Dometic Penguin Shroud Cracks

[Sak]

It was a bit windy on the way back home today. When I got home, I found some cracks near the back of the exterior shroud of the Dometic Penguin AC. I know it just happens today as it's not there before I left the campground. Any tips replacing this? Or should I even bother replacing it at all?

[Cameron]

Hi Sak

That's weird. Doesn't seem like the wind could crack it but who knows. The important thing is to make sure that the shroud doesn't come flying off to hit someone behind you on the road. If the other connectors are secure, you're probably OK but if it were me I'd want to fix that. 

[Townesw]

Those screws have a shoulder on them.  
 

 

The shoulder should pass through the elongated hole in the shroud and be tightened down against the steel base, leaving the head of the screw snug but not tight against the shroud to allow the shroud to expand and contract with heating and cooling. You might find that the shoulder was tightened down against the shroud, or the screw was loose allowing too much movement of the shroud. We’ve been in some very strong wind and never had that happen. I agree with @Cameron I’d fix that also. 

[Mike and Carol]

I’ve never seen that happen.  We’ve been in and through some pretty high wind conditions.  I’d get it fixed.  I did lose a screw at some point and called Dometic for a replacement.  They sent me a pack of six for free.  I’ve seen various Dometic AC covers on Amazon but would check some of the RV parts places first.  UnitedRV.com has provided good service to us.  Mike

[Ray Kimsey]

I had the same issue on #676 (2020). The crack in my shroud, like yours was at the screw hole, but mine did not seem to have as many cracks as yours judging from the picture. I bought a replacement shroud from a local Camping World, but have not used it yet.  I was able to patch my current shroud using a strip of fiberglass drywall joint tape and JB Weld epoxy.  I put the epoxy on the inside of the shroud, then layered the fiberglass tape on and more epoxy.  It is still holding 18 months later. 

[Sak]

Yes, it's weird that mine cracked like crazy. I'll order a replacement and swap it out. Thanks everyone!

[John E Davies]

Yours may still be in warranty, check to see. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t change it yourself if it is going to take two months to get it through normal warranty channels. Sometimes it makes more sense to just buy it and do it yourself, if you are comfortable doing that.

John Davies

Spokane WA

[SeaDawg]

One of the several reasons we swapped out our dinosaur 2008 oversized dometic ac was the cost of a new shroud to replace our very cracked and brittle old shroud, probably half eternabond tape. We waxed the shroud every time we waxed the trailer, but the Florida sun takes a toll on plastics. I wouldn't expect that in a newer trailer like yours. I think your dometic has a limited 2 year warranty.  Open a service ticket for advice, and see what happens.  

The $200 for a new replacement shroud for the old dometic was 20 per cent of the purchase price of our quiet 9500 Houghton. Obviously a bit more work to swap the whole unit, than swap shrouds, but worth it in the end. 

[Sak]

2 hours ago, SeaDawg said:

Open a service ticket for advice

Great idea, ticket summited and waiting for response. Will report back once I hear back. Thanks!

[Geronimo John]

To actually answer the question on how to fix?  I would JB Weld the back of the shroud in a "pond" if HB Weld with a SS fender washer in the JB Weld, and use a second SS fender washer on the outside after letting it cure a few days.

GJ