Rpod 177 rear window leak
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Forum Name: I need HELP!!!
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URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=13640
Printed Date: 17 Jul 2025 at 6:25pm
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Topic: Rpod 177 rear window leak
Posted By: isabelisa
Subject: Rpod 177 rear window leak
Date Posted: 09 Jun 2020 at 4:55pm
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I purchased my very first camper last year (used 2013 Rpod 177), and did not have any leaks during rain when it was parked in my driveway, or at the campground ... up until last weekend. On sunday night, we drove back home in heavy rain, and when I went to clean the camper I found the bed very wet. Luckily, I caught the leak the same day, I had a sleeping bag covering the bed which absorbed most of the water, and the water did not make it to the wooden panel under the bed. I have been spinning my wheels trying to figure out where this leak is coming from because the roof is dry, and the corners are dry. I noticed water around the inside frame of rear window (the one that doesn't open), and I found some forums here that talk about those weeping holes not draining properly because of the way the manufacturer installed a flat window over a curved wall. I checked the seals around the window and they appear good on the top and sided, except the bottom doesn't have any sealant, but I read that it is supposed to be that way. I'm becoming convinced that the leak came from the window, and I used a wire to make sure the weep wholes are not clogged, but somehow water did not drain properly while driving. How can water collect in the rear window frame when it is a solid window? If the window already has the weep holes, how can you improve the drainage of rain water? The rpod repair shop is quoting me $1750 to repair all the seals, but I would hate to spend that money and get water leaked again because the issue is in the rear window. Please advise.
------------- 2013 Rpod 177/slide out 2019 Honda Pilot EX-L |
Replies:
Posted By: mjlrpod
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2020 at 9:23am
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I would be suspicious of the spoiler too. That is known to be a source of many leaks. Seems like driving might make it kind of hard for the window to leak, unless you drive backwards. But driving would tend to add more pressure to the spoiler. My 2 cents. ------------- 2017.5 Rp-172 2020 R-pod 195 2015 Frontier sv 4.0L 6cyl I'll be rpodding |
Posted By: isabelisa
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2020 at 10:04am
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How would you know if the leak is coming from the spoiler? Are you thinking the water is getting inside the wall thru the spoiler and down to the window frame? I didn't see any water in the ceiling or the wall above rear window. ------------- 2013 Rpod 177/slide out 2019 Honda Pilot EX-L |
Posted By: lostagain
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2020 at 12:18pm
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Water could be entering the because the window seal is not tight and soft. They get brittle and crack over the years. I replaced the seal on our 172 last year. I took the old one out and bought a roll of RV window seal of the same size on Amazon and replaced it. When I took the old one out, I found that it had been letting water into the window frame and the weep holes were blocked from the inside. I cleaned everything up, installed the new seal and it seemed to be okay. It never leaked into the walls of the trailer. If it is your window, you may need to take the whole frame off and redo the bedding butylene sealant tape. You can also get that from Amazon. If the water is coming in from the spoiler, some 4" Eternabond tape can be used to seal the top and sides of the spoiler. Leave the bottom open for condensation to drain. There are a number of posts on this topic that you can find in the archives. Be sure to expand your search to go back a year or two. ------------- Never leave footprints behind. Fred & Maria Kearney Sonoma 167RB Our Pod 172 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost |
Posted By: D&H
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2020 at 12:37pm
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Hi Isabelisa! Sorry to hear about the leak. We were camping last weekend as well, also in the same heavy rain and experienced a bit of interior moisture on the windows when we woke up in the morning from condensation. The end result was the same. The condensation on the back window pooled in the window well and poured out onto the back bed when we moved the camper. Not sure if the same happened to you but something you might try is using a garden to find the leak. Start at the bottom of the rear window first, then each side individually, then the top. I would suspect if there is a leak, it would present itself when applying a bit of pressurized water around the seams of the window. As far as $1,750 to repair all the seals... It sounds like you just have a potential issue with one. I would inspect the remaining seals. If the other seals are good then I might ask for some help with just that one window. I wouldn't think it would be more than an hour of shop time to apply a new seal to the rear window. That might be closer $200. Glass or marine shops should also be able to do the work and might be cheaper. ------------- 2017 R-Pod 182G Hood River 2017 Tundra TRD Crew Max 5.7L V8 |
Posted By: isabelisa
Date Posted: 12 Jun 2020 at 4:26am
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It rained for the past three days and no leaks while parked. I think i will just avoid driving when it is raining. ------------- 2013 Rpod 177/slide out 2019 Honda Pilot EX-L |
Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 12 Jun 2020 at 8:31am
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More reason to suspect spoiler. Those leaks can be really tricky. When my spoiler leaked the only indication I got was floor of trailer on the bottom, at very rear of trailer was wet. I was installing back-up lights when I found floor soaked. ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
Posted By: Tibof
Date Posted: 14 Jun 2020 at 6:34pm
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Spoiler leak is notorious (as per dealer). Expect no help from mfg.,though it is a known defect. Best repair requires removal of spoiler and use of proper sealer. Short of that, use Dicor all around it after thorough cleaning of old sealant. don't attempt silicon sealer! Problem is screw holes of spoiler leak as does hole under it for the running lights in it. If you decide to do complete repair, contact me for more details. ------------- 2015 Pod Hood River Edition 2012 Tacoma Crew Cab 4 Liter |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 14 Jun 2020 at 8:04pm
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With my spoiler, when I removed it to check, I found that the screws had not been adequately sealed as I saw from the corrosion. However the wires had been very well sealed so there were no leaks. I had pulled it off to re-seal it where it had lifted up between the screws. When it went to the factory, the curved spoiler was replaced with the straight one that appears to be made from a stiffer plastic and has not lifted the same way. I have not had any leaks. I have not removed it to verify that the wires had been sealed again, but not having any leaks is a positive sign. Part of the problem is that the spoiler had a foam pad running along the edge for sealing. When it was screwed down, the screws pulled those places down, compressing the foam. Between though, the foam was pushing the plastic up. It needed some reinforcing to spread the force more evenly over the spoiler's edges. Dicor is a patch that helps unless it is compromised. If the bottom edge is totally sealed, then any water that gets in at the top edge is trapped. That is why the front and sides need to be well sealed and the back/bottom edge should have a gap for drainage, much like the weep slots in the windows. ------------- 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 |
Posted By: marwayne
Date Posted: 14 Jun 2020 at 9:54pm
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I don't think it is the foam gasket that made the spoiler lift between the screws, it is the stupid black colour makes the spoiler hot and the spoiler buckle. ------------- If you want something done right, do it yourself. 2011 RP172, 2016 Tundra 5.7 Litre, Ltd. |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 14 Jun 2020 at 10:00pm
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I think it was a combination. The heat softened the plastic and the foam pushed it up.
------------- 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 |
Posted By: Pod People
Date Posted: 15 Jun 2020 at 9:27am
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If you are trying to work on the spoiler as a proactive measure, I would recommend using Eternabond tape. I bought a 10' roll of black tape and used most of it on the spoiler. As noted in an earlier post, it is important to clean off the old dicor or silicone and then use alcohol or mineral spirits to clean the roof/spoiler. I put one continuous piece across the length of the spoiler and then 2 short pieces up each side. this should permanently seal any potential leaks from that area. Vann ------------- Vann & Laura 2015 RPod 179 https://postimg.cc/0zwKrfB9"> 
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Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 15 Jun 2020 at 10:32am
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+1 to both cleaning the old sealant. I used mineral spirits to remove the old Dicor sealant and then used denatured alcohol to do a final cleaning before putting down new sealant. That was before I knew about Eternabond tape. If I were doing it again, I would probably go that route.
------------- 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 |
Posted By: EchoGale
Date Posted: 15 Jun 2020 at 11:56am
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Could you please remind me what width eternabond you used? ------------- Julie |
Posted By: Tibof
Date Posted: 15 Jun 2020 at 12:49pm
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I tried the Eternabond, but it did not adhere, though I've used it with good luck in other applications. Surface was cleaned prior to application. May be my fault. Had to buy a new spoiler (since original was too warped to reuse), which is the same flimsy stuff as the original. But IMHO a straight spoiler can be fully sealed. First, use stainless steel screws (there is nothing but the outer seating to bite into). Old screw holes should be filled and sealed, for the new spoiler was slightly differen in hole spacing. Take foam off of new spoiler and clean and roughen the surface beneath it. Run a heavy bead of sealer (I used 3M 4200, which is a sealer and adhesive). to seat the spoiler in. Be sure to fully seal wiring hole (mine was not sealed at all). Then, once reinstalled, seal edge with Dicor non sag sealant. Be sure to seal tops of screws. Only an opinion, but I would go the Dicor route before the tape. My problem with the tape was the warped and very uneven surface of the spoiler. BTW, FR is well aware of this issue and how a redesign can fix it. Perhaps on the newer ones it has addressed the problem.
------------- 2015 Pod Hood River Edition 2012 Tacoma Crew Cab 4 Liter |
Posted By: Pod People
Date Posted: 15 Jun 2020 at 3:24pm
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I used the 4" eternabond tape for the spoiler long section(side to side) coverage. I cut the tape into 2" strips for the 2 side pieces(front to back). I ordered the 10' roll in black . clean the original surfaces carefully, tape a straight line across the roof and apply the tape. Be careful because it STICKS tight-you cannot move or relocate it. Once it is down, I rolled it with a 2" roller to insure no air bubbles. Look at the eternabond site for lots of info about the material and installation. I checked it a couple of weeks after installation and it looks perfect-the edges are tight and no bubbles. I think it will last a long time. Looks and works much better than using dicor for this type of application. dicor is good around different levels because it is self leveling compound. Etnerabond tape is good for sealing cracks/openings that are already approximately level. Vann ------------- Vann & Laura 2015 RPod 179 https://postimg.cc/0zwKrfB9">
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