Rain Leak in Outside Compartment

[Craig P.]

Whenever we experience rain or heavy dew, I get water inside one of my storage compartments. This compartment is directly below the curb-side slide out seam. See below photo.





The below photo shows the upper seal and frame of the compartment. Note the water dripping and the presence of rust.




This use to only happen when the slide was out, but now it is happening when it's closed as well. Thinking that the water was entering via the slide opening, I opened the slide and applied a liberal amount of silicone along the frame above the compartment, at the bottom of the slide opening. This hasn't helped.

Has anyone else with a similar Fleetwood experienced this?

Craig

[Clifftall]

Water leaks can be tough to find as you know. It may be coming from the roof as you get it from the dew as well as when it rains. I would get up there and check out the screws that attach the rain gutters and other possibilities up there as well. Hope you find it.

["007"]

All the water coming down the corner side molding of slide is being directed into the compartment over the top of door.
Your slide does not recess into the wall as mine does so water will run off side walls.
The floor level seams on mine have selant along the top molding to help water run off.
Is the rubber seal on that corner of slide squeezed to the wall surface so water can not get behind it and run under the slide and into the top of storage compartment?

[Elkhartjim]

You state the slide leaks whether its in the opened or closed position. That would indicate to me the water is entering the slide itself, not from the roof. The photo showing the rust looks like the water is draining from inside the wall. Have you checked the seal around the window? If its dripping from dew, you have some pretty heavy dew too.

Re-looking at the photo-is the leak in the slide storage compartment or the smaller storage compartment? If its the smaller compartment then the water could be from the roof, awning arm attachment, windows, etc. on the side wall. Have you used a water hose to create a similar leak?

[TXiceman]

That leak does not look like it is coming through the door gasket. As Jim suggeste3d, you need to look else where for a leak from above. Any kind of attachments or holes above that area would be first on the list.
to investigate. Remember, water runs down hill.

Ken

[dsbike]

My Coachman had a similair leak in the aft compartment. I sealed the moulding strip just above the compartment on the outer sidewall with clear silicon sealant. This is what fixed it for me, maybe it will work for you.

[RVNeophytes2]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig P. Whenever we experience rain or heavy dew, I get water inside one of my storage compartments.

Craig, I grabbed my video cam and walked out to the hangar where I'm supposed to be packing seaplane parts; what better excuse to procrastinate, than to probe a problem for our forum

Most of my rambling addresses the area aft of your compartment; I understand the slideout was the first and predominant contributor.

But, it seems our mutual problem is the gap between the basement ceiling sheetmetal and the framework. That particular compartment suffers first, maybe, 'cause is is slightly outboard of the others.

If you've already laid a bead of silicone on that inside edge (outside the compartment, above the door gasket), it might be good to also treat the adjacent dry compartments, since the dripping could be traveling laterally.

I'll take your lead, do the same. And, of course, mask off the framework where mine shows past leakage similar albeit less than yours, spray it with gloss black Rustoleum.

Here's my video clip.

[Craig P.]

Thanks everyone for the replies, especially RVNeophytes2 for the great video! At least I now know that I'm not the only Fleetwood owner with this problem.

The compartment in question is the one shown in the middle of the first photo I posted. It does not move in and out with the slide.

I have checked the slide seals above the compartment and they appear to be secured well.

As helpful as RVNeophytes2's video was, I think the water is coming from above the compartment as opposed to the outside frame of the compartment door. If you look in the below photo, you may be able to see that the rust stains start above the boxed metal frame of the compartment, which would lead me to believe the water is coming from above somewhere, as others have suggested. Exactly where though is still a mystery.





There is no window above this compartment. In fact, the compartment is somewhat protected by the slide out topper, as well as the patio awning, as shown in the below photo.




Here's another oddball observation. The water shown inside the compartment in my first post was from a heavy dew three days ago. It rained here most of the day yesterday. I just checked the compartment and it is bone dry. How the heck do you explain that?

Craig

[RVNeophytes2]

Thanks for the kudos. My pleasure.

I guess the driving rain can spare an area...

Hey, I took a still picture of sliding a piece of cardstock in between the pieces mentioned in the video, and it would look like leakage from inside the compartment. Does the photo solve our mystery?

The photos are taken as if the bus is lying on its passenger's side.

(Pardon the weak attempt at cuteness: shop scissors and 30 seconds don't quite do the forum "logo" justice)

[Clifftall]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig P. Here's another oddball observation. The water shown inside the compartment in my first post was from a heavy due three days ago. It rained here most of the day yesterday. I just checked the compartment and it is bone dry. How the heck do you explain that? Craig

I had a leak in a slideout that only occurred when winds were blowing against it during a rain storm. Normal rain did not create any water inside.

[Elkhartjim]

Maybe its water hose test time. Start low and work your way up. I had a roof leak that showed on the passenger side floor behind the seat. The water was coming from the roof where it attached to the front cap almost in the center of the front cap and showed up where I earlier indicated. My point is water only runs down hill but it also runs side-ways.

Do you have a kitchen window in this area? I'll even throw this out-could you have a plumbing leak?

[Craig P.]

RVNeophytes2,

I love the cut-out you made! That area could be part of the problem, but I think I may have found the main culprit, at least in my case.

Everyone's suggestion to check the awning and roof area convinced me to grab my 8' ladder and do a thorough inspection.

In the photos below you will see an exposed wall seam, just above the slide opening. Rain could easily enter this open seam and travel straight down into the compartment.







I like Elkhartjim's idea about using a garden hose. Before I seal up the seam I'm going to aim the garden hose at it and see if I get water in the compartment.

I will also seal up the area RVNeophytes2 shows in his photo.

To be continued....keep your fingers crossed!

Craig

[Elkhartjim]

That appears to be the culprit to me. Craig. I'm always amazed how much water can enter such a small crack in a seam. I hope you found it.

[Craig P.]

UPDATE:

Success! I hit the seam in the last photo I posted with the garden hose. It took about 20 minutes, but the water eventually found it's way into the storage compartment. I prevented the water from reaching the compartment door so that I could test the area shown in RVNeophytes2's photo separately. Thanks to Elkhartjim for the garden hose idea.

I found this same open seam atop each end of both full slides, so I will be sealing those up as well.

I just got back from Lowe's where I bought clear silicone for the seams and black silicone for the area that RVNeophytes2 pointed out. I also bought some black Rust-Oleum Rust Reformer for the rusty areas inside the compartment. It will be another nice 80 degree day here tomorrow, so the compartmnent should be nice & dry by then.

Thanks everyone for your help!

Craig