Rubber seals (on doors, windows, the rear door) and sealant (around skylights, trims, roof joints) are your campervan's first line of defence against water, cold and noise. When they deteriorate, problems appear: leaks, damp, draughts, noise. Looking after them is cheap and simple, and saves you very expensive repairs. Here's how.
Why they matter so much
- Weatherproofing: roof sealant and seals stop water getting in. Their deterioration is the number one cause of dreaded leaks (see leaks).
- Insulation: seals in good condition keep heat in during winter and heat out in summer.
- Comfort: they prevent draughts, driving noise and dust getting in.
Looking after the rubber seals
- Clean them of dirt and sand, which wear them down.
- Condition them: apply a rubber-specific product (silicone or glycerine based) a couple of times a year; it stops them drying out, cracking and losing shape.
- Check them: if a seal is crushed, torn or dried out, replace it; it's cheap compared to the problems it prevents.
- In winter, conditioned rubber stops the door sticking or freezing shut.
Looking after the sealant
- Check regularly (at least once a year) the sealant around skylights, windows, aerials, trims and roof joints.
- Look for cracks, lifting or drying out: these are how water gets in.
- Reseal as soon as you spot wear, using products specific to campervans (not just any silicone will do).
- After a leak, the sealant is usually suspect number one.
In summary
Rubber seals and sealant are the first line of defence against water, cold and noise, and looking after them (cleaning, conditioning the rubber, checking and resealing) prevents leaks and costly repairs. The step you can take today: condition the rubber seals with a specific product a couple of times a year, and check the roof and window sealant once a year, resealing anything worn; it's cheap and saves you the dreaded damp problems. Combine it with leaks.