Need help - Leaking roof
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Topic: Need help - Leaking roof
Posted By: GodsPod
Subject: Need help - Leaking roof
Date Posted: 28 Oct 2020 at 6:39pm
I have a 2016 R Pod 179 that we bought used last February and I have noticed during the last few rainstorms that there is standing water on my kitchen counter(slide side). I tried my hand at caulking what I thought were some cracks along the roof seam to no avail. There seems to be no leakage into the lower cabinet but am plenty concerned. This is my very first post and I don't even know if I am doing this correctly.
Help
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Replies:
Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 28 Oct 2020 at 6:44pm
Is your roof spoiler directly above the leak? The spoiler with lights at rear of RV.
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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: GodsPod
Date Posted: 28 Oct 2020 at 6:51pm
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Can't see where the leak originates but yes the spoiler is in the area where I have noticed some trickle stains on the wall. Even during a rain I cannot see any moisture anywhere but what ends up in the counter. Weird!
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Posted By: JR
Date Posted: 28 Oct 2020 at 6:57pm
Welcome to the forum and congrats on your 179. I have experienced the same water intrusion problem on the slide side of the counter top of my 2019 179. I had the trailer in at the end of the season last year for some warranty work at the dealer where I purchased it (the work was replacing a side wall on the slide out because the exterior fiberglass had delaminated from the wall) but at the same time I told the dealer about the water coming in on the counter top after a rainstorm and the water was running down the wall from the interior bottom frame of the window. They felt that the rear window gasket had not been installed properly. They took the rear window apart and sure enough the gasket was what was causing the leak. They repaired it under the warranty work. Don't know how big a job it is or if it can be done by an owner or not (the need for special tools). You may want to do some youtube investigations. That is where I would start with your water leakage.
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Jay
179/2019
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Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 28 Oct 2020 at 6:59pm
Spoilers are a source of leaks. Many of us have eternabonded our spoilers up sides and across tops to eliminate leak issues. Takes a bit of effort. If you decide to go that way, post, and you'll get plenty of advice.
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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: mcarter
Date Posted: 28 Oct 2020 at 7:02pm
+1 to JR, did not see that post prior to my reply.
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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: GodsPod
Date Posted: 28 Oct 2020 at 7:04pm
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Thank you Jay. It could well be the culprit. I have noticed some rippling of the back wall board beneath the window. Good advice. Will look into it. Thanks
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Posted By: GodsPod
Date Posted: 28 Oct 2020 at 7:08pm
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Mike, Thank you for your help. Is eternabond a product or a technique? Not familiar with much of this be terminology.
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Posted By: JR
Date Posted: 29 Oct 2020 at 8:20am
Eternabond is a product "type" of sticky tape that is used for RV roof repair and other things on the exterior of the trailer. Does a good job sealing up the spoiler above the back window.
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Jay
179/2019
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Posted By: GodsPod
Date Posted: 29 Oct 2020 at 6:50pm
Jay, for the spoiler sealing best results would I need the 2" or 4" Eternabond tape and what is the best prep for the surface area? Are the Eternaclean and Eternabond Spray worth the money? I would like to share a photo of the sealant currently used on it. Is there a way to do that on the forum?
Bob
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Posted By: JR
Date Posted: 30 Oct 2020 at 7:45am
I have not used eternabond tape to seal the spoiler. You can do a search on the subject on the forum and there has been many posts with good directions, just make sure you search at least a year in the past maybe a year and a half. When I have used the tape on the roof I have cleaned the surfaces with rubbing alcohol and it is holding up well. I used the tape to attach flexible solar panels to the roof of the pod along with silicone underneath the panels. As far as posting pictures I have not crossed that bridge yet either, but everyone makes it sound easy??
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Jay
179/2019
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Posted By: lostagain
Date Posted: 30 Oct 2020 at 8:30am
+1 to the use of 4" Eternabond tape to seal the spoiler. We did it after the recall retrofit on our 172 and never had a problem with leakage. That tape is tough and durable. It'll last for years.
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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: GodsPod
Date Posted: 01 Nov 2020 at 5:46pm
Jay,
Thank you for your help. I think since the window may take "professional" help to rectify if it is my leak source, I am going to start with the spoiler and see if that cures my problem.
Again, Thank you for your quick response and for your suggestions.
Bob
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Bob
2016 179
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Posted By: GodsPod
Date Posted: 01 Nov 2020 at 5:56pm
Fred, What, if any, did you use to prep the area around the spoiler? The previous owner of my 179 has a rather bumpy (over the screw heads and such) and uneven caulking job that he did and I am a bit nervous about simply taping over it.
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Bob
2016 179
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Posted By: lostagain
Date Posted: 02 Nov 2020 at 9:03am
I had to remove the old 3M 5200 caulk that I tried to use earlier. That's a matter of cutting it off as best as I could. It was easy to get off the spoiler. Then, I cleaned it very well with a mild soap and water solution on a rag so as to not let water run under the spoiler, then cleaned it with denatured alcohol. As for the screw heads, they were small enough and the Eternabond was thick enough, that the bumps were not an issue. When you apply it, you need to be careful taking off the paper backing, trying to do it as you lay the tape down. The glue is very sticky and if you let the tape stick to the wrong place or let it stick on itself, it's a major problem. I cut two side pieces first and carefully laid them flat on each end of the spoiler, then removed the paper as the pieces remained stationary. I put two rows of the tape along the top edge of the spoiler with the same process. Good luck in your project!
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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: GodsPod
Date Posted: 02 Nov 2020 at 9:39am
Fred, Thank you for the tips and insight. Good luck is right . . . appreciate it!
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Bob
2016 179
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