Leak from front awning top mount?

[Ohiobrits]

Last weekend after a very nasty rain and wind storm we had a leak develop. Water was seeping out of a horizontal seam about half way up the wall. It would appear that the leak is from the front top awning mount that is directly above the leak. Water appears to be passing through the insulation and then running down the inner skin and out the join. The leak started some hours after the main rain storm although it did rain lightly for 3 or 4 hours after the main deluge.

Anyone seen this? The mount looks to be secure and the neoprene gasket in good shape. I have closely looked over the rest of the roof seals in the area at the front and all looks to be good so this is my best guess of the leak point.

If you have seen this, recommendations on how to fix? looks like the mount is attached with screws so could be removed and reseated with some sealant but I'm not to keen on loosening the screws and removing in a soft material like Aluminum. Might not go back on tight.......

Thoughts?

[GMFL]

That is what you are going to have to do. DO NOT USE POWER SCREW DRIVER!!!! Use Sika 221 or something like it. Also inspect the seem around the nd of the awning rail. Water runs off roof and fall around the end of the awning. Good luck.

[sandlapper]

Those screws are very likely driven into a rib. The skin alone would never hold them with the weight of the awning.

No need to remove the entire bracket. Remove 1 screw at a time, squirt some Parbond or the likes into the hole, put some on the screw, then reinstall the screw.

Finding the source of the leak can be frustrating. Good luck.

[rostam]

I have used aluminium colored Parbond sealer (http://www.vintagetrailersupply.com/...-p/vts-256.htm) to seal the perimeter of pretty much everything that is attached to the shell, including the awning brackets. Might want to consider that.

[Caffeinated]

My mount was slightly misaligned from the get go. I called Zip Dee and was told that I could realign the mount but I should use plenty of silicon caulk to keep it from leaking. I let my dealer do it and I'm crossing my fingers that it doesn't leak now.

Mike

[PaulnGina]

I would suggest removing the bracket altogether, clean it and the mounting surface well, then reassemble it using Parsons. Use enough to make a good seal between the bracket and the body of the trailer.

[Bambi in LC]

Ohiobrits,

We are in the same situation. Both of our top awning brackets leak. Upon inspection, I noticed the bracket was not sitting flush with the skin. This is hard to notice if there is a "thick" seal under the bracket. The installation is over rivets going into the frame. There are only 3 screws in our brackets. Two into the frame and one into the skin. I removed the brackets and discovered the base was not countersunk where the rivet heads were located. This could cause misalignment but more importantly would not allow for a flush mount to the skin. The base could rock fore and aft on the rivet heads with enough stress. This would break the seal and allow water in. My solution, countersink the base to accept the rivet heads and lay flush to the body. Use appropriate caulk. Hope this helps.

[DBULL]

I had the same problem after/during a severe storm. It took months, of little to no rain, to trace the leak to the awning bracket. Bambi in LC nailed it. The rivets create a gap that is filled with sealer, that eventually fails. Not wanting to "flatten" the rivets, I went to Ace Hardware, bought a pack of rubber gasket sheets, and cut one thicker than the rivet head, bought oversized screws--thicker, not longer--just in case. Bought Plio--? sealer which is recommended for aluminum, coated sealer on both sides of the gasket, cut to size of bracket, with small holes punched at correct location. Oozed sealer into each screw hole in aluminum shell, attached the whole bit, and no more leak. I intend to do the same to the other clamp, since upon inspection, one screw there was loose and there was a slight wobble. My thinking was the gasket would compress down almost to the height of the rivet.
David

[HiHoAgRV]

I've seen several, wait, ALL of the Airstreams I've messed with leak at that point. The awning really tugs on that bracket and movement sooner or later causes it to leak. I remove the bracket and bed it in Tempro. A huge, nasty hunk of Tempro. Insert the screws and make sure the sealant squirts out all the way around and from inside each screw hole. Tighten it down and clean up the mess. Others report differently but for me Tempro stays flexible and I've never had a leaker.

This one is next.

[Ohiobrits]

Thanks everyone. I will remove, countersink and refit with sealant this weekend, weather permitting.

[ChuckFeldt]

After resealing my awning bracket I still had a leak. I found end cap roof seam caulking voids that I recaulked. No more leaks.