Leaks in camper at slideout

[tillie]

My husband and I are volunteering for the Forest Service in NC. We had tow heagvy rains tghe last two nights and notice that we have three leaks in out slide out ( one one right hand slide. Our Big Horn in a 35ft 2008. I was wondering if anyone eles had this promble. It is leaking in the corner by gthe kitchen table and has turn some of my carpet red. There is a leak behine the couch in the corner and then it was wet along the back side window and wet under the slid out. I was wondering if anyone has had this promble and has a answer to this.Also does anyone have a
solution to this promble.We did go and get some clear silcon and put it around the windows.
Thank You for your help
Lucy and Richard Seibert

 

[cookie]

Water leaks are very hard to track down. I think you are on the right track by caulking around the windows. Do not caulk the bottom.
Have you ever checked your caulking all around the trailer? Including the roof and lower edges of the slides?
I would never use silicon on my trailer though.

Peace
Dave

 

[tillie]

Thanks Dave for your help. We already caulk under the windows, do you know why we shouldn,t done this. I guess its to late to remove it. Why not use silcone. did you have this promble also?
Thank You and God Bless
Lucy
P.S. Any other advise?

 

[Miller0758]

Lucy, I had the same issue with our old trailer and found that the slide unit was not sealing correctly and needed to be ajusted by the dealer. We sustained some flooring damage so work to find the cause quickly

 

[jmgratz]

You do not caulk under the windows as there are drain holes there to drain off water. By caulking there you block the drain holes thereby trapping water and possibly causing water damage.

 

[slmayor]

I would make sure the weep hole in the windows are clear, that water isn't running down the edge of the slide sides and in through the bottom trim piece, caulk the trim pieces on the bottom front of the slides (look for any gaps in the sealant), and then make sure your front and rear cap are caulked both top and sides.

When mine was new I had a hard time tracking down a leak in what appeared to be the slide corner. Turned out it was water traveling from the opposite side of the top of the rear cap, running clear across the roof and down by the window.
As far as caulk, clear silicone will look like doo-doo in a year. It turns yellow and falls off in strings. Even when it looks solid, you can pick up an end and peel it right off. At work we use either Dicor non-sag for vertical surfaces, Pro-flex, Sika-flex or a new one from Geo-cel called EPDM. It's made primarily for the roofs, but has excellent adhesion on the fiberglass sides and doesn't yellow.
Good luck in tracking down the leak, it's a tough job. The good news is that once you find it and stay on top of the caulking, it rarely happens again.

 

[aatauses]

I had the same near the table in the corner. I took a water hose and started at the top of the slide near the outside "tape area'. When I was done I discovered the leak was coming from the molding at the bottom of the slide. Water would run down the outside of the slide, hit the molding and penetrate into the edge. I took off the molding and the angle pieces that I have, recaulked everything and resemble it--so far no more leaks.
al