Leaky
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=13478
Printed Date: 14 May 2025 at 7:25pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Leaky
Posted By: mjlrpod
Subject: Leaky
Date Posted: 10 Apr 2020 at 9:11am
I discovered I have a pretty good size leak in my camper. I'm not sure yet where it's coming from, but I'm wondering about sealant. I know that Dicor is the choice of sealant on the roof. But I'm not sure if it's the window, or maybe even the mounting frame of the backup camera isn't quite sealed. I've heard not to use silicone caulk, does that mean not around the windows either? What would be used ? Tyia
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2017.5 Rp-172
2020 R-pod 195
2015 Frontier sv 4.0L 6cyl
I'll be rpodding
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Replies:
Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 10 Apr 2020 at 9:44am
I do not use silicone. I have had good luck with Lexel, bit expensive, but durable and paintable. It is a sealant and adhesive. Good luck with finding leak.
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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: furpod
Date Posted: 10 Apr 2020 at 9:49am
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The windows have a bulb/tape seal, 1st thing to try, if you think that's the leak point, is to tighten the screws that pinch the window in the wall, and compress the seal..
You can use silicone on vertical surfaces.
I don't know who told you not to, but it's what the factory uses. As Mike said above, there are better choices, but silicone will work, as long as it's used right.
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Posted By: riotkayak284
Date Posted: 10 Apr 2020 at 10:22am
Originally posted by mjlrpod
I discovered I have a pretty good size leak in my camper. I'm not sure yet where it's coming from, but I'm wondering about sealant. I know that Dicor is the choice of sealant on the roof. But I'm not sure if it's the window, or maybe even the mounting frame of the backup camera isn't quite sealed. I've heard not to use silicone caulk, does that mean not around the windows either? What would be used ? Tyia |
Better check the air dam on the top.... Most of the leaks come in that area....
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Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 11 Apr 2020 at 9:48am
I had that leak, fixed with eternabond tape.
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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: mjlrpod
Date Posted: 12 Apr 2020 at 2:23pm
I got the hose out and totally doused the entire back end with water. Not a drop of water in the camper? I squirted it from the ground, like a rain storm, then straight on, like it was a wind blown sideways rain, then I got on the roof and ran it on the roof and let it cascade over every edge. I do not understand how it was leaking quite a bit, and now not at all. I guess i'll have to do the "keep an eye on it" method.
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2017.5 Rp-172
2020 R-pod 195
2015 Frontier sv 4.0L 6cyl
I'll be rpodding
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Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 12 Apr 2020 at 2:37pm
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It would help to describe where the leak is. It sounds like it is at the back end. Is it near the refrigerator? IIRC, the 195 has the top vent for the refrigerator. Check around that if that looks like where the water is. Otherwise, the transition between roof and back end on the 195 could be suspect as it does not have the one-piece fiberglass roof.
One other thing to remember is that the entry point for the water might not be where you are seeing it inside. It could be entering somewhere else and flowing along some internal channel to the place where you are seeing it. If you have the capability to hook up a blower to a filler board (plywood cut to fit a door or window opening) and can pressurize the RPod, you can then take a soap solution on the outside and see if you can find the leak by spraying/pouring soap solution on all the various joints, window/door frames, etc. and seeing if bubbles appear. This is the way we tested cabin cruisers for leaks when I worked for Uniflite many, many years ago.
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...
http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS
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Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 12 Apr 2020 at 5:37pm
MJ - Is it possible leak is internal and not external? Have you applied water to system and opened the cabinets?
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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: StephenH
Date Posted: 12 Apr 2020 at 6:31pm
That is one thing that I can confirm might be happening. I don't think all the fittings in the RPod are always adequately tightened at the factory. On ours, it was the kitchen drain that was not tight, causing a leak into the drawers below it and the floor. A brand-new cookbook was in one of the drawers and it was severely damaged. I was not happy. After that, I also found that the outside shower fittings were not fully tight. Also, the way the lines were run, they were running up and then bent around to go on the fitting. I changed that out to put elbows on the back side of the shower valves so the lines would run straight up to the valves. The thing about that is that those valves were directly above the shore power connector. I would not like to think what would have happened if one of those fittings really started to leak while shore power was plugged in.
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...
http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS
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Posted By: mjlrpod
Date Posted: 13 Apr 2020 at 7:09am
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Ok, yes the leak was in the back section, opposite end of tongue. I poured water over the top vent for the fridge, as well as all around it. It didn't leak at that time. I have several sealed areas on the roof. The fridge vent, the antennea, the solar connector, the ladder, and the seam that joins the roof and the back wall. On the back wall, I have a window, a vent that allows the hood over the stove to vent air, and my backup camera. I drenched all of those areas. I am spraying the whole roof, and looking for anything that looks like it maybe could be the cause. As far as inside, no the leak wasn't inside. It was actually winterized and had no water in the system when I discovered it. I agree with you stephen about loose plumbing connections, I had to not only tighten mine up in my 172, but I had to take the drain pipes apart, and reassemble them because they were put together so poorly, and out of alignment, and leaked. It's a really rainy day today, I will be watching for it to leak.
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2017.5 Rp-172
2020 R-pod 195
2015 Frontier sv 4.0L 6cyl
I'll be rpodding
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Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 13 Apr 2020 at 8:25am
When my spoiler leaked, it was most noticeable on the rear of the trailer and the bottom of floor was wet. Inside I never had any water. The water was running down inside the wall to the floor and then out trailer on bottom. Oddly nothing wet in the trailer. Good luck MJ, the rain may help locate.
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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: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 13 Apr 2020 at 11:05am
We had a leak one time. The Rpod was parked with the slide-out in. When we opened the slide-out, there was a puddle under the refrigerator. We chalked it up to the 80+ MPH winds blowing rain directly at that side of the Rpod. It's not happened a second time.
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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: mjlrpod
Date Posted: 13 Apr 2020 at 4:14pm
Well, the heavy rain has made it leak again. I removed the valance and window shade to get a better look at where the issue is. I have atleast one leak that appears to come from the vent for the stove hood. I think it leaks in there, then runs down the window and drips in a couple places. I'm going to go get some silicone caulking and run a bead around that outside vent. Hopefully that's the only leak.
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2017.5 Rp-172
2020 R-pod 195
2015 Frontier sv 4.0L 6cyl
I'll be rpodding
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Posted By: Woodmiester
Date Posted: 14 Apr 2020 at 8:46am
You may want to look at the sealant around the tail lights. I looked at a used RPOD a few years ago and the unit had leaked around the tail lights for a long time and the floor was completely ruined.
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Swampfox
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Posted By: mjlrpod
Date Posted: 17 Apr 2020 at 1:31pm
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So My Lexel finally came in (thanks for suggestion mcarter) and I have run a nice big bead around the suspected leak. Now, we wait. Shouldn't be to long a wait, rain is forecasted for the next few days.
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2017.5 Rp-172
2020 R-pod 195
2015 Frontier sv 4.0L 6cyl
I'll be rpodding
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