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AlumFalcon · 03-15-2011, 04:02 PM

Our 2011 is leaking! Right by the door. On the inside of the trailer it's not leaking much, just small drops at a seam but if you smell at the seam, you can smell dampness for sure. It's going to be a couple weeks before I can get it down to the dealer and being in Seattle, it rains daily. The dealer says that a couple weeks is fine to wait and that the insulation will dry up right away and not smell once the leak is fixed. Is he correct? We're kinda freaking out since it's brand new.

Inland RV Center, In · 03-15-2011, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlumFalcon

Our 2011 is leaking! Right by the door. On the inside of the trailer it's not leaking much, just small drops at a seam but if you smell at the seam, you can smell dampness for sure. It's going to be a couple weeks before I can get it down to the dealer and being in Seattle, it rains daily. The dealer says that a couple weeks is fine to wait and that the insulation will dry up right away and not smell once the leak is fixed. Is he correct? We're kinda freaking out since it's brand new.

Any water leasking into the inside, is not good.

I would suggest you cover the leaking area, so as to protect the interior as much as possible, until you can get the trailer to your dealer.

Andy

lewster · 03-15-2011, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlumFalcon

Our 2011 is leaking! Right by the door. On the inside of the trailer it's not leaking much, just small drops at a seam but if you smell at the seam, you can smell dampness for sure. It's going to be a couple weeks before I can get it down to the dealer and being in Seattle, it rains daily. The dealer says that a couple weeks is fine to wait and that the insulation will dry up right away and not smell once the leak is fixed. Is he correct? We're kinda freaking out since it's brand new.

Had the same problem with my new '06 19CCD. I WOULD NOT WAIT!!!!! Also, the leak might not be coming from the door, but rather from the top and trailing edge of the street side front wrap window. Dealer I bought it from said that they fixed it, but I would up removing the sealant from that area and re-sealing with grey SikaFlex 221. Did the trick.

kevin242 · 03-15-2011, 05:43 PM

Maybe run a dehumidifier in your trailer to remove moisture from inside until the leak is fixed.

Michigander · 03-15-2011, 05:55 PM

Ouch! I'm so sorry to hear that. I have to agree with Andy. Cover it up. And hound the repair till they get it right. Good luck. Unfortunately, leaks are widely encountered, no matter how much you pay for a rig. How come my cars never leak?

Splitrock · 03-15-2011, 06:27 PM

I don't know about newer units, but my trailer was designed to funnel rain water into the belly pan at the step release slot location. I removed the inside skin, removed the plywood floor material, and set up a sight meter on the belly pan. Then I measured, on average, two gallons of water intake into the belly pan at the step release slot location from each one inch rain shower. A slower rain increased the intake of water. There was no other water intakes operational at the time of the port testing. I refer to the step release slot as the alternative fresh water intake port.

The only thing that would surprise me about an Airscream product would be if they didn't leak. There's nothing I can see wrong with the products if used as designed. Total inside storage combined with very low usage hours consisting of mostly summer desert trips may not damage them at all.

clancy_boy · 03-15-2011, 07:39 PM

Document document then document some more for future damages claim. It's under warrenty, if it leaked new for you it leaked at the dealer lot for a while, untouched and not vented to remove the moisture. Take pictures at the dealership when they inspect, keep dates/times of phone calls and visits and what was done. Before/after photos of all repairs and the names of the employees who worked on the trailer. Do not neglect the documentation, then document some more.......

Believe me when I say, when the warrenty runs out, you will be blamed for not properly taking care of your trailer and doing all required maintenance. A 2011 trailer should not leak. Leak points of detection do not mean that the leak is in that specific spot or anywhere near that spot.

Have you started the documentation yet? Get on it, you will need it.

When I was at the factory getting my 5.5 year old trailer repaired I witnessed a 2010 32 foot trailer being returned. It was nothing more than a big collander. 12 identified leaks that the owner could find, I saw the video. Under threat of a major lawsuit, they replaced this unit with a new off the line unit. The owner had bought it and a tow vehicle new to do alot of travel - they spent a year in the repair shop. They had excellent documentation - video, pictures, receipts, letters, etc. It worked.

AlumFalcon · 03-15-2011, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clancy_boy

video, pictures, receipts, letters, etc.

Good idea, making a video tomorrow.

Fly at Night · 04-14-2011, 07:36 AM

Same thing with my 2010 Flying Cloud; few drops from the wall seam in bathroom.

Taking it in asap, as live on the "wet coast" too.

TG Twinkie · 04-14-2011, 08:02 AM

In your moist climate it won't take long for mold to get established. But it will take a long time for the water to evaporate out of the insulation in the belly pan. Cover it, and get it in as soon as possible.
I've said this before and I'll say it again. All RV's leak, it's just a fact of life, the body torque and flexing as you travel breaks the seal on the many openings and seams in the unit.
But the question I still have, especially with Airstream is why they don't upgrade their design to prevent the water from entering the cabin and in most cases causing floor rot. In my opinion it would be a simple matter of redesigning the "C" channel to act like a rain gutter on your home. The "C" channel would have drain holes to guide the water down and out of the trailer. With the current design, the only place the water can go is out on the floor since the plywood is sandwiched in the "C" channel.
Floor rot has been a major problem in AS's for over 50 years, you'd think they would have resolved it by now.

Foiled Again · 04-14-2011, 08:55 AM

Air Pressure test! Once a year. Follow up with sikiflex or other appropriate flexible sealant. Anything else, you're shooting blind at finding the leaks because water can travel for a foot or more sideways away from a leaky spot.

New leaks can develop from flexing during normal travel

And DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT!

Paula

xrvr · 04-14-2011, 09:03 AM

Leak by the door could be the awning where it is attached to the AS. That's where mine was. Dealer knew exactly where to look. zz

AlumFalcon · 04-18-2011, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zigzagguzzi

Leak by the door could be the awning where it is attached to the AS. That's where mine was. Dealer knew exactly where to look. zz

Yeah, the dealer told me it's a common leak point. I'm finally bringing it in this morning, was waiting on a part for another issue. Hopefully they have the equipment for pressure tests.

thecatsandi · 04-18-2011, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlumFalcon

Our 2011 is leaking! Right by the door. On the inside of the trailer it's not leaking much, just small drops at a seam but if you smell at the seam, you can smell dampness for sure. It's going to be a couple weeks before I can get it down to the dealer and being in Seattle, it rains daily. The dealer says that a couple weeks is fine to wait and that the insulation will dry up right away and not smell once the leak is fixed. Is he correct? We're kinda freaking out since it's brand new.

I have to ask. What dealer told you a leak is ok? Call Jackson Center Customer service and tell them what your dealer told you.

AlumFalcon · 04-18-2011, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thecatsandi

I have to ask. What dealer told you a leak is ok? Call Jackson Center Customer service and tell them what your dealer told you.

The dealer told me, so I checked with the Jackson Center and they told me the same thing. They said the leak would just run down the inside of the walls. If they're right or wrong, I'm still annoyed with having to drive back to the dealer so soon. But i get it now, that leaks are just part of the fun. Well, at least I can walk thru one of the Eddie Bauers.

CanoeStream · 04-18-2011, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlumFalcon

They said the leak would just run down the inside of the walls.

Sure, some leaks might do this. But that doesn't mean any leak will work to your benefit. Didn't know that was an added value option, did you?

Sounds like they're running damage control for the dealer -- maybe after they know you got the message to get it looked into.

I had an easy-to-find bow window/rockguard leak and fixed it myself (not always the case). Let the dealer handle this for you. And there still is the issue that not every warranty fix will be evident until your 'stream has been bouncing down the road at least a full season. Use your 2 years to maximum advantage and be very pleased about going back towards the end of the warranty period to set things right.

AlumFalcon · 05-11-2011, 08:48 AM

Got my trailer back from the dealer, they said there was an 1/8 of an inch gap by the top running light. I ran a hose and it seems fixed. Really I wont know until we get some serious rain again. Thanks all for the advice.