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water leak at front door

I have a water leak at the hinge side. The water has ran down and rotted the floor wood along the edge of the slider that closes over the steps.The weight of the door has caused the door not to close properly.How to I remove and repair this?
Paul R.
1998 U270 36'

Re: water leak at front door

Reply #1 –
Let us know year and door location of this coach?
Different years used different hinges and doors.

Re: water leak at front door

Reply #2 –
Sorry.....98u270.....36 foot.Leaking from the top and running down.
Paul R.
1998 U270 36'

Re: water leak at front door

Reply #3 –
Rotting bottom step from a leaking hinge is a common problem.  Many bottom step wood parts have been replaced.
It sounds like the side wall wood is what is rotting on your coach, but the stopping the water entry is the same.

On our coach we put additional weather strip on hinge side of door.  And extended the gutters over the door do direct water away from the door.  Any weather stripping you can put on your door will help.
We now also have a $10 Harbor Freight water alarm on the bottom step to announce new water entry.

Not sure what is causing your door to not close properly, but our aluminum hinge has worn where the hinge parts rub, but I don't know if you have the same hinge.  There are several solutions for our hinge problem and one way is to put E-clips between hinge parts to raise the door.  We also have a an adjustable door slot below the lock on the open edge of the door, that is used to lift the door to help the lock latch grab the adjustable post on the door frame.

Re: water leak at front door

Reply #4 –
Quote from: paul r –
The weight of the door has caused the door not to close properly.How to I remove and repair this?
Instructions for repairing sagging door.
foretravel_motorhome_sagging_door_repair
The selected media item is not currently available.Barry BEAM #16014
2003 U320 40' AGDS
Beamalarm, Foretravel technical help and specifications
"Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve"

Re: water leak at front door

Reply #5 –
My 2 cents on the cause of many problems with water entering different places is a basic answer (again). Every 6 months you must check all trim which covers joints around the whole coach and any in a horizontal position should be checked for caulking that should be along the top edges.

Check that all screws are tight and the area of the roof edges is very prone to leaks and as we all know water goes downhill very easy. SO, make sure there is nowhere for it to enter.
As mentioned before trims around the doors must be fitting right and the water trough above the door needs to be increased in length.

Inside the step area needs to be sealed around the edges too and any water should be cleaned up immediately. On our coach I found that water had an easy time to follow the hinge and enter that way till I fixed it.

The front cap trim I feel is one of the most important areas to watch for water entry. Screws holding the air horns and a variety of other things up there are another problem that many do not go up and check. Suffice to say every inch of all trim and fixtures should be checked regularly as a coach moves in many directions while going down the road and gaps will happen,& screws will come loose.

It is a simple thing to do but I sense most do not do it. To me this checking is as important as checking the oil, water, tires.
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: water leak at front door

Reply #6 –
Ditto on what the others say.  I just spent $2,500 to have my steps rebuilt and tiled.  Started the job myself, but it got too complicated due to lack of proper tools. HA!  After 13 years, the wood under the steps had rotted and was sagging so much that the step would not close all the way in the "up' position.  My preventative measure will be to run a gutter along the top of the door area ( something like this: EZE-RV Gutter System&#8482 10' package - Off-White - Essential Products O/W01044 ) and to try and close any gaps in the rubber gasket along the front of the door.  It's a process for sure :)

Re: water leak at front door

Reply #7 –
We had our bottom step rebuilt at FT for the same reason (rotted wood.)  The tech at FT informed us that it is a "wet step", since (at least up to 2001), the door doesn't have a positive seal at the bottom and said to be very careful to seal all around the bottom step with silicone. 
Dave and Nancy
1999/2013 U270 36' Xtreme
Motorcade # 16774
2013 Subaru Outback
KD0NIM
 

Re: water leak at front door

Reply #8 –
Thanks Dave you echo my comments on sealing the step. Still believe a lot of the problems stem from above the top of door too.
Just like I said -basic house cleaning issues and regular checking.
JohnH
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.