Water leak in a Bigfoot

[mstovall11]

Hi Everyone,
I am new to this forum, so I am sorry for introducing myself with a problem that I need help with (and for the long post) but here goes.

We have a 2004 Bigfoot 2500 that we have been fairly happy with (I am very sorry to hear that they have folded). I was changing the cheap drawer guides that have always given us trouble, with some Accuride guides, when I noticed that the wall section under the hanging closet, just forward of the range was delaminating and wet (passenger side). I thought that I traced it to the propane niche as the caulking had a small gap. I stripped the silicone and cleaned it thoroughly with denatured alchohol before re-caulking it with 3m marine silicone inside the storage niche and out. I put a fan on the area and it dried out. Well, we recieved more rainfall and the leak, while smaller, is still present. I have examined the areas that I caulked and they have good adhesion so I don't think that the problem is there. The fridge is forward of the leak area so I took off the outside cover and looked in; I did not see anything to indicate a leak. The plywood wall panel has a horizontal seam a foot or so up from the leak, and it is dry and uneffected so I don't think the leak could be window or roof related unless it is coming in at the fridge vent and running down that chase. Bigfoot builds these like a boat in a clamshell configuration so could the leak be coming from the seam? The caulking in that area looks good. I was hoping someone might have some ideas....It's raining again today so maybe it will reveal an entry point.
Thanks in advance,
Michael

[dbkennel]

I wouldn't bee too quick to rule out the roof around the vents. Water can travell. Just a pin hole can be a problem in some parts of the country. (I'm in the pacific NW.)

Being paranoid and in the NW, I would caulk the seam around the cam also if it was mine, but I do overkill when it comes to water.

could the water have traveled down from the top of the fridge where you might not see it? Top of the fridge is a great spot for a leak.

good luck...

[Steve_in_29]

This forum doesn't get much traffic. You might be better off posting on RV.net Truck Camper Forum

[impala2244@netscape.net]

Quote:

Originally posted by mstovall11: Hi Everyone, I am new to this forum, so I am sorry for introducing myself with a problem that I need help with (and for the long post) but here goes. We have a 2004 Bigfoot 2500 that we have been fairly happy with (I am very sorry to hear that they have folded). I was changing the cheap drawer guides that have always given us trouble, with some Accuride guides, when I noticed that the wall section under the hanging closet, just forward of the range was delaminating and wet (passenger side). I thought that I traced it to the propane niche as the caulking had a small gap. I stripped the silicone and cleaned it thoroughly with denatured alchohol before re-caulking it with 3m marine silicone inside the storage niche and out. I put a fan on the area and it dried out. Well, we recieved more rainfall and the leak, while smaller, is still present. I have examined the areas that I caulked and they have good adhesion so I don't think that the problem is there. The fridge is forward of the leak area so I took off the outside cover and looked in; I did not see anything to indicate a leak. The plywood wall panel has a horizontal seam a foot or so up from the leak, and it is dry and uneffected so I don't think the leak could be window or roof related unless it is coming in at the fridge vent and running down that chase. Bigfoot builds these like a boat in a clamshell configuration so could the leak be coming from the seam? The caulking in that area looks good. I was hoping someone might have some ideas....It's raining again today so maybe it will reveal an entry point. Thanks in advance, Michael

[impala2244@netscape.net]

Hello Mike,
My 10.6 had a water leak. I found the leak at the top of the window over the table. Run a bead of caulk on the window frame. My floor is no longer wet etc. This my 3rd Bigfoot and very happy with the product. This camper like all others needs a litle TLC now and then but nothing major. Stay in touch!
Cully