubber formula has something wrong with it. I have never seen this before on any slide out rubber. Anyone else have this issue?

What brand seal did you use when you replaced them?

Do you use any kind of treatment on the rubber?

Or maybe it is the soap you are using to clean/wash the RV????

I'm going to have to replace the top ones on a few of my slides and they are cracked on the corners.

 

[Nuffsaid]

I had to replace most of my bulb seals and I think I sourced them from steel rubber. I never used anything on the seals at all. The bulb seals split and started oozing a tar like substance. Now the wiper seals are doing the same thing. The rubber is almost liquid in spots and it is worse in the heat. This doesn't have anything to do with the wiper seals cracking on the corners. I have never seen any rubber product do this.

 

[PTParker]

I had to replace most of my bulb seals and I think I sourced them from steel rubber. I never used anything on the seals at all. The bulb seals split and started oozing a tar like substance. Now the wiper seals are doing the same thing. The rubber is almost liquid in spots and it is worse in the heat. This doesn't have anything to do with the wiper seals cracking on the corners. I have never seen any rubber product do this.

I have seen some rubber do that, in fact I have some now from where I used to work that turned to liquid! It is the rubber compound, wrong rubber for the seals! If it were auto grade rubber it should be impervious to almost anything! Sounds like either cheap rubber seals or a mistake on compounding the rubber! Either way there is no reversing it, the seals will have to be changed.

 

[Markb777]

I have a 2018 Solitude 310GK and last year I noticed that the bulb seals on the slide outs had gotten very sticky like tar and had cracked and were making a mess on the trim pieces of the slide outs. I figured out the proper replacement weather stripping and bought enough to fix the problem. A few days ago I was up on the roof of the 5er doing a yearly inspection and I noticed that the wiper seals around the slide outs are doing the same thing that the prior bulb seals were doing. The rubber is super soft and almost liquid and very sticky. There are black streaks all over the roof and sides of the slide outs. It appears to me that the rubber formula has something wrong with it. I have never seen this before on any slide out rubber. Anyone else have this issue?

Same exact scenario with my 2018 310GK, it's almost as if you were looking at my slide seals! I am in the process of replacing 1 bulb seal on the bedroom slide & wiper and bulb seal on the kitchen slide. I have cleaned and treated them with slide conditioner every 6 months and a few months ago they turned into the same split liquid mess you are experiencing. Mineral spirits and a lot of elbow grease seems to work well but it is a real mess up there

I'm going with more expensive AP Products seals this time. It should be noted that my Solitude sits in my driveway in Las Vegas and those 2 slides are the Western exposure. The dining room seals still look great.

 

[Mechanic Bob]

I spray my slides with some Pledge to help the seals slide easier.

 

[Nuffsaid]

Same exact scenario with my 2018 310GK, it's almost as if you were looking at my slide seals! I am in the process of replacing 1 bulb seal on the bedroom slide & wiper and bulb seal on the kitchen slide. I have cleaned and treated them with slide conditioner every 6 months and a few months ago they turned into the same split liquid mess you are experiencing. Mineral spirits and a lot of elbow grease seems to work well but it is a real mess up there

I'm going with more expensive AP Products seals this time. It should be noted that my Solitude sits in my driveway in Las Vegas and those 2 slides are the Western exposure. The dining room seals still look great.

have you figured out the profile needed for the wiper seals?