How are these supposed to be sealed?

[guy99]

My 84 310 Limited MH has two "drawer" type storage bins which are accessed from the outside. The covers look like the battery drawer, but when you pull them out there is a lockable door covering the top of the drawer.

How are these inner doors supposed to seal? When I purchased the MH there was some weather stripping on the inside of these doors but it clearly is not water tight. Does anyone know how this is supposed to be?

Also, the doors which allow access to the space below the couch from the outside don't seem to seal well either. These openings are fit with a gasket but the doors do not see to make firm contact all the way around. Any suggestions?

[ALANSD]

I don't have the drawer type storage on mine, but I can say that the ones with doors that open top down are notorious for leaking. I resealed mine with glue on weather strip from a hardware supply and it has held up better, although I still will get some minor leaks after washing or a big rain.
I also had to reseal the inside of the larger one below my water heater as it had a steady leak that dripped in there when I got the MH. Fixed the leak, then redid the floor of the storage bin and sealed it with three coats of rust preventive.

[thenewkid64]

If I remember right there is a lip that stands up around the perimeter of the opening. This lip is under the lid when closed.

You could takes some modeling clay and use it to determine the clearance between he lip and the lid. Once you have that size you can source automotive trunk weatherstripping that can be slid on the lip and will have a bulb seal top. It comes in a plethora of sizes. I think Alan even posted an on line company that sells it a while back, but I don't have the link.

This should make the drawer water resistant. I do not think there is a way to make them watertight beyond welding them closed.

[ALANSD]

Restoration Specialties 814-467-9842
Sells all sorts of automotive rubber and weatherstrip. Reasonable too.

[guy99]

Thanks, Alan.

Man, they sure have a lot of neat stuff in their catalogue.

[jking]

Guy, you need new gaskets. The door to the area under the couch should seal when the gasket is the correct one and properly installed. DO NOT use weatherstripping! It will leak. You can, however, use weatherstripping on the slideout top hatches ... get the closed-cell foam type with one sticky edge. I used 1/2 inch thick and it worked.
Jamie '84 310 Turbo Diesel