Finally Found The Leak!!!!!!

[Siegmann]

Finally found the troublesome leak that was showing up on my inside floor. It was not the window, not the awning arm mounts, not the rub rail and not a rivet or exposed seam.

If you look at the attached photo and note the awning rail, there is a bead of factory caulk on the end. It is a little hard to see, but it's on the top portion of the rail, the flat portion that is about one inch wide and riveted to the Airstream. A tiny gap had opened up between the edge/end of the rail and the caulk. I could not even see it. Found it by using an eyedropper to look for locations that would wick water. The other end of the awning rail also wicked in water. While it may have got inside through the underlying seam, the awning rail has a open channel on the bottom that provides a route to access the many rivets that hold it on its entire length. Make sure those ends are sealed!

As an aside, the caulk on the top of the rail, it's full length, looks good, is well bonded and does not leak. And it's 17 years old!

[BigAl]

Well done Sherlock!
Al

[PaulnGina]

Good find!

I had the same thing at the opposite end of that rail on our Avion that was causing a pretty good leak in the rear bedroom.

I know your feeling of relief from finding that!!!


PaulnGina
1987 Avion 34W
1995 Ford F250 7.3L PowerStroke

Blessed and highly favored

[Wayne&Sam]

I had a similar leak from the hinge on the solar guard on the center front window. It's another spot to watch.

[Bruce B]

Nice job!

[ranchometal]

Thanks!

[banderabob]

I've had a similar leak at the door, dripping from almost dead center at the top. We also noticed that after a good rain, the battery disconnect would not work for a while. In disconnecting it and feeling behind, found wet insulation. The battery disconnect is located about 3' directly below the leak location you describe on our unit, so I'm hoping you solved mine as well!

[A W Warn]

I also found leaks at that location when I purchased my trailer:




add edit: The screws holding the awning brackets were also loose. When I removed them there was no sealant on them, and obviously there never had been.

[madpiper]

Thanks , you solved my problem as well that I couldn't find for the past year. I thought it was leaking at the awning supports brackets and didn't look hard enough higher up at the and the ends of the awning rails where there was a slight gap. Sealed it and now it's not leaking. Again, thank you for sharing your findings!

[Siegmann]

Originally Posted by A W Warn

I also found leaks at that location when I purchased my trailer:
Attachment 255989

Attachment 255990

add edit: The screws holding the awning brackets were also loose. When I removed them there was no sealant on them, and obviously there never had been.

Your photos are even better than mine. And I like your toothpick pointer trick. We should all be doing that with our leak photos!

[Tater]

Outstanding job of finding the leak. Thanks for sharing.

[la nomade]

i am still struggling to find where the leak near the door comes from,yesterday i caulked around the antenna, and the tv antenna..took of the cover i did put on the top of the trailer,will see what happens next time it rains ...hopefully the re-caulking done in the fall around the fan,the ac,the skylight fixed those leaks,i am then left with the leak near the door...will use tooth pick to check for open spaces along the awning etc..i can not paint the floor and put on my new floor until its all dry.

[Siegmann]

Don't forget to check the bottom rub rail.

[richg]

Originally Posted by Siegmann

Don't forget to check the bottom rub rail.

What kind of caulk do you use when re caulking? Where do you purchase it?
Thanks a lot for any info.
Richg

[Siegmann]

On the top of the rub rail I use Parbond aluminum. I like to use it when its cold. It skins over quick. Mask short sections and pull off the masking right away. Local availability is variable. The on-line Airstream suppliers have it though.

Search (using google, not within the forum) for the Forum posting on caulks and sealants for advice on what else to use and where, it is highly dependent on the where.