Water Intrusion

[lukeysh714]

Been chasing water intrusion from driving in rain. Everyone should take a look inside the wheel well behind rear wheel. There is a bracket that is supposed to sit flush with the black skirting. They even have a piece of gasketing material to fill in gap. Well on my off door side, the gap is over 1/2" wide and gasketing is doing nothing. So, pretty sure that's where rain is getting in. The fit up is really poor around the water cabinet and inside the wheel wells.

Well, nothing gorilla tape won't fix.

[uncle_bob]

Hi

It's worth noting that it does not take much of a rock to knock some of this stuff out of whack. For those who tow their Classics through .... ummm..... errr ..... bean fields it's worth checking the wheel wells while spraying all the mud off the rest of the trailer.

Bob

[lukeysh714]

See pictures. Fit up is poor and no attempt to fill in.

[uncle_bob]

Originally Posted by lukeysh714

See pictures. Fit up is poor and no attempt to fill in. Attachment 298912Attachment 298913

Hi

Maybe it's just late .... I'm having a hard time figuring out the orientation of those pictures ....

Bob

[Pete B55]

Originally Posted by lukeysh714

See pictures. Fit up is poor and no attempt to fill in. Attachment 298912Attachment 298913

I didn’t have a water issue but the mice found this to be an easy entrance. There is a rubber gasket that doesn’t close the gap. After getting rid of the mice I filled the gaps with sikaflex

[dznf0g]

Mine had sealer in that area....not well sealed though. I added for a complete seal. Has lasted 7 years.

[lukeysh714]

Originally Posted by uncle_bob

Hi



Maybe it's just late .... I'm having a hard time figuring out the orientation of those pictures ....



Bob

Directly behind rear wheel looking back.

[Zybane]

I spray foamed all those openings. Not only could they let highway moisture in, they also are a big source of drafts.

[kendrick.l.j]

Thanks for the heads up.

[paiceman]

Yep, went to storage and found the curb side open like this but the road side solid as can be. I suspect in travels it either worked it's way loose or I hit something to knock the curb side out. So, as it' supposed to be in the high 40's this week I repair both sides with some Silaflex 221 an then I know it won't move.

Bud

[lukeysh714]

Bud, take a close look at the gaps around the water cabinet also. Found lots of nooks and crannies that will let in road water or even cold air. I used closed cell foam and gorilla tape, so I could remove it if necessary. The fresh water feed line and the black flush line are in that area, so if there is a leak, I can pull back a piece of tape to let it drain out.

[Pete B55]

Originally Posted by lukeysh714

Bud, take a close look at the gaps around the water cabinet also. Found lots of nooks and crannies that will let in road water or even cold air. I used closed cell foam and gorilla tape, so I could remove it if necessary. The fresh water feed line and the black flush line are in that area, so if there is a leak, I can pull back a piece of tape to let it drain out.

I also recommend spray foaming the cavities adjacent to the slide rails on your steps to keep out the elements and rodents. Find a can with a long enough straw to ensure when the foam expands it does not interfere with the steps or the spring latching mechanism

[james.mileur]

Great thread, I found a thumb sized hole forward, port of center line, in the floor deck where cables penetrate up into the cabin. Great for routing the trickle charger cord, but as the cable bundle had shifted down, all the factory sealant used was a couple inches below the hole.

[paiceman]

Originally Posted by james.mileur

Great thread, I found a thumb sized hole forward, port of center line, in the floor deck where cables penetrate up into the cabin. Great for routing the trickle charger cord, but as the cable bundle had shifted down, all the factory sealant used was a couple inches below the hole.

James are you going to use spray foam or some other kind of sealant?

Bud

[james.mileur]

Well, I've stuck 0000 steel wool in a few little pukas like that. Didn't want to close it up permanently yet.

[paiceman]

Originally Posted by james.mileur

Well, I've stuck 0000 steel wool in a few little pukas like that. Didn't want to close it up permanently yet.

Thanks. But the steel wool will rust in there.

I found some pipe insulation at Home Depot the other day, which I think I can put in the hole, basically fill it up and yet be able to remove if need be. Might cover the insulation with a large piece of rubberized tape with adhesive on it I found at a plumbing supply house.

Bud

[uncle_bob]

Hi

Steel wool (or most metals) against the aluminum skin probably isn't a real good idea. I *assume* (as in I haven't checked with a magnet ... yet...) the lower flashing is aluminum. A bit of spray paint in the area before you stuff the steel wool in likely "solves" the problem. (I don't trust anodize ....).

Bob

[lukeysh714]

Originally Posted by uncle_bob

Hi

Steel wool (or most metals) against the aluminum skin probably isn't a real good idea. I *assume* (as in I haven't checked with a magnet ... yet...) the lower flashing is aluminum. A bit of spray paint in the area before you stuff the steel wool in likely "solves" the problem. (I don't trust anodize ....).

Bob

Black flashing is not aluminum. Not magnetic.

[james.mileur]

Originally Posted by james.mileur

Well, I've stuck 0000 steel wool in a few little pukas like that. Didn't want to close it up permanently yet.

Sorry, the steel wool I used inside in the big floor holes last fall after the first two stowaways were caught. I used some closed cell foam pipe wrap chunk stuffed in to block the hole for the cables from the bottom.

[Rocinante]

I just filled all the gaps /holes I could find underneath with Stuf-fit copper mesh and Great Stuff pest block spray foam sealant. Hoping it will discourage rodents and reduce bugs that get any big ideas.