Community Forums

Bigblue12v · 08-30-2012, 06:32 PM

Ok I'm having a bit of a conundrum....

If our slide room wasn't completely dry on the outside, it will get water inside our trailer if we retract it and travel. It has all the correct hardware gaskets and seals. I know the big flap seal is supposed to squeegee the majority of the water off, but it doesn't seem to get much. It isnt brittle, it seems soft and flips back and forth as i believe it should. I would love to have an awning for it but that wouldn't help the sides just the roof. I refuse to let any amount of water hit the floor as I've already dealt with my share of water damage. What's the proper approach to this? Or do my squeegee seal flaps just not work worth a crap?

IWillRVToo · 08-30-2012, 06:36 PM

Do you think it would help if you waxed all the outside surfaces?

RickO · 08-30-2012, 06:40 PM

I think it's a fairly common problem and don't have a better solution for you other than doing a manual wipe down before retracting.

In my motorhome, any water on the top of the road side slide will pour right down my back the first time I hit the brakes if I don't tilt the coach to that side before retracting.

Rick

jaycocamprs · 08-30-2012, 07:48 PM

That’s why we have slide toppers. You could try raising/ lowering the tongue to get most of the water to run off the slides before retracting them. Then wipe off what’s left with a towel.

Bigblue12v · 08-30-2012, 07:54 PM

Wax might help, hadn't thought of that. A manual wipe down would work for the walls as much as I can reach anyway. The roof a different story. I just have stabilizers not leveling jacks so I can't tilt the rig much. And having some knowledge of how it all works I would hate to tilt it very much when running it in or out and put it in a bind of some sort. My main thinking is when it rains as your packing up and leaving. Surprise rain where you don't have time to plan ahead and retract it prior to the storm.
Has anyone heard of Pig Mats? We use em at work. It's like industrial oversize super strength paper towel. Each one will absorb close to a gallon of liquid I think. I was thinking to take some of those along to lay on the roof after retracting it (wipe down walls prior). That would probably do the trick. When the pig mats dry out (since its just water) they are reusable. I have some at home I re use over and over again on oil and antifreeze when working on vehicles. I think this is a decent solution I just wondered what full timers do or people that happen to deal with inclement weather. What about the slide out boots? If I understand how they work correctly they would eliminate water in the cabin. They are awful expensive though!

RVINSMCM · 08-30-2012, 08:38 PM

I lost my slide awning in heavy winds in Montana last year. What I do is put a beach towel up top of slide on the inside to catch the little bit of water while Dw retracts the slide. Just make sure that you remove it before you extend the slide out again

!!! Put a string on it with something to remind ya, seeing its right behind your seat.

ralphie · 08-30-2012, 10:55 PM

We've had to pull in our slides numerous times this year when they were wet, or it was actively raining at the time. The slideout seals did squegee off much of the wetness. I can't say that I have noticed any excessive water in the unit at any time. By excessive, I mean puddles. A couple of drops here or there don't bother us.

Mr_D · 08-30-2012, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ralphie

We've had to pull in our slides numerous times this year when they were wet, or it was actively raining at the time. The slideout seals did squegee off much of the wetness. I can't say that I have noticed any excessive water in the unit at any time. By excessive, I mean puddles. A couple of drops here or there don't bother us.

Same with ours. We do have A&E (now Dometic) covers over ours which helps tremendously.
Friend had a Dolphin without covers, he got a real shower one time!

JohnBoyToo · 08-31-2012, 06:06 AM

As long as the water is not there long term, you should be good...

the ac will dehumidify it pretty well next time you stop.
or barring that a 12v fan blowing on the spots while you are driving

Waxing is a great idea and in addition,
I've had good luck with rain-x - the water just sheets off the surfaces...