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06-16-2019, 12:20 AM
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#1
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Member
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Traveling
Posts: 37
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2018 Phaeton 40IH Removal of Carpeted access panel in closet
Hello All,
I am finding a small amount of water entering my farthest rear driver side lower compartment area. I have thoroughly removed all the water from the bay and started trying to see where the water is coming from. This compartment is under the aft bathroom. We have taken a few showers and no water, I have tested the toilet (which has a macerator pump) and no water. So I am down to the washer that is located in the bathroom by the closet on the passenger side. I see that the plumbing is routed behind the carpeted access panel (looks like a carpeted step) in the rear of the closet (see the picture). Does anyone know how to remove this panel? Before I rip into something and cause a bunch of damage.
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06-16-2019, 08:31 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
National RV Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Conch Republic
Posts: 2,535
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Those panels are usually added after the plumbing is in. They usually use a gun to staple them in place. The staples often go through the carpet and the carpet fibers cover them. If that is the case you can hunt the staples down and pull them with small pliers and a small screwdriver. Sometimes a magnet helps find them.You can then use a small "cats-paw" to get behind and ease the panel out. If there is wall covering or wood where you pry then use a plastic scraper behind the cats paw to prevent damage.
If the carpet went on after the fasteners then gently and carefully peel the carpet back to find the fasteners and remove them. Put the carpet back with carpet glue after.
Be as sure as you can before removing the panel. If it happens when driving water can be thrown up and scooped up into gaps forward of the wet area. It can also work it's way down from a window seam or roof joint.
Good hunting!
__________________
33' 2008 National Tropical on a Freightliner chassis.We tow a 2001 XJ (Cherokee) RVM#189
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06-16-2019, 02:17 PM
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#3
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Community Administrator
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: DFW, Texas
Posts: 21,568
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If it's happening when driving in the rain, it's a known issue with the IH models. The rubber flap gasket does not seal tight some times and allows water to be thrown up and in by the rear wheel. I have battled this with our electric bay and PS compartment since new. Just for info, the compartment should be a sealed box and "shouldn't" allow water in from the top.
You also have the plumbing behind the rear toilet that will be above the area you are talking about. You can access that by pulling the velcro attached top off of the cabinet behind the toilet.
I have had one hose connection fail under our double sink area that had to be re-crimped.
I've attached a few photos from our build to show what is behind the walls. If you have Aquahot, you won't have the water heater or those lines.
__________________
2017 Phaeton 40IH XSH Maroon Coral - Power Glide Chassis with IFS
Previous '15 Tiffin Allegro RED 38QRA and '06 Itasca Sunrise 35A
'16 Jeep JKU Wrangler Sahara or '08 Honda Goldwing
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06-16-2019, 08:09 PM
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 3,607
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All covers such as those are usually held down by screws buried in the carpet cover. You need to find them with a thorough feel around the edges of the carpet. Push down hard with your finger tips as the screws are buried level with the particle board under the carpet. The ones I've seen are washer headed screws you need a #2 square drive bit to remove.
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06-17-2019, 06:34 PM
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#5
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Member
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Traveling
Posts: 37
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All thanks for all the suggestions and information. I have opened every access panel and have thoroughly checked every inch of water and waste line in the rear bathroom. I have found absolutely zero, zilch, not-a water leaks. I even borescoped under the shower. So the only thing that I can think is that it is water from the heavy storm that we went through 2 weeks ago.
LtDan,
I see that you took pictures of your build. Would you be willing to share all those pictures? We do have aqua hot in our rig, but other then that all the plumbing is exactly the same. Let me know and if not I fully understand. Thanks.
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06-17-2019, 10:22 PM
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#6
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Community Administrator
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: DFW, Texas
Posts: 21,568
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2018 Phaeton 40IH Removal of Carpeted access panel in closet
Quote:
Originally Posted by BoeingSWTech
......So the only thing that I can think is that it is water from the heavy storm that we went through 2 weeks ago.......
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99.999% sure that's your problem. I've had to change out some of my door seals for something that puts a little more pressure on the door and is not as "floppy" as the stock seal.
__________________
2017 Phaeton 40IH XSH Maroon Coral - Power Glide Chassis with IFS
Previous '15 Tiffin Allegro RED 38QRA and '06 Itasca Sunrise 35A
'16 Jeep JKU Wrangler Sahara or '08 Honda Goldwing
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