Why Do My Slide-Out Bulb Seals Have Black, Tar-Like Goo?

[Fireman4299]

My 2022 3121RL has a tar like black goo on the bulb weatherstrips on all 3 slide-outs. Which is getting pressed onto the white sidewalls. It is difficult to clean off. Where is the black coming from? The seals close against the side on the RV, which is white. Is it Airborne dust getting caught on the seals, then getting wet and turning into tar? I cleaned all the slide seals, inside and out- not a fun job. I was thinking the inside seals were causing the problem, nope. I included a photo of the type of seals on my slides. Any ideas?

 

[Mikendebbie]

YouTuber James (AZ Expert) mentions in several videos (none of which I could find to link to this morning - sorry) that slide seals are not necessarily made of “rubber”…some are…many aren’t. The treatments sold to the masses labeled as “slide out seal treatment” basically begin to degrade the material. The black marks are signs of degradation. Based on my reading this forum and James’ videos - I now only use 303 Protectorant on the seals and trim on my rig…and tires for that matter. Also, a good idea from this forum I adopted was to “powder” the seals before a trip. Forum member ChuckS has a YouTube channel (The Alpine Fifth Wheel Guy) with a video showing how he powders the slide seals - interior and exterior. You put powder in an old sock and pat the seals down spreading a little bit of powder on them and the slide wall. It works great for me - and no more black marks.

 

[ChuckS]

My D seals on my slides are still original on my 2014... the wiper seals have been replaced by me twice over the last 13 seasons ( easy to replace since they are all clip on wiper seals )... I only use a sock and baby powder and wipe down the d seals, wiper seals and retract the slides a bit and then clean and wipe interior seals with baby powder.... Many of the so called " slide seal treatments " tend to break down the D seals and wiper seals... I've been using baby powder for a long, long time and the D seals never stick to the sides of the RV and there are no seal marks..... Video I put together ..

 

[RMcNeal]

Sounds crazy, but some WD-40 on a rag will wipe that black goo right off without too much elbow grease. I usually do it before I wash the rig.

 

[Daryles]

We use Turtle Wax Bug and Tar Remover. Shake first, spray on, wait 5 minutes, wipe off.

 

[DutchmenSport]

Two travel trailers ago, I had the same problem with my slide outs. I learned the HARD way to NOT use those RV rubber seal treatments, foamy stuff out of a spray can. Just like yours is pictured, the rubber began to deteriorate after about 3 years and every year it got worse. No amount of cleaning the rubber stopped the deterioration.

I had that camper for 7 years and when I traded for a new one, the seals were pretty much completely trash. They eventually stuck to the side wall of the camper and glued themselves. When the slide was opened, the rubber actually ripped into shreds, long shreds still stuck to the wall of the camper leaving holes and rips.

Because I sold the camper to my dealership in trade-in, I never attempted to fix the seals. But when that time came, they were pretty much all in great need of replacing. They never did leak water through. I suppose there was enough rubber, it still maintained a good seal when the slides were in or out.

The next camper I got, I did not use anything on the rubber seals except baby powder. On another forum years ago, it was suggested to use baby powder on a soft cloth and just wipe the rubber.

And on my current camper (now another 7 years), I've never put anything on the rubber seals on the slides, except when washing the camper. And that was whatever soap I was washing the camper with.

My seals are still soft, pliable, and not breaking down, leaving marks on the wall, ripping, or tearing. The camper is now 7 years old.

If you have already used that RV rubber seal cleaner spray foam stuff, your seals are already damaged and will continue to deteriorate, leave marks, and eventually start pulling apart in shreds. The damage is done.

The best you can do to prevent a replacement as long as possible, is to wash the rubbers with a dishwashing liquid solution. Dish soap is designed to cut grease. It won't penetrate the rubber and remove the damaged rubber (which is forever damaged), but it will help from sticking so bad to the wall, provided the slide outs are not closed in intense heat for a longer length of time.

You asked? That's my hard-knocks, hard-lesson in life story, all true.