Wetness inside left front corner

[Melisirish]

I just went out to my 1994 Limited & noticed that the left front corner of my couch is wet.
Yet nothing else around it is wet? What do you think would cause this?

[thesignlady]

Possibly a drip from above... it may not be wet on your roof now but the spongy couch could have gotten wet a few days back. time to get up top and check for leaks.

[dznf0g]

At the floor where the couch meets it, or up on the cushions?

[Wingeezer]

If you mean at the floor where the left side of the couch (i.e. standing in the galley and looking at the couch) meets the floor, I have had that a couple of times. Also to a lesser extent on the right side.

I tried several times to find the leak and have repeatedly re caulked seams & windows without solving the problem.

More recently, I found a couple of my clearnce lights up top had condensation in them.

When I opened them I found the sockets were totally corroded - I was amazed the bulbs were even still lighting they were that bad.

I installed new clearance light fixtures and also ran a small bead of acryl R around the lenses. (I think I read that CanAm in London do that as routine.)

As well, some people said that the caulking around the front Fantastic fan could be the problem.

I decided to recaulk it, and when I removed the old caulking, although it did not look to be dried out and cracked, there was indeed water under the old caulk.

I'm not certain yet if my problem is fixed, but we have been camping here in Florida since mid Feb and so far the areas near the couch have remained dry on this trip. Fingers crossed.

Just a couple of things you might check if the leak you have is in the same area as mine was (is?!)

I'll be interesting to hear if you find the problem.


Brian.


PS - also I re-caulked nearby awning brackets, and put Captain Tolley's on all nearby rivets for good measure!

[Melisirish]

Originally Posted by dznf0g

At the floor where the couch meets it, or up on the cushions?

It's right in the very corner on the floor & not behind or in front & wet about an inch up into fabric?

[sandlapper]

Carpet shampoo?

Pet related?

[Shacksman]

Outside where the awning rail overlaps the front cap seam, you will find that there is a hole for a rivet but no rivet so the rail lays flat. There was caulking in the hole and it has dried out letting water enter, run down and comes out inside. This can also be on both sides. I have found this on many trailers.

[dznf0g]

I'd bet my boots it is wet under the carpet there, and wicking up the sofa material. Water is entering the carpeted area in from the joint in the c-channel between the flat side of the AS and the rear of the curved c-channel on the corner. Now to determine where the water is entering the c-channel before flowing to that joint is the trick.

[Bigdaddy_2]

Had a similar problem in my 2002 Classic. Water was entering at the Serial Number plate on the outside. The pop rivets had worked loose overtime. Removed the plate, caulked with Silkaflex 221, new pop rivets and no more leak.

[perryg114]

The 4 corners are leak points on Airstreams because there is usually a gap in the C-channel between the straight and curved sections. The C-channel is facing up so maybe a U-channel is more accurate. This acts like a gutter so any place along that wall can be the leak origin and it just comes out at the gap in the corner. Water drips down the wall then down the c-channel and out into the floor where where gap is.

Perry

[dznf0g]

Actually 8 points in four "corners", but Perry is right on. Also the cutouts in the c-channel for doors and wheel wells are the other points of intrusion into the interior.

[perryg114]

Usually, the front and rear sections are a continuous piece so there are 4 leak spots where the front and rear curved areas meet the long sides.

Perry

[dznf0g]

Originally Posted by perryg114

Usually, the front and rear sections are a continuous piece so there are 4 leak spots where the front and rear curved areas meet the long sides.

Perry

Hmmm, pretty sure they aren't in mine, as evidenced in my water testing....but it wouldn't be the first time there were inconsistent builds over the years and models.

[Wingeezer]

Originally Posted by Melisirish

It's right in the very corner on the floor & not behind or in front & wet about an inch up into fabric?

That is exactly where ours was showing dampness - and soaking an inch or two up the sofa material.

I am cautiously optimistic that with all the things I have tried, it has now stopped - but damned if I know which solution was the correct one because I tried everything i could think of!

Brian.