<span class="highlight">Caravan</span> build. Caulking compound or similar?

Eaglefree - Sikaflex make a wide range of good sealants that come in tubes suitable for the standard-size caulking guns. Bunnings carry the range.
I've found that Parchem also make a good polyurethane sealant that comes in the same standard tube, and it's less than half the cost of the Sikaflex varieties. The Parchem product is also available at Bunnings as well.

Cheers, Ron.

Sikaflex 'Pro'.
Available in 300ml tubes or cheaper in sausages. Cheaper from builders suppliers.
Available in different colours and is paintable.
DO NOT use silicone of any sort.

Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome

Mark, any known brand of Butyl Mastic Caulking Compound will do the job. I've been there and done it! Caulking compound is better than silicone in that it does not go hard, it does skin pretty well though. It also means if you need to revisit the area you can get it off easier without the time consuming process of silicone sealers. If fitting windows or doors etc bed them in with the mastic then run a bead of silicone (I use V1 masonry silicone) around the edges to seal the mastic which keeps the mastic pliable and stops it drying out. This advice was given to me by a Geelong based caravan repairer and has worked exceptionally well for me. Hope that is of some help in your decision making. I'm not knocking Sikaflex by the way which is an excellent product, but can be expensive.

G'day Tony,

Forgive my forward ness, is that your draw bar in the pic?
If so it looks a little lite, I can see that you have reinforced it but it still doesn't look right.
Maybe it's the photo.
I'm not trying to knock your work, just would hate to see you come to grief after all that hard work.

"SOUDAL T REX " .
This stuff is better than any other adhesive sealant that I have ever used including Sikaflex .
Available at most hardware stores but not Bunnings.
It is waterproof, paintable, sandable, drillable etc., Contains no solvents, it can be used on Polystyrene, wood, metals, plastics etc. etc.
I repaired a leaking (petrol) fuel container for the mower with it about 6 months ago, I`m still using it and it hasn`t leaked yet.
Available in White, Grey, Black.

Just my opinion,

Scrubby

original thread here.

http://www.exploroz.com/Forum/Topic/131040/The_ultra_light_caravan_build_continued.aspx

I agree with most of the above.

Do NOT use silicone - it will not seal long term and is a b.. to clean off.

Butyl mastic is old but good. Skins but does not harden which is good where there is movement.

Sikaflex make a butyl mastic tape which has the goo on one side and a non removable plastic tape on the other. Less messy and works well in the right situation.

Sikaflex make a good range - see their product specs for which is best suited. I have found the Marine sealant excellent in harsh conditions.

Do not use polyurethane in this application it is the wrong material.

hi
The brand Sika

Sikasil Industrial
As the name suggests silicon for the transport industry including vans and Rv
semi permanent install allowing removal . [Very very flexible not rigid like gutter silicon ]

Sikaflex urethane
For permanent installs of trim etc and depending upon specification can be used structurally .

Butyl mastic has a shorter life span than both of above and does dry out . At this point it does not seal . When 5 years and older if exposed can leave nice black stains on a white van. Very cheap .

My 05 jayco uses silicon on the wiring penetrations in the floor . Urethane for some roof trim .Butyl mastic on all the exterior fittings .All the butyl has been removed for sikasil industrial .

swampy