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Topic: Another Leak....Missouri Monsoon (Read 972 times) previous topic - next topic

Another Leak....Missouri Monsoon

It's rain d nearly every day since we arriv d in Kansas City...likely in excess of 4" in just th last 72 hours!  After 5+ months on the road this is only the second time it's rained.

Yesterday afternoon it was the shower skylight leak (see separate post) and last night it was likely the rear cap/ladder/clearance light that began leaking....dripping on my head as I tried to sleep.

The compartments over the bed are dry but there's a separate "stepped area" behind the cabinets that's catching and transmitting the water along the joint of this area and along the back wall above and below the mirror attached to this wall.  See photos.

There's evidence of past leaks in this area but until last night no current water.

It's much more challenging to deal with this while we're on the road.  We're back in Florida Nov 1 but until then all I can hope for is dry weather and hoping I can get up there with some Dicor.  For now a ladder and climbing the roof is all I can do.

Randy (N4TDT) and Karen Crete
Sarasota, Florida
SOLD:  2000 U270 34' WTFE Build 5756 "Ole Red"

Re: Another Leak....Missouri Monsoon

Reply #1
Yesterday afternoon it was the shower skylight leak (see separate post) and last night it was likely the rear cap/ladder/clearance light that began leaking....dripping on my head as I tried to sleep.
OK, the answer to this one is EASY - just trade places with your partner, and sleep on the other side of the bed!  :dance:
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Another Leak....Missouri Monsoon

Reply #2
I had the same problem on our 300. On a trip to Oregon (seems to always be raining over there) it started leaking fore and aft. Both were caused by the clearance lights. For temp I just put a piece of duct tape across the top edge of the lights and put new ones on when I got home. A lot of us have replaced the originals with LEDs; I replaced mine with the inexpensive stock lights. Good luck.
jor
93 225
95 300
97 270
99 320

Re: Another Leak....Missouri Monsoon

Reply #3
.ost probably the lights are the cause but check the moulding strip that goes across the end cap for leaking points.
John H
Coachless, now use aircraft. 2003 Ford Travelair TC280 class C. Super shape. Just for 1 yr .
1994 Ford E350 ClassC,total renovation inside and out. Now sold.
2000 U295  36' Cummins 350 c/w Banks Stinger, Resonator upgrade,Solar, LED lites.Residential fridge with slide out pantry. Build 5674. Sold
ex 92 GV 022C ored Cummins. Sold
ex 95 GV240 cat 3116. Sold
2017 Mini cooper s & 2016 land Rover LR2 HSE  LUX.
jhaygarth@aol.com    SKP #130098
treat everyone as you would like to be.

Re: Another Leak....Missouri Monsoon

Reply #4
Take the light out. Put some,  what else? SHOE GOO!! in each screw hole and in the hole where the wires go thru. I actually put it around each screw and the wires on the back side of the light base also. Too little Shoe Goo isn't enough.
Haven't had a leak in eight years--since I converted to LED lights.
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: Another Leak....Missouri Monsoon

Reply #5
Sorry about the leak Randy. All I can say is welcome to KC :facepalm:  Been in the area 62 years, it is like that. We got 6" since yesterday evening. Been in drought all year long.

Larry
Larry Warren
1996  U320 36' SBID "Lola" sold 2020
Build #4970
Motorcade #18318

Re: Another Leak....Missouri Monsoon

Reply #6
The good news is that there are a limited number of possible entry points back there.

Yes, start with sealing clearance lights. 

Other possibilities are ladder or luggage rail mounting brackets and rear cap seal.  If rear cap, I would start by pulling each screw after verifying it is tightening and then bed the screws in a polysulfide.  Another option (not as pretty) would be overlay the seam with a strip of Eternabond
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Another Leak....Missouri Monsoon

Reply #7
Randy, I had a leak in the same area, it was the trim strip that goes across the back between the rear cap and the reast of the coach.  I taped it up with the no residue 3M duct tape and that stopped it until we got somewhere where the trim could come off, the old caulk removed new 3M 4200UV applied and the trim replaced.  Not hard, just fussy.

The coach needs to be dry for the tape to stick.  Tilt the coach nose low so water doesn't run back towards the joint.
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: Another Leak....Missouri Monsoon

Reply #8
Randy_ I use a product called Geocel Pro Flex RV sealant- brushable.  It is available on Amazon, brush it over the area or in my case I use it on the whole seam when I do my roof maintenance.  It is UV resistant and remains flexible, you can paint it too if you want to.
I use cheap baster brushes and throw it away when done. I even sealed a leak on my skylight one time with a few brush strokes ( after I found it of course) and that was years ago, still no leaks.

Good luck getting sealed up. 

I have an after thought- didn't they outlaw waterboarding?      ^.^d
Ted & Karen
2001 U270 36' - sold after 12 years full timing

Re: Another Leak....Missouri Monsoon

Reply #9
Haaaa and they complain about slides!!  ^.^d  :))

Sorry to hear about the leaks.. Thing is it can enter at the front and drip at the rear

Re: Another Leak....Missouri Monsoon

Reply #10
Randy,

Do you have a radio in that night stand?  If so look at the roof antena.  If the antena base has a leak  the water will drip in the location you are talking about.

Mike
Pamela & Mike 97 U 320

"It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters."

Re: Another Leak....Missouri Monsoon

Reply #11
4200 in screws on top of ladder and luggage rack closest to rear cap.  3M low residue on shower cap, rear cap and rear clearance lights.  Hopefully enuf to get home. Stay tuned..
Randy (N4TDT) and Karen Crete
Sarasota, Florida
SOLD:  2000 U270 34' WTFE Build 5756 "Ole Red"

Re: Another Leak....Missouri Monsoon

Reply #12
So the monsoon has followed us to Branson.  I was able to get on top yesterday in the dry and used no residue 3m duct tape to around the base of the shower skylight base and around the "bubble" as well as the rear cap seam and rear marker lights. The screws on the ladder top and luggage rack screws near the rear cap we're tight but I removed them and applied 4200 and re-tightened.

I'll post results of our temporary fix after monsoon clears.

At least we're still far enough away from Hurricane Michael ...although that's where we're heading in late October.
Randy (N4TDT) and Karen Crete
Sarasota, Florida
SOLD:  2000 U270 34' WTFE Build 5756 "Ole Red"

Re: Another Leak....Missouri Monsoon

Reply #13
Still raining in Branson. 3m No Residue Duct tape sealed leaks.  I'm going to keep an extra roll in coach for the future.  Seems to have the hold of traditional duct tape bu no goo!

3M™ NO RESIDUE Duct Tape | 3M United States

Found a roll at Tractor Supply ...nothing at Lowe's or Menards.  Might be better to Amazon in advance.
Randy (N4TDT) and Karen Crete
Sarasota, Florida
SOLD:  2000 U270 34' WTFE Build 5756 "Ole Red"

 

Re: Another Leak....Missouri Monsoon

Reply #14
Still raining in Branson. 3m No Residue Duct tape sealed leaks.  I'm going to keep an extra roll in coach for the future.  Seems to have the hold of traditional duct tape bu no goo!

3M™ NO RESIDUE Duct Tape | 3M United States

Found a roll at Tractor Supply ...nothing at Lowe's or Menards.  Might be better to Amazon in advance.

Glad you found a way to get home dry!. Thanks for the tape tip. Wish we had some yesterday. Our King jack antenna tried to launch itself. Metal fatigue in the bracket attached directly to plastic antenna housing. The darn thing is shaped like a flying wedge. Coax kept it connected to coach. Made hell of a racket. We pulled off on freeway shoulder and Susan had to go up on the roof in a strong wind to remove it and duct tape anything left loose down to roof. Not looking forward to removing the goo. Don't miss the TV reception at all. Fix it when we get home to Oregon, hopefully before it rains.
2002 U270, 36' WTNS, Build # 6030, Cummins 400 ISL.
Wheelchair accessible modifications by ForeTravel, Braun UVL lift.

2001 Dodge IMS RampVan, M&G tow brakes, Sterling tow bar.