How do I stop this thing from leaking????!!!!

[charliem]

[font size="3"]Doug,

Glad you got it fixed. I know it's a load off your mind for your trip. We had a very heavy 1/2 hour rain here yesterday and I checked my CL. No leaks.

Good luck on your trip. Camp On!  8-)
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[nmken]

Thanks much for the details on what happened.  I summarize your experience as a marginal sealant job by the factory that failed within a year - does that sound right?  The picture shows the caulk doesn't bridge across the trim and roof adequately - what should I be looking for, at least a 1/8" overlap onto the trim?

[djsamuel]

[quote source="/post/3429/thread" timestamp="1410274120" author="@nmken"]

Thanks much for the details on what happened. I summarize your experience as a marginal sealant job by the factory that failed within a year - does that sound right? The picture shows the caulk doesn't bridge across the trim and roof adequately - what should I be looking for, at least a 1/8" overlap onto the trim?
[/quote]
That was exactly the problem.  There was at least a 1/8" overlap, usually more, around the entire perimieter of the camper, except for the area that was leaking (which was an area about 18" long).  At the leak point, the sealant butted up against the edge of the corner trim piece, but did not overlap.  Over the course of the year I've had the camper, the sealant pulled away.  I think I was getting leakage even in areas where the sealant hadn't totally pulled away, but was just butting up against the trim.  Overlap is the key.

When I did the repair, I had about 1/4" overlap minimum, and the self leveling Dicor sealant spread out nicely.  Hopefully this is all behind me now.

The toughest part is the fact that while I've had a few leaks over the course of the last 6 months or so, the circumstances were always different, since it depended on the orientation of the trailer (how level), the amount of rain, etc.  At home, I would get it home, work on it, and there would be no leaks.  Now I realize that was due to the slope of my driveway and the fact that I would store it a bit nose high.  But in all cases, the entry point must have been the same, but the path the water followed after getting in would vary.  So be sure to take that into account if you are trying to investigate a leak.  What may seem like multiple leaks, may end up being just one point of entry.

[djsamuel]

[quote source="/post/3424/thread" timestamp="1410268514" author="@charliem"]

[font size="3"]Doug,

Glad you got it fixed. I know it's a load off your mind for your trip. We had a very heavy 1/2 hour rain here yesterday and I checked my CL. No leaks.

Good luck on your trip. Camp On! 8-)
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[/quote]
Thanks Charlie.  We're set to go.  Looking forward to it.  Just need the gas prices to keep falling!  

Our trip will be from Clermont, FL to Trailer Village in the Grand Canyon National Park, followed by a drive through Monument Valley to Moab, UT.  There we'll be seeing Canyonlands and Arches National Parks.

[farmboy]

I am jealous; enjoy your trip.  And I hope you encounter little rain.....even though it sounds like you solved your leakage problem,  I am sure you want sunny days to enjoy all that wonderful scenery.