Slide Leaks Revisited - Fixed?

[GerryB54]

I've posted on this subject before, my history is as follows:

Oct. 07 - Heavy rains & wind on first trip w/new RV, found LR slide (open) leaking at rear, running down rear wall, entering by dinette and saturating carpet. Slide topper full of holes, thought replacing it would eliminate most problems, replaced.

Left slide open, experienced regular rain, no leaks found.

Dec. 07 - RV stored at home, slides open. Closed LR slide, heard water running down front side behind drivers seat when retracting. Cleaned up. Had been through some rains.

Dec. to Feb. 08 - Slide closed, checked top of slide for water sitting after regular rains by standing on drivers seat, shining flashlight onto top of slide - none found.

Feb. 08 - Crazy winds and hoz. rain last week, checked closed LR slide top for water, found some water sitting on top at rear of slide.

Ran slide out and squeegied water off top of slide.

Conclusion: Still not sure how water is entering, but seems most problematic with sideways wind/rain. I'm also thinking the rain gutter running over the slide could be letting water drop down onto the slide. All slide gaskets look good and seal well against the RV exterior walls.

Anybody with some other ideas? Other slides seem to stay high and dry.

[GerryB54]

I've posted on this subject before, my history is as follows:

Oct. 07 - Heavy rains & wind on first trip w/new RV, found LR slide (open) leaking at rear, running down rear wall, entering by dinette and saturating carpet. Slide topper full of holes, thought replacing it would eliminate most problems, replaced.

Left slide open, experienced regular rain, no leaks found.

Dec. 07 - RV stored at home, slides open. Closed LR slide, heard water running down front side behind drivers seat when retracting. Cleaned up. Had been through some rains.

Dec. to Feb. 08 - Slide closed, checked top of slide for water sitting after regular rains by standing on drivers seat, shining flashlight onto top of slide - none found.

Feb. 08 - Crazy winds and hoz. rain last week, checked closed LR slide top for water, found some water sitting on top at rear of slide.

Ran slide out and squeegied water off top of slide.

Conclusion: Still not sure how water is entering, but seems most problematic with sideways wind/rain. I'm also thinking the rain gutter running over the slide could be letting water drop down onto the slide. All slide gaskets look good and seal well against the RV exterior walls.

Anybody with some other ideas? Other slides seem to stay high and dry.

[Gary RVRoamer]

We sometimes get water on the floor in the bedroom when we bring the slide in with water on top. This happens when winds drive water under the topper and onto the top of the slide itself. Has happened a couple times in a year. Problem seems to occur when the coach is slightly down at the front and the water on top runs forward. Does not seem to enter if it runs toward the back.

Our slide has a "wiper" gasket along the top that is supposed to prevent water from being brought in with the slide but apparently it is not very effective at the front edge. I haven't been able to see in there well enough to figure out what's wrong and the problem is hard to reproduce.

[Jack Myton]

Not sure that I understand 'LR' slide. Left rear?
Anyway, driving rain can be a problem for just about any coach and solutions vary. One solution that helps direct water that comes off the top of a slide at either end, is to install rubber channels on the end wall, that taper down toward the outside. I have seen this solve the problem and since these channels are two sided tape installed it is cheap, easy and effective. They shouldn't interfere with the bulb seal and are not unsightly. If adjustment or experimentation is needed they remove with a hairdryer.

[GerryB54]

LR meant Living Room (& Dinette) slide, sorry.

I understand that slides can have water intrusion when extended in rain/wind conditions, but I'm getting water in now when this living room/dinette slide is retracted inside the RV.

[lhill]

Take a look at the rain gutter above the slide.On mine,Fleetwood put very large screws through the rain gutter to hold the slide topper material from moving forward or rearward. These large screws formed a dam in the gutter that caused water to spill over the gutter and pour right directly on the "seam" between the slde and body side. Also, the rain gutter may be spliced somewhere along the top of the slide, if the splice isn't properly sealed, water can run down on top of the slide/body seam.

[GerryB54]

lhill, This is what I suspect could be my problem...how did you correct this?

I know sealing, but what did you do with the screws?

[lhill]

I removed the large screws and drilled a smaller hole at an angle through the part of the gutter that held the slide topper material, then installed much smaller stainless metal screws. At the butt splices of both side gutters, I removed what old sealant remained and cut a small piece of Eternabond tape, layed the tape into the gutter channel and pressed in down.
Did you ever notice that after you washed and chamiosed your sides that water still dripped down the sides in a couple places? I had a gap between gutter sections on both sides that caused this.
Hope this helps.

[Rambler1]

GerryB54

Look at your inner slide seal? It may be damaged or not making a proper seal.
Let me know what you find.

[dickfrompasadena]

I had a leak in my 07 35e. Media Camping Center repaired the seal and said the factory did not install it correctly. I have not had another problem.

[GerryB54]

I will be looking at all suggestions whenever it warms up a little!

We had pretty substantial rains a few days ago, and the slides were all closed, and this time no water at all entered onto the roof of the living room/dinette slide.

It seems to be more prevalent when there are strong side winds and rain together.

Thanks again for your feedback.

[GerryB54]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by lhill:
I removed the large screws and drilled a smaller hole at an angle through the part of the gutter that held the slide topper material, then installed much smaller stainless metal screws. At the butt splices of both side gutters, I removed what old sealant remained and cut a small piece of Eternabond tape, layed the tape into the gutter channel and pressed in down.
Did you ever notice that after you washed and chamiosed your sides that water still dripped down the sides in a couple places? I had a gap between gutter sections on both sides that caused this.
Hope this helps. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>Well, I removed the two awning set screws blocking the rain gutter today and replaced them with shorter ones that sit flush on the bottom of the inside gutter. Used a clear sealant there and on one gutter rail seam just rear of the slide...we'll see what happens!

[GerryB54]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Jack Myton:
Not sure that I understand 'LR' slide. Left rear?
Anyway, driving rain can be a problem for just about any coach and solutions vary. One solution that helps direct water that comes off the top of a slide at either end, is to install rubber channels on the end wall, that taper down toward the outside. I have seen this solve the problem and since these channels are two sided tape installed it is cheap, easy and effective. They shouldn't interfere with the bulb seal and are not unsightly. If adjustment or experimentation is needed they remove with a hairdryer. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>Jack, this solution would help with water entering the slide roof when extended, and I did have this problem last fall...thanks. My bigger problem now is water entering when the living room slide is retracted into the RV, I'm occasionally getting a small puddle of water sitting on the rear roof of the slide.

[Jack Myton]

If the leak is when the slide is fully in, then it must be the bulb seal along the top. Even if there is no roof gutter, water should not enter, unless under some direct pressure. Replacing the bulb seal is not difficult if the slide topper is removed. Make sure that the slide surface contacting the seal is also smooth. I can easily imagine your frustration, but don't give up.