water leak
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Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
Forum Discription: Ask maintenance questions, share your podmods (modifications) and helpful tips
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=11296
Printed Date: 11 May 2024 at 6:11am
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Topic: water leak
Posted By: BennyL
Subject: water leak
Date Posted: 23 Mar 2018 at 10:14pm
Just thought I would post my latest experience with my r-pod.
I had a water leak, that would show up under the bed in my 179, between the furnace and the wall, in a hole in the floor that was cut out for 2 water lines. The water would enter the hole from the rear, and as my camper was slightly nose down, would flow towards the front of the camper. The dealer replaced the gasket or seal around the city water input, telling me it was bad. I didn't think this corrected the problem, but I took the camper home.
Next rain, same leak. Back to the dealer. This time they performed a pressure test on my camper, spraying soapy water on the outside of the pod and looking for bubbles.
Leaks found:
Entry door frame
Entry door window
Entry door latch
Window
Front wall of slide out where it meets the camper wall
All 4 slide rails where they end at the outer wall of the slide
Spoiler- several places
Corner moldings
One place where the outside wall meets the floor
I sure am glad that they performed this test, or I would have been wide open for some rot in the future. Also lowers my opinion of r-pod workmanship.
Benny
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Replies:
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 24 Mar 2018 at 6:57am
No "past experience" you want to share with us? You have water entering UP through the floor?
Great First Post.. Welcome to the group..
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Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 24 Mar 2018 at 7:50am
Welcome to the group! Congrats on your 179!
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Leo & Melissa Bachand
2017 Ford F150
2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk
Previously owned
2015 Rpod 179
2010 Rpod 171
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Posted By: lostagain
Date Posted: 24 Mar 2018 at 8:07am
Welcome to the group. Sorry to hear that you've had so many problems with leaks. I hope they were able to take care of them all. This is one of those cases where purchasing an extended warranty may be a very good idea.
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Never leave footprints behind.
Fred & Maria Kearney
Sonoma 167RB
Our Pod 172
2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost
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Posted By: BennyL
Date Posted: 24 Mar 2018 at 10:39am
The floor appears to have 2 layers of luan with styrofoam or something in between the 2 layers.
The top layer of luan and the insulation have been removed in order for 2 water lines to be routed from on top of the floor to between the 2 floor layers, apparently going to the bath.
Looking down, I see the bottom layer of luan exposed in the opening. The water flows, very slowly, on top of the bottom layer, from the rear of the hole. It seeps out from under the insulation at the edge of the hole.
I hope this gives a clearer explanation.
Benny
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Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 24 Mar 2018 at 10:45am
What year is your RP-179? How long have you had it?
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bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost
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Posted By: BennyL
Date Posted: 24 Mar 2018 at 12:26pm
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It is a 2017, purchased in May, 2017
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Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 24 Mar 2018 at 1:08pm
Was there an actual unsealed "hole" where the plumbing comes through? The underside, inside and out on our RP-179 is filled/sealed with expanding foam. The entire underside (including the foam) was painted with black paint (assume it's paint, but I've not tested it).
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bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost
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Posted By: BennyL
Date Posted: 24 Mar 2018 at 5:28pm
There are no lines on the outside, all are inside, under the bed. Two lines(hot and cold) run along the rear side of the water heater, and when they reach the outer wall, they turn to the rear, going between the furnace and the wall.
At this point, they turn again and run crossways behind the furnace. This is where the top layer of the floor and the foam is cut out, and the 2 lines angle down and go in between the top and bottom layers of luan, presumably all the way across to the bath. Looking down at this cut out area, where there is not a top floor layer, and no foam, I can plainly see the bottom layer of luan. The water comes out in this area, close to the wall, from the rear, and from the space between the foam and the bottom layer of luan.
Hope this gives a clearer picture.
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Benny, Julie, and Zipper
2017 r-pod 179
1999 F-150 5.4
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Posted By: Tibof
Date Posted: 24 Mar 2018 at 11:06pm
The Pod is a small unit and should be easy to seal tight as a drum with modern sealants and last a long time. I've been at this many years and have a good amount of experience. From working on my kids Pod, it is quite clear that the spoiler is designed to leak and can't really be properly sealed by modern standards. Too, the warranty provision that the owner must check sealants every 90 days is an offensive joke. There is no way to check sealants once they are applied and covered (especially on the roof), short of a leak. Benny's experience is inexcusable and FR should be met with a compulsory recall.
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2015 Pod Hood River Edition
2012 Tacoma Crew Cab 4 Liter
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Posted By: lostagain
Date Posted: 25 Mar 2018 at 8:38am
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A tape like EternaBond Roof sealant tape is what I used to assure that the spoiler doesn't leak. We've made it through two winters and it's doing fine.
But, in BennyL's case, it looks more like FR gave him a sieve instead of a Pod. With that many leaks, and who knows how many more will show up, the should replace the whole trailer. Hopefully,Tennessee has a lemon law. With all the water getting in, especially from leaks of unknown sources, he's going to end up with mold and mildew that can't be cleaned up.
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Never leave footprints behind.
Fred & Maria Kearney
Sonoma 167RB
Our Pod 172
2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost
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Posted By: BennyL
Date Posted: 25 Mar 2018 at 8:56am
And right now I am really disgusted. I just went outside after an all night rain, and I still have the leak. I went out at midnight to check, and there was no sign of a leak then, I think the heavier rain came after that.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
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Benny, Julie, and Zipper
2017 r-pod 179
1999 F-150 5.4
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Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 25 Mar 2018 at 10:18am
BennyL,
Was it bubble tested after the leak repair? I take it because you said you had it repaired at dealer, you have a warranty. If that's true I would use that until satisfied. Leaks can be frustrating and hard to nail down.
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Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."
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Posted By: Tibof
Date Posted: 26 Mar 2018 at 10:19am
I am quite familiar with Eternabond tape and have used it in rubber roof applications. Tried it on the spoiler, but cold weather and flex of spoiler lifted it on the sides (though preparation was surgically clean). Glad it is working for you, but in my case it's not the solution. I believe the entire spoiler must come off, have hidden holes sealed, and then somehow resealed on the perimeter and refastened with stainless screws.
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2015 Pod Hood River Edition
2012 Tacoma Crew Cab 4 Liter
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Posted By: BennyL
Date Posted: 26 Mar 2018 at 7:10pm
I brought the pod back to the dealer today, it is still under warranty. I talked to the owner of the dealership, and he will make sure it is done right this time.
Mike, I do not know if the pod was pressure tested after the leaks were repaired.
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Benny, Julie, and Zipper
2017 r-pod 179
1999 F-150 5.4
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Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 26 Mar 2018 at 7:27pm
Good, glad you have that avenue. You know what to ask now. Test is as important as repair. I'd be interested in who your dealer is and how this turns out.
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Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."
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Posted By: lostagain
Date Posted: 26 Mar 2018 at 7:57pm
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Tibof, sorry the Eternabond didn't work due to the cold. We are just enough south that the cold hasn't presented a problem. In fact, today it's feeling down right tropical at 50ยบ.
I wonder if you took the spoiler off and used the Eternabond as a base, where it didn't stick out from the spoiler to lift up? It does provide a pretty good amount of goo to keep the screws sealed, which is probably what you really need. Just a thought. Good luck in getting the problem straightened out.
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Never leave footprints behind.
Fred & Maria Kearney
Sonoma 167RB
Our Pod 172
2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost
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Posted By: Tibof
Date Posted: 26 Mar 2018 at 11:03pm
First, understand what and who you are dealing with Benny. You are going to be stuck in a year or two trying to unload a leaking Pod. You dealer may be helpful at this point, but he is dealing with a problem that can't really be fixed once the production run screws it up. Get yourself an attorney. It will be cheaper than the alternative. Given my experience with the spoiler and that of many others, once you are out of warranty you are SOL. FR has no genuine commitment whatsoever to the product they are marketing. They are a small part of a much larger corporation.
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2015 Pod Hood River Edition
2012 Tacoma Crew Cab 4 Liter
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Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 27 Mar 2018 at 7:50am
There are both Federal and a TN Law that deals with lemons. You have to document you gave the dealer/manufacturer reasonable attempts and time to remedy the problem. Most lemon law attorneys offer free consultation and can advise a proper route. In the Federal Law I believe there is a clause that says if you are deprived of use for 30 days or more during warranty, you have certain rights. If one decides to go that route I would certainly go with what your attorney says is best way ahead.
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Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."
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