9 Best RV Caulks Reviewed: Brand Buying Guide & Reviews

Longtime RVers know that water could do the worst kind of damage that could ever happen to their RV. This isn’t common knowledge, though, and new RVers doesn’t think too much of it. After all, it’s just water, right? What could it possibly do? Many of us learned the answer to that question the hard way. We would do anything to prevent even the smallest droplets from entering our vehicles.

Water damage was a big problem to RVers for years. Luckily, RV caulks were introduced to the market. With a good-quality caulk, you’ll never have to worry about blowing money on repairs for this problem ever again.

A reliable caulk will preserve your RV’s good condition. It can keep every part of your RV dry by plugging the little holes and cracks that show up occasionally. Preventing any kind of damages by caulking seems exhausting but compared to how much more work it would take to repair the damage, it’s worth it.

Of course, no shoe fits every wearer. What others might claim is good, might not work for you. So which one should you choose? Here are some recommendations along with reviews of the top caulks on the market. Read each of them and decide for yourself which one will work best for you and your RV.

2019’S BEST RV CAULKS COMPARISON TABLE

2019’S BEST RV CAULKS

FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN BUYING RV CAULK

Of course, there are other great caulks in the market than those in the list above. So, which one will work best with your RV? The list is just a suggestion of caulks that works best with different materials and different RVs. When picking which one would work best for you, here are some factors to consider. Keep them at the back of your mind and remember them when choosing a caulk for your vehicle.

WHAT ARE YOU SEALING?  

Consider why you decided to get a caulk in the first place. Surely, you noticed a crack somewhere in your RV, and you wish to repair it. Go back to that crack or hole and examine it carefully. Think of the list and remember that some caulk doesn’t work well on holes. So if that’s a hole, you’d want to skim the list and find one that does. If it’s just a small crack, a simple caulk made of acrylic would do. If that’s a really bad crack, then choose one that’s more heavy-duty to repair it.

WHAT IS YOUR RV MADE OF?  

Remember that most caulks don’t work well with every material. Check your material first then go back to the list and find one that would work with it. Top sealants seem to have a problem with rubber surfaces. Sadly, that’s what many RV roofs are made up of.

If your material is very flexible, go for a rigid sealant. If the material is aluminum or fiberglass, find a sealant that works well with tubes like acrylics.

CAULK FEATURES  

The main thing to look for in a sealant is a waterproof feature. Those would dictate life or death for your seal. RVs are subjected to changing weather conditions and heavy rainfall all the time. If your seal is not waterproof, it wouldn’t last very long. It would melt away fast, and you’ll find yourself constantly having to reapply it to avoid leaks.

Another major feature to look for is UV resistance. This feature is still rare, especially on sealants. But it’s important and it could help slow your RV’s deterioration.

UV resistance can help your seal stay effective for longer. It would also keep your seal intact even under the extreme heat of the sun. As long as your seal is UV resistant, you don’t have to worry about replacing it for a while.

DAMAGE RESISTANT  

Damage resistance is an important factor in a sealant. It will dictate the lifespan of your seal. A good damage resistant seal is strong enough to withstand forces that could break or shatter it. Some of the items on the list above have this feature. It’s still a rare feature on a sealant so expect them to cost a little more than normal sealants.

STRETCHABILITY  

This feature refers to your seal’s ability to be moved without breaking. Don’t worry about durability when considering stretchability. Just because it feels softer, doesn’t mean that it’s weaker. Try to go for caulks that have this feature along with the damage-resistant feature.

COST  

Of course the more the feature, the higher the price. When buying caulks, consider your budget. Sure, it’s a great feature-packed caulk but can you afford it? Some caulks are more expensive than others, especially the top brands. The list above includes brands with varying prices. Of course, you get what you pay for and the ones with the most impressive features, cost more. If you really want a good sealant, you need to be willing to shell out more money for it. Of course, it doesn’t mean that cheaper sealants aren’t that good. They won’t give you impressive results but if you’re really on a tight budget, they would do.

THINGS THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT RV CAULK 

WHAT’S A CAULK AND WHY DOES YOUR RV NEED ONE?  

Not many people know how important caulks are to RVs. If you’re a beginner that has just started getting into RVing, listen up.

RVs are taken everywhere. You subject them to the harshest weather conditions and the most extreme heat temperatures. Over time, it can’t be helped that your RV would incur at least a crack or two. From these cracks, water can come in and make the damage worst. The main point of getting a caulk is to seal these cracks before they can produce more damage.

There are many different caulks on the market. Some of them specialize in one thing more than others. There’s a caulk that goes well with metals, one that works best with aluminum, and some who are capable of sticking even with rubbers. You need to choose one that will fit your RV.

Some sealants have added features like UV resistance, Water tightness, stretchability, and extreme stickiness. These might seem like small things, but they’ll be good for your vehicle. These little features can help extend your RV’s life. If you can, find a caulk that’s equipped with them.

CAULK TYPES FOR RVS  

There are many caulk types on the market. When choosing a caulk, it’s best that you know the different types and what each of them is for. Here are some of the most common types of RV caulks you might encounter:

ACRYLIC CAULK  

The acrylic is the types that you’ll probably encounter the most. It’s the basic type of caulks, and it’s everywhere. It’s best used for small cracks, especially inside the house where it won’t be exposed to heavy rains. It works well with drywall and wood. It’s the cheapest type of caulk on the market, and that’s why it sells the most.

SILICONE CAULK  

Silicone is also a pretty common type of caulk. They don’t really do well with RVs, but they’re mold-proof. That means there are zero chances of it growing mildews or molds. That’s a feature that you’d want on a seal on your RV.

ADHESIVES CAULK  

This caulk type is best used for putting fallen parts back to the RV. Adhesives are sticky, and they’re not choosy on the material. They would stick to practically anything. You can use them to glue two parts together or seal off cracks. They’re usually in tape form and applied the same way as regular tape.

VINYL CAULK  

This caulk type is almost the same as acrylic caulks. The only difference is that they fare better outdoors. Vinyls are not the best material to use as sealants because they’re not that flexible, although, they’re not so bad either.

FIREPROOF CAULK  

As the name suggests, this caulk is fireproof. It really doesn’t do anything special except that the seal can’t catch fire. At the very least, you’re sure that the flames can’t enter through the little holes and slits. It still really doesn’t sound very safe, but you never know. It might still be useful in case of a fire.

The downside to this is that the seal is colored red. It won’t blend with the color of your RV and would definitely attract attention.

Now that you know the different kinds of caulks, you can choose which type would work best for you. Think about your RV, the material that it’s made of, and the weather conditions it usually face. Base your decision on the answers to all of these questions.

WHY GET RV CAULK?  

Here are some of the things that caulk can protect your RV from:

LEAKS  

The main point of getting a seal for the cracks is to prevent water from getting into your RV. Leaks are problematic, especially during a storm or heavy rainfall. They won’t only get you wet. They will also blow up the damage by soaking everything inside the RV. If it gets bad enough, you might experience a little flooding inside your vehicle. Imagine going through all of this in the middle of a storm. This is why sealing is very important. It might seem like too much work, but it will help you avoid more inconveniences.

MOLDS  

RVers who are fond of hiking and camping in the wild are very familiar with molds. They know how fast those things grow and how hard it is to get rid of them. Plus, molds can be deadly when inhaled. As much as you can, kill any chances of molds thriving in your RV.

Mildews and molds grow when water reaches a warm enclosed space. This is what will happen if water drips into the RV from little cracks and holes. They’ll grow molds and multiply. That’s why you should seal off the little cracks before any of this can happen. Not a single droplet of water should enter the RV from those little openings.

BUGS  

Camping out in the wild come with mosquitos and bugs. That’s a given. If you’re inside your RV, this shouldn’t be a problem. Except if your RV has a few openings where they could go in. Instead of enjoying a piece of comfort in the wild, you’re going to be a feast for little critters that live there.

DEBRIS  

Debris is another great reason why you should seal the cracks in your RV. They could enter through there and dirty the place. Small leaves, twigs, and sand brought by the wind will mess up your place and make it uncomfortable. You’ll be forced to spend more time, dusting them off instead of enjoying your trip. To avoid this, check your RV regularly and repair cracks the moment you see them.

RESALE VALUE  

Of course, who would want to buy a badly damaged RV? No one. If you want to put your vehicle in the market to buy another, better start taking care of it today. The more pristine it looks, the higher the value you can get for it. Don’t let cracks get bigger before doing something about them, fix them while they’re small and unnoticeable. If you can, go for sealants that leave a great, smooth, and flawless finish. You can also go for those that can be painted over to make it look brand new. They will cost you, but you’ll get it back when you sell the RV. Start taking care of that RV now, so you can sell it higher when the time comes.

Now it’s time for you to inspect your RV. Are you sure there are no cracks that could let the things we just mentioned above, into your RV? Check twice and thrice. If you found one, repair it immediately no matter how small it may be.

FAQS

Will the silicone type that I have at home work for my RV?  

The short answer is no. While it seems like it can work, try to think long term. Silicone caulks, as we mentioned above, are not as good for RVs as adhesives or vinyls. Even if it does stick to your RV, it wouldn’t do much to protect it. You’re just sticking a temporary solution to a problem that in time could blow up to be bigger.

Yes, it would cost you, but you’ll be thankful for it in the long run. Get an effective and high-quality sealant for your vehicle. Don’t try to save money by going for the cheaper option. Stick to the products we mentioned above or try to find one that’s somewhat close to those.

Can I use the same RV caulk for other repairs?  

Yes, although there’s no guarantee that you’ll get the same good results. RV caulks are designed for RVs and using them for other things won’t guarantee good results.

If you’re asking whether the same caulk can work for different RVs, then no. The caulk’s effectiveness depends per material. You can’t apply a caulk that’s good for metals on a Rubber surface. That won’t work, and the outcome would be a disaster. This is also why you shouldn’t use the RV caulk for other repairs. The materials might not match and if that happens, the results won’t be good. You’ll just end up wasting a caulk on nothing.

How long should I expect the seal to last?  

This depends on how much you use the RV and what kind of sealant you have right now. Good caulks could last you a year or two even if you use your RV a lot. You won’t have to worry about reapplying them every now and then. This is a benefit of going for the best ones on the market, they last twice longer than the cheap ones. As much as you can, steer away from low quality sealants. They won’t even last you a month before you need to reapply them again.

How do I caulk the roof of my RV?  

It’s very easy. Do the steps below:

Wait for a calm weather before you work. Don’t work during a storm or while it’s raining. The sealant won’t latch onto the material properly.

1. Clean the RV, especially the areas where you’ll put the sealant.
2. Leave it alone to dry.
3. Mark your holes, slits, and cracks
4. Ready you caulk gun. Slice a small portion off the caulk’s end and then load it into the gun.
5. Apply it on cracks and spread them out.
6. Wait until it solidifies.

FINAL WORD  

As an RVer, make sure that you’re prepared for anything that might happen on the road. Cracks and slits should be high on your priority to look out for whenever you’re on the road. You should always be ready to repair those cracks the first moment you see them on your RV.

The best caulk will cost you, but they’ll save you even more money from repairs. That’s why it’s important that you invest in a really good one. Remember to take the factors listed here into account when deciding on which one to get. That way, you can be sure that whichever you choose, it’ll work really well with your RV.

No caulk will work for every RV. Try not to depend on what other people say and just try to find one that works for you. If you’re not sure where to start trying things out, just choose one from the list above. They’re the best in the market. You can’t go wrong with them.