Title: Need some pointers for slide out repairs 2008 Nimbus 342
Post by: Dennis H on July 06, 2024, 06:56:29 pm
Post by: Dennis H on July 06, 2024, 06:56:29 pm
So last March picked this unit. The front drivers side slide out leaks to the inside when open. This air seal appears to be good, it hold pressure. I added gauges and currently have the pressure set ~14 psi. First step is I would like to remove the facade inside so I can see around the slide when it is open. How is that fastened? I am also concerned that the problem may be the top of the slide box itself. It seems to have depression and rainwater puddles near the center close to the coach when the slide is open. So, what is the trick to get that facade trim off?
Thank you,
Dennis
Thank you,
Dennis
Title: Re: Need some pointers for slide out repairs 2008 Nimbus 342
Post by: rbark on July 06, 2024, 08:18:23 pm
Post by: rbark on July 06, 2024, 08:18:23 pm
If yours is like mine (03 U320) the vertical facade is held on with Velcro strips as is the long horizontal piece. Pull thoes off and you will see the screws you will need to remove. The 2 vertical pieces come off as does the top piece by removing the appropriate screws. I made a jig to hold up one end of the overhead piece while removing the screws but two people work better. Hope this helps.
What do you mean by " leaks to the inside"?
What do you mean by " leaks to the inside"?
Title: Re: Need some pointers for slide out repairs 2008 Nimbus 342
Post by: Michelle on July 06, 2024, 08:30:19 pm
Post by: Michelle on July 06, 2024, 08:30:19 pm
First step is I would like to remove the facade inside so I can see around the slide when it is open. How is that fastened?
So, what is the trick to get that facade trim off?
Can you post a photo of the slide surround - both from afar and close up?
Title: Re: Need some pointers for slide out repairs 2008 Nimbus 342
Post by: AC7880 on July 06, 2024, 09:30:06 pm
Post by: AC7880 on July 06, 2024, 09:30:06 pm
Look around the outside of the slideout bladder.
If it is not sealed from edge of the rubber to the fiberglass (silicone or better bead), water comes in under the slidoout bladder (or tiny gap in fiberglass itself) and gets inside. Can also cause delam of fiberglass under the slideout, especially if any water in there freezes.
Look for a very slight gap in outer fberglass layer right next to the bladder. Link at bottom has a pic that may explain better.
It's easier to inspect the bladder to fiberglass (and seal it) with slideout in, not out.
Seal the verticles and the bottom of outer bladder edge to fiberglass. This solved an issue with our bedroom carpet getting wet in rainstorms.
Found the thread: Wet floor bedroom slide area - raining (https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=36549.msg347682#msg347682)
If it is not sealed from edge of the rubber to the fiberglass (silicone or better bead), water comes in under the slidoout bladder (or tiny gap in fiberglass itself) and gets inside. Can also cause delam of fiberglass under the slideout, especially if any water in there freezes.
Look for a very slight gap in outer fberglass layer right next to the bladder. Link at bottom has a pic that may explain better.
It's easier to inspect the bladder to fiberglass (and seal it) with slideout in, not out.
Seal the verticles and the bottom of outer bladder edge to fiberglass. This solved an issue with our bedroom carpet getting wet in rainstorms.
Found the thread: Wet floor bedroom slide area - raining (https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=36549.msg347682#msg347682)
Title: Re: Need some pointers for slide out repairs 2008 Nimbus 342
Post by: Michelle on July 06, 2024, 10:24:15 pm
Post by: Michelle on July 06, 2024, 10:24:15 pm
Look around the outside of the slideout bladder.
If it is not sealed from edge of the rubber to the fiberglass (silicone or better bead), water comes in under the slidoout bladder (or tiny gap in fiberglass itself) and gets inside. Can also cause delam of fiberglass under the slideout, especially if any water in there freezes.
Look for a very slight gap in outer fberglass layer right next to the bladder. Link at bottom has a pic that may explain better.
It's easier to inspect the bladder to fiberglass (and seal it) with slideout in, not out.
Seal the verticles and the bottom of outer bladder edge to fiberglass. This solved an issue with our bedroom carpet getting wet in rainstorms.
Found the thread: Wet floor bedroom slide area - raining (https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=36549.msg347682#msg347682)
Dan, that's an excellent reminder of a maintenance item that needs to be checked periodically ^.^d
Title: Re: Need some pointers for slide out repairs 2008 Nimbus 342
Post by: Dennis H on July 07, 2024, 11:27:47 am
Post by: Dennis H on July 07, 2024, 11:27:47 am
It only leaks when the slide is open.
https://1drv.ms/i/s!AqaEiIhKCAKbkrtYpbGJBcyQBhK2TQ?e=PB5ADZ
https://1drv.ms/i/s!AqaEiIhKCAKbkrtXxNNdRler6xMaaw?e=b4PqzK
I would like to actually look at the bladder to top of the slide interface. I'm thinking that the top of the slide may have a defect. Also concerned that water puddles on top of the slide indicating a depression in the box itself.
Thank you for any help.
Dennis
https://1drv.ms/i/s!AqaEiIhKCAKbkrtYpbGJBcyQBhK2TQ?e=PB5ADZ
https://1drv.ms/i/s!AqaEiIhKCAKbkrtXxNNdRler6xMaaw?e=b4PqzK
I would like to actually look at the bladder to top of the slide interface. I'm thinking that the top of the slide may have a defect. Also concerned that water puddles on top of the slide indicating a depression in the box itself.
Thank you for any help.
Dennis
Title: Re: Need some pointers for slide out repairs 2008 Nimbus 342
Post by: Michelle on July 07, 2024, 12:57:45 pm
Post by: Michelle on July 07, 2024, 12:57:45 pm
Those look similar to how our 2003 was done. See some photos in this album:
After you gently remove the fabric inserts (they're fabric-wrapped thin MDF or lauan plywood, I don't recall which), you'll see A LOT of screws holding the top piece and the 2 vertical pieces on. You can probably do the side pieces by yourself, but that long top piece is going to need a helper to support it.
Does your coach have slide toppers with squeegees? I recall there were a couple of years in the late 2007-2010 era that did not, and had a water pooling issue.
ETA - yup, 2009 at least had the issue Rain and No Slide Toppers (https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=41639.0) and other topics indicate 2007 didn't either.
After you gently remove the fabric inserts (they're fabric-wrapped thin MDF or lauan plywood, I don't recall which), you'll see A LOT of screws holding the top piece and the 2 vertical pieces on. You can probably do the side pieces by yourself, but that long top piece is going to need a helper to support it.
Does your coach have slide toppers with squeegees? I recall there were a couple of years in the late 2007-2010 era that did not, and had a water pooling issue.
ETA - yup, 2009 at least had the issue Rain and No Slide Toppers (https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=41639.0) and other topics indicate 2007 didn't either.
Title: Re: Need some pointers for slide out repairs 2008 Nimbus 342 Thank You Michelle!
Post by: Dennis H on July 07, 2024, 10:29:00 pm
Post by: Dennis H on July 07, 2024, 10:29:00 pm
OK. So with the help you gave I pulled the top facade. There were only 5 screws holding that piece up! So anyway, with the slide topper lifted up and the facade removed I could see the middle of the slide box was not in contact with the seal when inflated. So for now, I removed the 2 lifting brackets and re drilled them to raise them about 3/16". Slide open with the seal deflated I now have a near perfect 1/8" gap along the top. The seal easily inflates and makes full contact. I filled a 5-gallon bucket with water, went up top and poured in on to the top of the slide out roof. It still puddled near the center. No water came inside. I swept the water off the roof and then deflated the seal and retracted it. The wiper missed the low part of the roof, so it remained wet once inside. Fix for another day. At least now I can open the slide in the rain with some confidence the rain will stay outside.
I do have slide toppers with the combined window awnings. These seem to be mostly sun and debris stoppers as water goes right through them. Also, if not extended fully as awnings they also pond over the slide and the water just collects under. I am going to try tent water proofing stuff to see f that will make the material hold water so it can runoff.
Thank you again for the help!
Dennis
I do have slide toppers with the combined window awnings. These seem to be mostly sun and debris stoppers as water goes right through them. Also, if not extended fully as awnings they also pond over the slide and the water just collects under. I am going to try tent water proofing stuff to see f that will make the material hold water so it can runoff.
Thank you again for the help!
Dennis
Title: Re: Need some pointers for slide out repairs 2008 Nimbus 342
Post by: Michelle on July 07, 2024, 10:44:06 pm
Post by: Michelle on July 07, 2024, 10:44:06 pm
I do have slide toppers with the combined window awnings. These seem to be mostly sun and debris stoppers as water goes right through them. Also, if not extended fully as awnings they also pond over the slide and the water just collects under. I am going to try tent water proofing stuff to see f that will make the material hold water so it can runoff.
I believe Zip Dee has a wash as well as a re-waterproofing solution they recommend. Might be Aerospace 303 products.
ETA - straight from Zip Dee. Retreat after any thorough cleaning or every 5 years with an application of 303 Fabric Guard https://www.awningsbyzipdee.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Sunbrella%C2%AE-Awning-Fabric-Cleaning-Instructions-and-Stain-Chart.pdf
Title: Re: Need some pointers for slide out repairs 2008 Nimbus 342
Post by: wolfe10 on July 08, 2024, 07:42:56 am
Post by: wolfe10 on July 08, 2024, 07:42:56 am
I do have slide toppers with the combined window awnings. These seem to be mostly sun and debris stoppers as water goes right through them. Also, if not extended fully as awnings they also pond over the slide and the water just collects under. I am going to try tent water proofing stuff to see f that will make the material hold water so it can runoff.
Dennis,
Yours is a newer model than I have worked on. But STRONG suggestion is to contact your awning manufacturer (may still be ZipDee) for exactly what waterproofing to use. On the older models with Sunbrella, they were quite specific about exactly what to use to clean and what to use for waterproofing.