No matter how much love you give your RV, keeping water out is a hard job. I’ve given the Journey’s roof close inspections and touched up every little area that potentially could leak. The slides are another story, I can’t get at the tops to inspect them because of the awnings that cover the slides.
Of course, that is exactly where we developed a leak. Figures!
Back when the Journey was brand new, we developed a serious leak in the kitchen slide. Water poured in during a heavy rainstorm while we were at Disney World’s Fort Wilderness, it came in the kitchen slide and poured down through the microwave, destroying it.
Fortunately it was all covered by warranty. The dealer found that there was a hole drilled in the top of the slide that must have been accidently drilled there when the Journey was built. The solution was to cover the hole with Eternabond tape and replace the microwave.
It has been dry as a bone until the other night when we had a long,hard rain. Marti noticed a small drip from just under the slide valance.
A closer look showed the drip coming in from the metal rail that holds up the ceiling material in the slide. Thankfully, it is not anywhere near the microwave.
The ceiling material is the vinyl type (in the picture, the white material with the squiggly lines) that has some foam backing. Enough water got through to saturate the foam and then drip. When I pushed on it, more water dripped out. It wasn’t a fast drip, but any drip is too much. :c(
Now the fun part. I don’t think this has anything to do with the hole that was repaired, I think maybe a seam on the top of the slide has developed a leak. I’m sure it is not a slide seal problem due to where the drip is. To get at the top of the slide will necessitate the removal of the slide awning.
I’ve never removed an awning before, and I’ll have to do some serious research to make sure I don’t break anything as slides have heavy retraction springs in them. If you do something wrong, you can really get hurt. Anyone out there every removed a slide awning? I’d appreciate advice on this one.
On another note, Semper Gumby (Always Flexible) has kicked in. We have the option of going into a monthly site right behind the weekly site we’re in now. The trailer in it is leaving Friday.
We can save several hundred dollars by taking it and extending our stay here from our original plans of 15 January to 22 January. We’ve decided to go for it as Camping World has not yet received the motor for our patio awning. And we’ll have more time with the grandsons. It’s a win-win for us. Saturday is moving day for us, I’ll set a new record, not only for the shortest day’s drive, but I’ll do it going backwards! ;c)
Thanks for visiting and feel free to leave a comment.
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If your slide toppers were manufactured by Carefree, we have found them to be extremely helpful. We didn't have to remove one (thankfully), but when we had to get one back on track, we contacted them via their website (no phone number!) and got in touch with a very helpful and knowledgeable person who exchanged several emails with us and eventually helped us over the phone.
ReplyDeleteBUT, before you go removing that topper, here's another thought. We had a wee leak in a slide that sounds similar to yours. We took it to a Winnie dealer. (We were still under warranty.) They were able to get to and seal the leak by removing the interior slide trim and working from the inside with the slide in. Not a lot of room to work in, but it beats messing with the toppers!
Good luck!
Sorry about your leak. We've had them too. Never needed to take off a slide topper though so we're no help to you. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteTravel safely to your new spot Saturday :) Those backward acrobatics can be a bit tricky :)
This move should help with your PDS. Sorry about the leak. :(
ReplyDeleteCan't help you with the slide topper. Are you sure it's coming from the slide? Leaks are always a big problem in rv's, aren't. good luck.
ReplyDeleteNow that is a new way to travel. Hummm, food for thought!
ReplyDeleteI'll be waiting to see if you will accomplish the move to the new site without feeling the need to drive around the block a few time just to get your mile in. Sorry about the leak.
ReplyDeletePaul, it's really a simple procedure - look at the end of the slide awning tube, locate a hole that can be pinned with a cotter pin. Pin the roller, remove the screws attaching the awning to the slide, and you can just flip the awning over the roof to gain access to the top of the slide.
ReplyDeleteRedT in Glendale, AZ
USAF Retired
Thank you for the tip! I'll get up there and take a look. Just another question, does the awning have to be pinned at both ends?
DeleteMake sure that awning doesn't start to fold up on you while your checking it out, Paul! That could smart a bit!
ReplyDeleteWe opted not to get the slide toppers on our rig because of the frequent high winds in the desert - the wind wrecks havoc with them.
Hope the tip you got works out.
Good deal on the move to a new spot.
Paul, I bet Lucky Mike on rvdreams would be of some help
ReplyDeleteSorry about the leak...never fun;o((
ReplyDeleteSafe Travels and Happy Trails...be sure to take your time;o)))
Sorry about your leak. Rest up for your trip on Saturday! ;-)
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about the leak hope you can find it. We had a wet spot in the bedroom at the bottom of the slide fascia board after a heavy rain a couple of weeks ago and I am still looking.
ReplyDeleteRick
Our neighbors across the street ended up with a leak in their motorhome after the last storm we had. He had to have someone fix it because he's elderly. So I hope your repair goes smoothly for you. Never a dull moment with an RV.
ReplyDeleteGreat to see that the PDD is "reversing" itself.
ReplyDeleteOh bummer about the leak. They are the totally worst things ever. Good decision about the monthly spot too. It will give you time to work on the problem and save money. A win/win.
ReplyDeleteI'm almost in shock over the length of your next move. I hope you can handle it given that it is SO different from what you are used to. Please report back right away that you have arrived safely and that Marti made enough snacks to get you there without your having to stop even once.
Did you consult with the grandsons for their opinion before you made that decision to stay? If so, I bet the boys and Marti were jumping for joy.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with finding and fixing your leak.
ReplyDeletePinpointing the source of a leak is always a problem ... so far we have not had to deal with it in the Phaeton (and we don't ever have to), but one in the basement ceiling turned out to have its source in the next room.
ReplyDeleteOh my :( I hope we never see anything like that. George has enough things to worry about! :)
ReplyDeleteSounds like an Extended warranty issue to me. For the small deductable you guys have, it would be worth calling a good Mobile RV Repair guy.
ReplyDeletePaul, I have been following your travels for awhile and have truely enjoyed them. I am a retired Navy Senior Chief and my wife and I fulltime in a 2004 Itasca Meridian 39K. I had the exact same leak a couple of months ago. The passenger slide on your journey should be the X type closer and the slide does not go out all the way like the othe type so the seal is not like the others either. The seal is just a wiper seal on top and it pushed against a piece of medal trim that is screwed into the top of the slide. The problem for me was that the slide topper was not holding water but as water laid on it it dripped trough and then sat on the roof of the slide. I must have had a little port list and the water ran against the wiper seal and found an entrance point. From there the water ran under the metal trim and down a screw hole and into the sldie roof imterior and dripped onto my printer. I fixed it by pulling the slide in so I could access the outter portion of the metal trim and cut a 2" piece of enternabond tape in half and sealed the gap between the metal trim and the roof. Once you get the slide in you can use a mirror and see all of this. I also replaced the slide topper material. I hope this helps.
ReplyDeleteSenior Chief,
DeleteI can always count on the Goat Locker to come up with a solution to a baffling problem. Thanks for the tip, I'm going to try this first before going to a awning removal.
Thanks, too for the kind words about our blog, glad you enjoy it. It is a lot of fun to write and it helps keep me out of trouble (usually). Drop me an email sometime, I'd love to hear about your travels!
Hi Paul and Marti! I have so missed you guys! I'm spending the afternoon catching up with folks. Been so focused on trying to establish myself in making an income in this Petaluma, CA life that we've set up that I've disconnected from my blogging community! Paul, you are quite the writer you know. I love the detail that you put into the Christmas present ideas post a few back. Nice. Leaks. Cross my fingers and toes we haven't had any in the Jazz and the rainy season is definitely upon us. Moisture condensation is another issue. We keep things as dry and aired out as possible but the moisture is always lurking. I wish you two a very Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year! Can't wait for the day that the four of us get to meet! Take care, stay safe and warm.
ReplyDelete