How To Put a Rubber Roof On a Camper – 2023

A camper is a great way to get out and enjoy the outdoors, but if it’s not properly protected from the elements, you can wind up with a lot of damage. A rubber roof is a great way to keep your camper dry and protected from the rain, snow, and sun.

So, we are going to take a look at how to put a rubber roof on a camper. You can do it yourself and save a little money, but you’ll need to follow the steps below.

What You’ll Need?

You will need the following materials to put a rubber roof on your camper:

  • Rubber adhesive or Felt Adhesive Tape (Felt tape is much easier to install)
  • Razor Knife
  • Waterproof Sealant
  • Razor Blade Scraper
  • Heavy Duty Roller
  • Tape Measure

How to Put a Rubber Roof On a Camper?

Following are the steps that you will need to follow:

Step 1: Remove All of The Old Roofing Material

You want to start by removing all of the old roofing material from your camper. You also want to clean off as much as possible as well. The cleaner the surface you’re working with, the better it will stick.

Step 2: Clean the Camper One More Time for Good Measure

Now that everything has been removed and the surface is clean, you should go ahead and give it one more cleaning to ensure that nothing gets in the way. 

If your camper has seen better days, you can use a scraper or just try to wash away any gunk that might be stuck. After this step, you’re ready for the rubber roof installation itself.

Step 3: Put the Adhesive On

You should begin by applying adhesive to your camper where there won’t be any dirt. In other words, you’ll want to use a good amount around all of the edges as well as make sure it gets onto the roof itself as well. You shouldn’t need more than about a quarter-sized amount for each area.

Step 4: Put the Rubber Roofing On

Once you have the adhesive down, it’s time to put your roof on. You should start with one corner and then go from there. It helps if one person is holding the edges in place while another person puts up one edge at a time until you reach the opposite corner of the side you’re starting on. 

You can use screws or nails, but you will need to make sure that your rubber roofing is flat before you begin this step.

Step 5: Consider Adding Tar Paper If Needed

If there are any holes in your camper at all, you might want to consider putting some tar paper over them before you put the roofing on. If you don’t do this, there is a chance that water will get in and make your camper even more damaged than it already might be.

Step 6: Caulk Around the Edges

You’ll want to take some caulk with an applicator and go around all of your edges to make sure that water doesn’t get in. You’ll want to go around the entire camper, inside and out, to ensure it is protected throughout all of your camping trips.

Step 7: Cover the Roof with a Tarp If Needed

Especially if you’re storing your camper (or otherwise not using it), then you might want to consider covering the roof with a tarp. This will help protect it from sun damage, snow damage, and anything else that might come its way. 

If you do this, all you have to do is tuck the edges of your tarps underneath just like you did with the rubber roofing when you first put it on.

Step 8: Enjoy your new camper

Now that everything is in place, you should have a great camper to use whenever you want. You might come across some issues with things not sticking just right or something being off-kilter, but you can easily adjust it as needed by removing the tarp itself and readjusting whatever needs to be readjusted. 

With a few minor fixes, you’ll be ready to start enjoying your camper just as much as you did before it needed a new roof.

Step 9: Reapply the tarp when needed

If there is any sun damage, you might have to reapply the tarp every so often depending on how bad it is. 

You can also reapply the adhesive around any edges that might have been compromised so that they stay watertight and don’t allow for any problems when you want to go camping.

Conclusion

So here is the complete step by step guide on how to put a rubber roof on your camper. I hope this guide was helpful and that you were able to follow along without any issues.

Thanks for reading!

FAQs:

How long does it take?

This will take the majority of a day to do, so plan accordingly. Take your time and follow the instructions carefully. Don’t rush through it or you’ll wind up with an uneven roof that could leak or fall apart prematurely.

What tools will I need?

You’ll just need a screwdriver and a wrench to take the old roof off, then a drill and a putty knife (for applying the rubber cement). You may want to use some elbow grease as well, as it can be a tough job to take the old roof off.

How much does this project typically cost?

A basic rubber roof will cost around $150 for a single person camper, and the labor costs about an hour of time to install correctly. You may need more or less for a larger or smaller camper.

Conclusion:

So, we looked at how to put a rubber roof on a camper and the tools and materials you’ll need. It’s a fairly simple project, but it will take some time and effort- so plan accordingly.