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roof leak

Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: I need HELP!!!
Forum Discription: Perplexed/need help with a problem - ask here
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=13080
Printed Date: 13 May 2025 at 10:45am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com


Topic: roof leak
Posted By: EchoGale
Subject: roof leak
Date Posted: 01 Aug 2019 at 3:24pm
Packing for a trip in the rain and noticed a small amount of water in my 172 above the dinette area mostly near where the side wall meets the roof (below the spoiler). I found in the archives that lots of people have had leaks from the spoiler and mine has some kind of clear-ish caulking already there (I bought my 2016 used earlier this year). So I can't be totally sure where its coming from but this seems like a good guess.

Its not enough water to call off the trip but definitely something to address. I thought a first tack might be to reapply sealer at the spoiler and see if that solves it. This i can do before leaving. I don't know what was used before and I seem to remember people carrying on about hating silicone (though I don't know why).  Any thoughts on what might be the best thing to use if not basic silicone caulk?

Thanks everyone.

Julie


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Julie


Replies:
Posted By: lostagain
Date Posted: 01 Aug 2019 at 4:59pm
We sealed our later [FR recall] added spoiler with 4" wide white Eternabond tape when I realized that trying to seal it with caulking would be an exercise in futility.  We sealed the upper side and the two ends, but left the bottom open to allow for any condensation to drain.  It's been on there for almost 3 years and we've had no problems with it.

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Never leave footprints behind.
Fred & Maria Kearney
Sonoma 167RB
Our Pod 172
2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost

Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 01 Aug 2019 at 6:52pm
+1, but with 2", and left bottom unsealed, as was delivered.

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Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."

Posted By: EchoGale
Date Posted: 01 Aug 2019 at 9:03pm
Oh this is great and seems like something I can totally do myself.  So appreciate the suggestions!

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Julie

Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 02 Aug 2019 at 7:02am
Take care of it as soon as you get the chance.. any leaks in an RV are bad. 

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Posted By: EchoGale
Date Posted: 02 Aug 2019 at 7:42am
Yeah.  Leaving for ten days and I don't think I van get any of this before I go (no same day on available amazon).  I keep it covered here  so I'm pretty sure its a new problem. I'm gong to a local RV store but you think that's too long?

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Julie

Posted By: Motor7
Date Posted: 07 Aug 2019 at 8:33am
Water can cause delamination of the flimsy
interior ceiling and wall boards. Eternabond tape will only takeca few min to apply. The hardest part is getting the ladder up over the curved part of the camper. Stop at a Camping World or other camping supply that sells the tape. Bring or borrow a ladder and apply at your campsite.

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2016 R-Pod 176T

Posted By: Tibof
Date Posted: 10 Aug 2019 at 1:16pm
Been all through this.  FR knows about the issue as do others in the manufacturing chain.  Local Pod dealer referred to it as "the notorious spoiler leak." FR is of no help with it.  My son's spoiler was badly warped from screw to screw and had to be replaced.  FR sold us one at full fare. Removing the old one revealed screws put in at an angle and sometimes with multiple holes.  The wiring access through the roof beneath the spoiler was not caulked.  The foam tape on the spoiler is said to be for sealing screw holes.  Laughable.  Took it off new one and cleaned new spoiler surface beneath tape area and roughed it up.  It is polyurethane and not much sticks to it. Trying silicone will make matters worse.  Took the new spoiler and sealed it and old screw holes with a 3M 4200 sealant.  New spoiler did not have screw holes symmetrical with the old ones.  Then sealed outside of spoiler with Dicor self leveling sealant.  Lots of work, especially cleaning up from the original spoiler.  Tried the Eternabond and it would not hold.

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2015 Pod Hood River Edition
2012 Tacoma Crew Cab 4 Liter

Posted By: Tibof
Date Posted: 10 Aug 2019 at 1:45pm
Here's what I posted earlier on my fix:
Bought a new spoiler from FR at full cost.  The original spoiler was too warped to work with.  Removed the old spoiler and cleaned up everything carefully.  Seal job was derelict.  Foam tape serves no purpose.  Unfortunately, the new spoiler has screw detents that do not match the original (and many original screws were installed at a 45 degree angle or worse), and fewer screws on the lower edge.  So had to use glue and dowels to fill old screw holes, since the new screws would be close in some instances.  Used 3M Scotchlok 314 connectors, as OEM in new spoiler, to connect wires fro running lights.  Then used 3M 4200 caulk to run a small bead over the dowel heads and holes for new screws (new stainless screws #8).  Then ran a ring finger size bead of the 4200 around roughed mating surface of spoiler and set it in place (two person job with a 2 X 8 sheet of plywood on roof for one person to be up there).  The little lip edge on the spoiler was left there.  Painters tape outlined the spoiler placement on the roof and prevented mess from squeeze out of caulk.  It's very sticky stuff.  Finally, after all the 4200 cured (24 hours), I ran a good bead of the XTRM Universal  non-sag sealant around the seam of the entire spoiler.  If that repair does not keep it dry, nothing will.  Just referencing my own, personal experience, the quality of work I encountered in the repair was very, very poor.  And, under the spoiler attaching screw points, there is no framing, just the filon sheeting.  IMHO, there's no excuse for this.  And it is not necessary as a cost saver in manufacturing.  BTW, the reason I settled on the 3M 4200 for a bedding sealant is that it is a very strong (though removable) adhesive as well as a sealant.  So I didn't have to use a full array of screws, and I screwed the spoiler down just to make contact with the roof, not to deform it.


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2015 Pod Hood River Edition
2012 Tacoma Crew Cab 4 Liter

Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 10 Aug 2019 at 3:25pm
I sealed my spoiler this last winter with eternabond. I cleaned prepped, primed and had no issues with eternabond sticking. To date no issues with leaking.

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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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