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Snowbound
Senior Member
Joined: 17 Apr 2011
Location: Edmonton, AB
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 270
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Topic: corner leaks Posted: 15 May 2012 at 3:27pm |
Originally posted by wilma
Finally discovered that my "corner leaks" were only a result of condensation... of my own making!! After hearing my heater work overtime... I determined I should add some humidity to my air. Well.... to make a long story short, this 'northerner' overdid it. And, of course, being a native New Yorker... the boiling of water for pasta dishes only served to exasperate the problem. My apologies to all of you R-Pod'ers. And, finally?? I enjoyed my little one-person 'domain' for 3 months at Island Retreat this winter, with... 'nary a glitch'! (For a single person... *(female)... with *very limited RV experience (my late husband took care of everything) and so.. let me just congratulate myself for choosing the most trouble-free camping trailer I/He could possibly have hoped for. |
Good for you Wilma! I have often wondered if I would continue to use the Pod if my husband passed away. I like camping far more than he does but have thought I might go back to our tent in that case just 'cause I am not very mechanically inclined nor do I drive that much. On the other hand I do like the comforts more as I get older... My husband likes to do everything which I know is bad for my personal growth but I figure if the time comes I can try it then. Of course I am hoping this never comes to pass and I could just sleep in the back of the mini van. Bette
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Tom and Bette
in our 177 "The Gastropod"
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TIDALWAVE
Senior Member
Joined: 21 Nov 2009
Location: MINNESOTA
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 315
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Posted: 15 May 2012 at 9:24am |
I also use PolySeamSeal White to recaulk my Pod. After carefully removing the loose caulking, I use a small rag with 3M General Adhesive Remover #8984 on it to clean the area. 8984 is about $10-15 a quart but lasts for years (available at most auto-parts dealers and auto-paint stores). You only need a small amount on a rag to clean. It is used to remove decals from clear coat paint. So it is safe to use on the Pod. Don't let it dribble onto the Pod's decals...8984 is designed to help loosen decals! It also removes 99% of dried-on bugs. Loose or cracked caulking can accumulate dirt in the cracks. Caulking needs a clean surface to adhere to. Polyseamseal seems to withstand rain and heat-cold better than any other caulking I have used. I also agree that silicon-based caulking is a poor choice for repairs. Once the silicon is on the Pod, it does not allow you to re-caulk well later. I think that the silicon leaves a coating on surfaces which inhibits adhesion when you try to redo it. Silicon caulking also seems to attract and hold road dirt tightly.
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TIDALWAVE
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wilma
Newbie
Joined: 08 Mar 2012
Location: Gulf Shores, AL
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6
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Posted: 14 May 2012 at 7:27pm |
Finally discovered that my "corner leaks" were only a result of condensation... of my own making!! After hearing my heater work overtime... I determined I should add some humidity to my air. Well.... to make a long story short, this 'northerner' overdid it. And, of course, being a native New Yorker... the boiling of water for pasta dishes only served to exasperate the problem. My apologies to all of you R-Pod'ers. And, finally?? I enjoyed my little one-person 'domain' for 3 months at Island Retreat this winter, with... 'nary a glitch'! (For a single person... *(female)... with *very limited RV experience (my late husband took care of everything) and so.. let me just congratulate myself for choosing the most trouble-free camping trailer I/He could possibly have hoped for.
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Wilma Miedema
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wilma
Newbie
Joined: 08 Mar 2012
Location: Gulf Shores, AL
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6
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Posted: 14 Mar 2012 at 3:54pm |
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Wilma Miedema
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wilma
Newbie
Joined: 08 Mar 2012
Location: Gulf Shores, AL
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6
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Posted: 13 Mar 2012 at 6:50pm |
Yes, well... mine is a 2006, with the mid-sized motor (I've forgotten the correct terminology) - they made 3 different sizes back then. Oh well... that's water under the bridge, and, anyhow, my kids were not all that thrilled about their 73-yr-old Mom pulling a camper from pillar to post whenever mood dictated. This way, they can keep track of me, grrrrr!
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Wilma Miedema
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wilma
Newbie
Joined: 08 Mar 2012
Location: Gulf Shores, AL
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6
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Posted: 13 Mar 2012 at 6:45pm |
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Wilma Miedema
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Guests
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Posted: 13 Mar 2012 at 6:44pm |
Originally posted by Hodge-PODge
Do you use any particular kind of caulking? |
That's one of those questions that if asked of 10 people, you'll likely get 12-13 opinions.  Personally, I like the "Polyseamseal" brand...it seems to hold up well and have good adhesion. It is very important to remove the "bad" that you can and get the surfaces 100% clean and free of dirt/oils/waxes, etc. I've never really cared for silicone, for a variety of reasons. You can get "Polyseamseal" at most any home/hardware store. It comes in a standard 11oz. (?) caulking tube (gun required). I may have seen it in a smaller squeeze type tube????
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Hodge-PODge
Senior Member
Joined: 11 Apr 2011
Location: Calhoun, GA
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 539
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Posted: 13 Mar 2012 at 12:11pm |
Originally posted by David
I go all around the camper and look at all of the seams - corners, around windows, porch light, door, compartment doors, etc. If I see that any of the caulking/sealant has pulled away from one or both surfaces, I'll repair. Even small leaks can cause big damage over time. I hope to get out soon and start working on mine. If I find something that I can get a good picture of, I'll take one. On my Pod, after one season, one window and the porch light needed repaired. |
Do you use any particular kind of caulking?
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2011 RP 177, the Hodge-PODge
2011 Mercedes ML350
"A man travels the world over in search of what he needs, and returns home to find it."
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techntrek
Admin Group - pHp
Joined: 29 Jul 2009
Location: MD
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 9062
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Posted: 12 Mar 2012 at 9:06pm |
I just checked and it does appear the older Caravans only were rated for 1800 pounds, while the newer ones are rated for the more standard 3600 pounds.
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wilma
Newbie
Joined: 08 Mar 2012
Location: Gulf Shores, AL
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6
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Posted: 12 Mar 2012 at 6:02pm |
Bad news is... I'm longer under warrantee and the camper is permanently located 1000 miles from the dealer I purchased it from. Reason for storage is that, contrary to dealer assurances, it weighs more than my Dodge Caravan can safely handle, even with a tow package. Good news? It rained quite a bit today, with no evidence of moisture. Seems it only happens during really torrential rains. I'm looking into having someone inspect my rooftop vents, etc. to begin with.
Thanks for the input... I need all the help I can get! :)
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Wilma Miedema
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