‘19 Globetrotter Roof leak over toilet after heavy rain

[Biker]

Originally Posted by AirMiles

Was there a gap between that black rubber ring and the black pipe? It looks like there is a gap in your picture. If that rubber ring isn't sealed tightly against the pipe, that is how the water is getting into the Airstream.

Yes, there was a gap. There was a ring of sealant there that I removed. It was loose and wasn't doing much. No water should be in there in the first place if the vent was installed properly.

Originally Posted by jeffmc306

James, thanks for the photo and what you found. If I understand correctly, the cone should be glued to the bottom of the cap? If so, couldn’t you just use the one you had? Sorry for the questions but I’m trying to visualize how it should be assembled.

Yes, cone should be glued to bottom of cap. I could have definitely reused the old vent. I ordered the new one in case I broke the one I was removing and figured I'd just use the new one since I had it.

[jeffmc306]

Originally Posted by Biker

Yes, there was a gap. There was a ring of sealant there that I removed. It was loose and wasn't doing much. No water should be in there in the first place if the vent was installed properly.



Yes, cone should be glued to bottom of cap. I could have definitely reused the old vent. I ordered the new one in case I broke the one I was removing and figured I'd just use the new one since I had it.

Thanks James, that’s exactly what I needed to know before I take mine apart.
I think you just solved a big problem for all of us! I love the forums

[jeffmc306]

Thanks to the tip from James, I removed the stack vent cap and found exactly what he did - the funnel was resting on the top of the stack pipe, not glued to the cap on both grey and black tanks.

The 360 Siphon design is really simple and, if the funnel is secured to the cap, the rain water will go down the stack pipe into the tank. Left loose, water can leak under the funnel and down the stack pipe into the trailer. That’s what happened to us during the heavy rain two nights in a row.

It took roughly 15 minutes to remove the cap, clean up the caulk, glue the funnel to the cap and reinstall / re-caulk. If you’ve got a few minutes, I highly recommend inspecting yours!

PS: The black tank stack did not have sealer between the stack pipe and the gasket. The grey tank stack did have a bead of sealer around the pipe and when I pulled the cap off, water ran out (would have gone inside the trailer without the sealer).

[jeffmc306]

This is what the grey tank stack pipe looked like - sealer applied around the pipe. You can see the water that leaked out when I pulled the cap.

The photo on the right is the black tank stack. The dark area on the gasket is still wet - gap near the pipe and gasket is where it leaked inside the trailer and eventually onto the toilet seat. Lucky for me it was easy to find. When the funnel is glued in the water goes right down the stack pipe.

[AirMiles]

Thanks for the detailed pictures and descriptions Jeffmc306. I like the looks of the second vent with the white SikaFlex 221 sealed around the pipe. I've heard that these black pipes are not stationary, they move when hitting bumps on the road. Will the SikaFlex stay sealed over time? Will the cone stay glued to the top? For these reasons, I'd rather have the old style vent cap with the overlap on the outside. https://www.amazon.com/Ventline-V204...D6GXBTVPR73CD7

[rkgnaz]

Originally Posted by turk123

Climb up near the bathroom vent and remove the two screws and have a look inside. The two screws should have a rubber washer on them. Check to see that the vent is actually closing right and the foam gasket is sealing.

If it is the gasket, go to home depot and get some window seal.

The water could be coming from the vent and moving over to the seam. Check all the white goo around the vent pipe and the bathroom fan.

I do not see sealer around the bathroom fan in your picture!

A sealant that will never leak or deteriorate from UV is 3M5200
(Non removable) or 3M5100 (removable).
It’s widely used in the boating industry for boat assembly as well
as sealing any under water through hull fittings. There is nothing on the market that is comparable.
HD used to carry it but discontinued it a few years back. It was too expensive...but it’s worth the added cost because it’ll never need replacing.

[Xplore]

Originally Posted by jeffmc306

When the funnel is glued in the water goes right down the stack pipe.

What glue do you guys recommend when attaching the funnel ?

[jeffmc306]

Originally Posted by Xplore

What glue do you guys recommend when attaching the funnel ?

I used Gorilla Glue because my PVC glue was dried up. The funnel fit tight so the glue is more insurance.

No leaks since!

[LSGAirstream]

We had the same issue in our 2019 27fb Globetrotter - leak in seam above toilet. I suspected the 360 Siphon vent stack cap. To prove the concept I screwed a plastic bowl upside down to the top of the cap and the problem disappeared. Moving to a Rubbermaid bowl for production fix until we can get a permanent part. Just need to stop the sideways rain or rain when moving so something that hangs below the side openings should work.

[jeffmc306]

Originally Posted by LSGAirstream

We had the same issue in our 2019 27fb Globetrotter - leak in seam above toilet. I suspected the 360 Siphon vent stack cap. To prove the concept I screwed a plastic bowl upside down to the top of the cap and the problem disappeared. Moving to a Rubbermaid bowl for production fix until we can get a permanent part. Just need to stop the sideways rain or rain when moving so something that hangs below the side openings should work.

LSGAirstream, that's a good way to proof the problem.

All you need to do is glue the funnel to the top and there's no way for sideways rain to get in. Just scape off the silicone from the 360 vent and remove the screws.

Reseal after gluing the funnel. For some reason they just drop the funnel in the stack at the factory.

Good luck!
Jeff

[The Colonel]

Originally Posted by AirMiles

I had the same leak of my 2017 FC25FB. I resealed the fan vents and sewer vents and that did not fix the leak. I glued on 4" PVC sewer caps on my black and grey tank vents and the leaks went away https://www.homedepot.com/p/4-in-PVC...7HD4/205799563 . I vote that its the black and grey vents that are leaking when it rains hard at an angle. By adding the PVC cap over the stock vent, it turns the stock Airstream vents it into one of these: https://www.amazon.com/Ventline-V204...WF7NAADD2QFQ24

This problem has been occurring on many new Airstreams. Maybe I should just glue on some 4" PVC vent caps on my new Globetrotter before it leaks as preventative maintenance.

Here are pictures of my FC25FB with the 4” PVC caps installed.

Thanks for this post. After an unsuccessful trip to dealer to fix leak, I found it still leaked a week or so later on the road. I tried your fix with the pvc cap and two months later and several heavy rains, no leak. Seems as though the service people would know about this problem.

[Eddie B]

Hi - we had a similar leak and took it in for a warranty repair (thought it was the black sewer vent) - it was repaired and we thought problem fixed until a heavy storm today. Same leak in the seam over toilet - up top everything looks sealed. By reading this thread - using a Rubbermaid bowl over the sewer vent or alternately over bathroom fan vent should help in troubleshooting? I will also contact airstream as well as it seems by reading this thread there may be a design flaw with the vent pipes? Thanks for any updates.

[Tablerocked]

Are you concerned at all about dissimilar metals and a galvanic reaction? Corrosion? Albeit minimal risk for the aluminum but higher for the zinc.

[jeffmc306]

Originally Posted by Eddie B

Hi - we had a similar leak and took it in for a warranty repair (thought it was the black sewer vent) - it was repaired and we thought problem fixed until a heavy storm today. Same leak in the seam over toilet - up top everything looks sealed. By reading this thread - using a Rubbermaid bowl over the sewer vent or alternately over bathroom fan vent should help in troubleshooting? I will also contact airstream as well as it seems by reading this thread there may be a design flaw with the vent pipes? Thanks for any updates.

Eddie B, depends on how you look at it. If you glue the funnel in the top of the vent and properly seal that to the roof, no water can get around it and between the vent stack pipe and into the interior skin. Once I repaired mine we’ve had zero issues, even hosing down the roof for annual cleaning.

So the way I look at it, it’s a good design on the manufacturer of the roof vent if properly installed at the factory.

[laferic]

Thank you so much for all guidance .. we are experiencing same leak ..water on top of toilet, and inside panel's joint .. resealed fan, and vent base .. still having leak issue ..i just put a PVC 4" cap to see if works, but once rain stop, i will inspect vent assembly .. also resealed fan screws heads (just in case) .. any thought on potential leak at AC area? that is the only other item sitting close to where the water showed up.

Again, thank you so much .. like always, this forum is so helpful !! Be safe, be well!

Eric

[wave man]

I did the pvc end cap solution after seeing it and some links to buy them recently here somewhere... My 2018 Flying Cloud is finally leak free in the bathroom for the first time in the rain…despite multiple dealer visits and attempts to convey the likely cause as described in these amazing forums…
Kudos to all who shared the tip!

[Eddie B]

Eric - do you have the 2nd AC (extra)? Based on the smart and helpful folks on this wonderful forum - it seems like that pesky vent assembly is the culprit. I haven’t been able to 100 percent isolate my issue (I may have left the vent open during a deluge and have myself to blame) but it leaked before when I did have it closed (just like the other posts on this thread). I have wondered with the add on A/C would that addition somehow cause a leak in that area? For now will troubleshoot - then attempt the vent correction as recommended on the earlier posts.

[laferic]

Eddie - Yes, i do have a second unit (unnecessary). BTW, i tried the PVC cap so far looks like leak stopped ..but need more rain for final validation. Thank you so much!!
Eric

[djz]

Hi

I have a 2020 Globetrotter (27ft) with the same exact problem with water on dripping down from the seam above the toilet. I have contacted the Airstream asking for advise hopes they may have heard similar problems and they did NOT know of similar issues. I am pleasantly surprised in reading this thread that I most likely have found the problem. Thanks to the forum, it is a tremendous help.

[jeffmc306]

djz, that’s great that you found the thread with the solution! The Forums have been a big help to me and I’ve met some really nice people who I now call friends. Don’t hesitate to post anything you find so we can learn from you!

-Jeff