Poll: ABS roofs...

[trumpet87]

I would like to know how many pop-up owners out there like/dislike their ABS roofs, and what reasons you have. I currently own a 1999 Coleman with an ABS roof (with no air on top). We are trying to sell it and won't buy another without air, but have heard the stories about the ABS roof sagging with the weight of the air unit. Ours has no sag, but has no air unit weight on it, either. If this is true, then what are those metal supports for the air conditioner there for?  Dealer said this is why Coleman revamped their roofs in 2003 and had a mid-year changeover to the old 2 piece.  Have also heard that the newer 2 piece roofs tend to leak easier.  I need to know all opinions based on own experiences or known experiences of others. Thanks everyone!!!!!!!

[OC Campers]

We have the ABS roof and have no issues at all.  We have owned the pup since it was new in 2001.  We also do not have the a/c but carry a lot of weight on the roof at times.  We have 4 bikes and a Yakima basket that usually has stuff in it when traveling.  I know the cross bars distribute the weight of the bikes but it still is unnecessary weight on the roof.  Our model also has a brace inside the camper that supports the roof.

[SpeakEasy]

In 2000, when I bought my Cheyenne, the only company offering an ABS roof was Coleman. This roof was one of the main reasons I chose this camper. I liked, and still do like, the sleek look of it and the fact that it needs no maintainance to keep it from leaking.

Having said that, I have been distressed that they have had problems with the roof. My original roof did develop a bit of the famous "sag," and I insisted on a replacement under warrantee. I won that one, and got my new roof without any cost. The new one is also ABS, but it is the newer design. I have been happy with it so far.

-Speak

[AustinBoston]

The point at which the ABS roof problems will end is when the last ABS roof goes in the junk heap.

In the early years of the ABS roof design, rumor had it that nearly 10% of the ABS roofs failed due to sag.  Heat seemed to be a factor, but not a big one.  A/C was also a factor, but again, not a big one.  Plenty of ABS roofs sagged while only exposed to northern summers and without a/c units or other weighty items on the roof.

Fleetwood went through a number of "solutions" before giving up and going back to the two-piece roof.  They included:
* Switching from three manufacturers down to one
* adding internal bracing (not the bar you see inside on the underside of the roof - that was NOT intended to prevent sag)
* various process changes

Sag is not the only problem with the ABS roofs.  ABS can become brittle with age and eventually crack.  There have been lots of innovative ways to repair ABS once cracked - most are unsuccessful.

My ABS roof is seven years old and we've never had a problem with it, but having seen what so many others have gone through, I'm glad that Fleetwood switched back.

Austin

[Old Goat]

We bought our 01 Niagara new and with a Coleman roof air installed... It has been towed 35,000 plus miles and it's ABS roof does not show any signs of cracking or sagging...I think the ABS roofs that gave a lot of trouble were made before year 2000.....

[beacher]

I have a 2004 Niagara with the Alumitite multi-section aluminum roof.

There have been reports of these roofs leaking due to improper caulking.  Since 2004 the Fleetwood roofs have been redesigned twice.  For 2007 they are now fiberglass - filon.

I have not experienced any leaks yet, but I'm keeping a close eye on the roof through the warranty period!

[jbalash]

I loved my ABS roof until it started sagging and wouldn't seal any more. I had it replaced with the Alumitite and it fits and seals great. I agree that the ABS looked better and was appealing because it was seamless.

Jim

[flyfisherman]

My previous popup was a '96 Coleman "Yukon" and that was the first year of the ABS roofs. The roof had began to start saging at around maybe three years old (someone was kind enough to point it out to me! LOL). Never had the roof mounted A/C. Major disappointment to me as the key selling point had been the ABS roof ... it was toted as being maintenance free, except, of course, for cleaning. And we had a hard time with Fleetwood in the beginning to even acknowledge there was a problem. Finally, they came out with a policy that a new roof (to the orginial owners only) could be had providing the roof had sagged more than 3/4 of an inch ... mine was only a 5/8 incher! And as far as I know it never sagged any further! The couple I sold it to knew what the deal was but they wanted the camper anyway ... and they got it.  They enjoyed it for awhile and later on it was stolen from them while they were down in Florida; have no idea if the roof deterioated any further under the care of the "new owners"!

But my sore spot with Fleetwood was how they handled the first complaints coming in on the roofs, which was a sort of denial ... "what, you have a sag in the roof? ... are you sure? ... Well, your the first one!" -  There were three of us here on that original PopupTimes board that were having the same problem and were all getting the same double-talk from Fleetwood, and comparing notes right here. And we did raise some hell.


Fly