Most Likely My Last Leak, Huh? :)

[John&Vicki]

Replaced my original leaking skylight today with a Maxim. I really like it and the way it fits.

And I'm relieved that that is probably the last leak that I will ever have to fix.

Poppy

[AWCHIEF]

LOL. Good luck with that!

[Wingeezer]

Pretty good chance it will be the last leak "With the skylight" I would think, but I guess that probably wasn't what you meant! Doubtless there's a few other potential leaks lurking in the shadows!

My Maxims have been on for a few seasons now and still perfect. Have yet to hear any other owner say a bad word about them.

Brian.

[HiHoAgRV]

As long as you don't look, that will be your last leak....but then again, there are the tail lights, rock guards, marker lights, oh yeah - a few hundred rivets...

[Panama Red]

Congrats!!! I've been looking for that last leak for a year and a half now...

-Red

[John&Vicki]

DW and I are staying in a RV resort in Casa Grande, Arizona at the moment and enjoying it immensely. The other night we got absolutely pelted with rain for several hours which we both found pleasant. The rain drops on the aluminum, cozy and warm inside, very nice. I had just one small bit of anxiety - leaks!

They all leak. They all leak. They all leak.

That had been drummed into my head as surely as the rain was drumming on the roof. This was nice but the trailer would inevitably be awash in rainwater in the morning. Woke up, poked around, I couldn't find any water or signs of water leaks anywhere inside the trailer.

I know there were leaks, I know it. There were leaks. I'm an optimist but hopefully not hopelessly stupid. But where are those leaks, how do I find them? What am I missing??!!

Poppy

[Minno]

My outlook is that leaks are inevitable, not constant. Maybe I'm delusional about it (that's a given, by the way) but I hate being paranoid on top of delusional! Fix them when you find them!

Kay

[Ag&Au]

Originally Posted by Birdmaestro

DW and I are staying in a RV resort in Casa Grande, Arizona at the moment and enjoying it immensely. The other night we got absolutely pelted with rain for several hours which we both found pleasant. The rain drops on the aluminum, cozy and warm inside, very nice. I had just one small bit of anxiety - leaks!

They all leak. They all leak. They all leak.

That had been drummed into my head as surely as the rain was drumming on the roof. This was nice but the trailer would inevitably be awash in rainwater in the morning. Woke up, poked around, I couldn't find any water or signs of water leaks anywhere inside the trailer.

I know there were leaks, I know it. There were leaks. I'm an optimist but hopefully not hopelessly stupid. But where are those leaks, how do I find them? What am I missing??!!

Poppy

My guess is that your trailer has reached the age where all the leaks have been self-sealed by the corrosion that the leaks caused. Relax, you're home free now.

Well, at least until you encounter a heavy downpour of acid rain, and it dissolves the whole trailer.

Ken

[John&Vicki]

Ken...

I don't know if that was tongue in check or not. I guess what I'm asking (in an admittedly obtuse way) is how do I check for leaks. Is there a systematic approach a bit more sophisticated than looking for puddles and wet fabrics?

Thanks,
Poppy

[Ag&Au]

Originally Posted by Birdmaestro

Ken...

I don't know if that was tongue in check or not. I guess what I'm asking (in an admittedly obtuse way) is how do I check for leaks. Is there a systematic approach a bit more sophisticated than looking for puddles and wet fabrics?

Thanks,
Poppy

I'm sorry, I thought your original post was tongue in cheek.

The only sure way I know is to pressure test.

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f456...ion-14231.html

It can be done makeshift at home or there are professionals that do it.

If you search the forums for "pressure test for leaks", you will find several threads on the subject.

However I'm satisfied to wait until I find them, then seal them.

Ken

[John&Vicki]

As a newbie I'm paranoid about a rotting floor, so leaks that I can't see, i.e. between the walls, are a concern. How useful are humidity gauges and where would you probe with a pick?

Poppy

[Ag&Au]

Originally Posted by Birdmaestro

As a newbie I'm paranoid about a rotting floor, so leaks that I can't see, i.e. between the walls, are a concern. How useful are humidity gauges and where would you probe with a pick?

Poppy

I will reply to this so it does not drop off the Portal so quickly.
Since your trailer is pushing 15 years old, unless it has been under cover most of it life, I'm thinking any leaks would probably be showing signs.

However, I'm not an expert on where to look for damage, so hopefully someone with experience will come along soon and provide some guidance.

Ken

[dkottum]

Check for leaks with a moisture detection meter that has a sharp probe. Go around the interior perimeter of the trailer poking through the vinyl floor covering into the plywood subfloor. That will find most if not all. The problem is behind shower and cabinets where you can't get to the perimeter.

Suspect areas are below entrance door, below awning support arms and pano windows. High problem area is inside the trailer where the rear bumper plate is mounted, up to 2012 when they installed a seal which seems to be working.

[John&Vicki]

Thanks Doug. You going to pay us a visit?

Cheers,
Poppy

[Mixter]

I've been chasing leaks for 5 months now in an empty shell... Its hard enough to find them that way- cant imagine trying to chase these with the interior skins & furnishings in it...

I've found my worst offenders have been the vertical seam between the endcap and fuselage. Particularly on the curb side. The water runs off the awning rail like a gutter, and develops a river down the seams. Drove me nuts trying to figure out where it was coming from, so I finally drilled out all the rivets, jammed it full of vulkem, and buttoned it back up. FINALLY leak free there... Free's me up to devote more detective work to find the others.

Sealant across the tops of the windows and doors are easy to see and fix. Rubrails and awning rails are also easy. BUT.... Pesky rivets here and there would be impossible to find without the interior out, unless you pressure test.

So... since I'm only starting from a temporarily leak free coach, my long term solution is:
#1- try to seal up the c channel in the floor and provide a way to direct the water out. There is someone on here that put some tubes in the c-channel. I think that's a great way to let the water out that will inevitably get in through a seam or rivet.
#2- Keep it covered when stored.

[perryg114]

I am the one who put the tubes in the c-channel and made it water tight so water would go out the drains instead of into the floor.

The only fixed leak is the last one and the next one. The two piece window frames leak where the joints are.

Perry

[blkmagikca]

Originally Posted by Birdmaestro

DW and I are staying in a RV resort in Casa Grande, Arizona at the moment and enjoying it immensely. The other night we got absolutely pelted with rain for several hours which we both found pleasant.

Poppy

We're in Casa Grande too, and will be here for another couple of weeks. PM me and we can get together for coffee.