Archive - Aluminium Camper Forum

Camplite => Camplite General Q & A => Topic started by: fasteddieb on September 09, 2015, 05:37:53 PM

Title: First real leak
Post by: fasteddieb on September 09, 2015, 05:37:53 PM
Just found the bedding in our 21BHS wet by just to the right of the door. Moderate rain today after a long dry spell.

I haven't tracked it down yet, but assume I have to get on the roof and take a look.

I know there's a preferred sealant - is it or an equivalent available at Home Depot?

Thanks.
Title: First real leak
Post by: tinkeringtechie on September 09, 2015, 06:04:05 PM
[quote source="/post/15061/thread" author="@fasteddieb" timestamp="1441831073"]Just found the bedding in our 21BHS wet by just to the right of the door. Moderate rain today after a long dry spell.

I haven't tracked it down yet, but assume I have to get on the roof and take a look.

I know there's a preferred sealant - is it or an equivalent available at Home Depot?

Thanks.[/quote]For the roof, Dicor lap sealant is what you want.

For anything else Geocel Pro Flex is by far the best I've ever used. I've never found either locally though. 
Title: First real leak
Post by: pjcd on September 09, 2015, 08:45:14 PM
  Is there a common place where leaks occur on LL trailers?
Title: First real leak
Post by: djsamuel on September 09, 2015, 09:08:31 PM
[quote source="/post/15061/thread" timestamp="1441831073" author="@fasteddieb"]Just found the bedding in our 21BHS wet by just to the right of the door. Moderate rain today after a long dry spell.

I haven't tracked it down yet, but assume I have to get on the roof and take a look.

I know there's a preferred sealant - is it or an equivalent available at Home Depot?

Thanks.[/quote]That is exactly where mine leaked.  As suggested, get the Dicor lap sealant (self leveling).  Get on the roof and look  at the sealant that covers the roof and the corner trim piece.  The Dicor should cover the roof and the trim piece by at least a good quarter inch.  In my case, the dicor was on the roof, and just butted up against the trim piece and it pulled away.  

Here is a picture, a bit blurry. My finger is on the trim piece and the roof is to the top of the picture:



(http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h197/djsamuel121859/Leak_zps29cde5ae.jpg)
Title: First real leak
Post by: hdrehder on September 09, 2015, 11:00:00 PM
Thanks for the info. I may need it too. In Durango two weeks ago with some decent rain.  A towel in the cabinet under the slideout dinnette was soaked. I'm guessing i should look at the slideout roof, but the rain was coming straight down, so i assume the awning over the slideout would have handled it well.
Title: First real leak
Post by: djsamuel on September 09, 2015, 11:23:34 PM
To clarify, the leak in the picture I posted was just about in line with the forward edge of the window to the right of the door.
Title: First real leak
Post by: fasteddieb on September 10, 2015, 12:06:09 AM
Dicor lap sealant (self leveling) on the way from Amazon.

Thanks, and I'll let you know what I find.
Title: First real leak
Post by: pjcd on September 10, 2015, 12:33:01 AM
You might want to consider using some kind of cleaner to prep the surface. I used this cleaner before, takes all the muck off.

Eternabond EC-1 Etranaclean Spray Cleaner
Title: First real leak
Post by: fasteddieb on September 10, 2015, 09:01:39 AM
That was going to be my next question!

I was thinking Mineral Spirits or Acetone.

I will check out the abovementioned product as well.
Title: First real leak
Post by: pjcd on September 10, 2015, 09:36:43 AM
If you use that stuff just be careful around painted surfaces, I don't recall if it affected paint or not.
Title: First real leak
Post by: whoofit on September 10, 2015, 09:42:26 AM
Should be safe for paint. Watch out with the Acetone and Awning combo though. Spirits should be good enough all around.
Title: First real leak
Post by: tinkeringtechie on September 10, 2015, 12:28:35 PM
[quote source="/post/15086/thread" timestamp="1441886499" author="@fasteddieb"]That was going to be my next question!

I was thinking Mineral Spirits or Acetone.

I will check out the abovementioned product as well.[/quote]Dicor recommends mineral spirits. It will soften the existing lap sealant so the new stuff bonds well. Don't worry about paint because the roof isn't painted  :)
Title: First real leak
Post by: fasteddieb on September 12, 2015, 10:01:23 AM
As an update...

No more leaking after several heavy rains. Have not yet had time to get up on the roof.

But...

Another theory presented itself...

The day before the grandkids were in and out of Campy to get out of the heat. And we found an empty water bottle on the floor. With no sign of a leak anywhere above the wet spot, we're thinking the grandkids may have just spilled some water on the bed.

Let's hope that's all it is!