32rs floor rotting

[molmae0325]

hi! i live full time in a 32rs bighorn with my baby, on my property while waiting to build a home.
i noticed that the kitchen floor was squishy in one spot so i tracked it down to maybe it was coming in around the slide out then running along the floor. threw a tarp over it hoping that would keep any rain water from coming in until i could pay to have it found and fixed. i noticed today under the board i put down (so i didn’t step on the soft spot and make it worse) that the floor is 10 times worse now. it’s soft all along the slide from the start of the fridge to the end of the cabinets. (i’ll attach a layout picture)

the only thing i can think of on water coming in would be it running under the slide out and where the weather strip meets the camper it’s going in under it as it is not completely flat, it’s kind of warped in a spot. i really thought the tarp would take care of that, as it doesn’t really rain sideways here where this is parked it has good side coverage. while inspecting i noticed that the flooring ABOVE the level of the slide out like the entire living room entertainment/kitchen slide is sunk! i’ll be calling this week to have a rv repair person come out but i wanted to see if anyone else has run into this issue.

where i’ve highlighted blue in the photo attached is where it’s rotting.

 

[sengli]

Do you have an ice maker in the fridge? Many people have had issues with the water line to that ice maker leaking in that area. Another thing to look at, is the behind the wall in the lower storage area, all the plumbing runs are there. You very well might have a slow leak dripping onto the floor in the basement area...then running back to the floor in the mentioned area.

 

[ROdell67]

I just came across this and wanted to leave a comment for anyone doing research on leaks, soft floor on the same wall as the fridge. Check to see if your defrost hose is still attached to the fridge and draining to the outside.

I bought a used Sundance and discovered that the floor was rotting near the entrance door. After removing plywood from the first bay, I realized the leak has started somewhere under the cabinets. I removed the stove, sink and counter and discovered that the entire first 16" of plywood was rotted as well as the rim joist. Finally I reached the fridge with the furnace underneath and discovered the source of the leak and all of the damage. The fridge didn't have a drain hose for the defrost attached so all the water was running behind the fridge. Since I hadn't used the furnace, I never discovered that the water was draining onto it

As a first time RV owner that bought used and didn't know what to check for, this was a huge lesson. Make sure there is a drain hose protruding from the fridge vent (at least on the older models (mine is a 2008)
I'm currently replacing the rim joists (double 2 x 3s) and plywood subfloor. So much work for a simple oversight.

 

[sengli]

Yes that white plastic drain hose on the RV absorption type fridges is a very brittle, and it fails after several seasons. It will snap off inside and every time the fridge defrosts after use, it will drip like crazy.