Water leak while driving
Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Warranty, Service and Recall Bulletins
Forum Discription: Have a warranty or service experience to share?
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=4905
Printed Date: 27 Jun 2025 at 12:38am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Water leak while driving
Posted By: MontanaPodder
Subject: Water leak while driving
Date Posted: 28 Jun 2014 at 1:10am
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Well, 15 nights in our 2013 177 so far and no issues with systems or appliances so that's good. Fighting water leaking issues though. Seems to be only when i am driving in the rain. Substantial water coming into the baggage area under the rear bed. Checked all seals, re caulked windows etc including removing and re sealing the spoiler. I've pulled the trailer apart and spent many many hours trying to find the source. Haven't gotten anywhere. We purchased the trailer this spring from a couple who claimed to have only used it a couple weeks total with no issues. My local dealer is not much help and I'm out of the one year warranty. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I am at my wits end. This is our first trailer and a big purchase for my girlfriend and I and it has been so disappointing seeing the on going water issues and subsequent damage to the cheap paper veneered interior wood like panels, down along the floor. Thanks in advance. Austin ------------- Just Purchased a 2013 Rpod 177! -Austin |
Replies:
Posted By: shroomer
Date Posted: 28 Jun 2014 at 8:03am
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2 ideas not particularly based on experience… 1. It's not from the rain - and the area isn't far from the hot water heater and other water lines. Could it be plumbing? Might want to pop the plywood under the mattress and check. 2. It is the rain - get out your hose and start spraying while your partner checks for leakage. ------------- Larry and Debbie w/Rosie the mutt. Old: '13 177, '06 Silverado V6 New: '15 Whitehawk 20MRB '14 Silverado V8 |
Posted By: Outbound
Date Posted: 28 Jun 2014 at 9:16am
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To tell you the truth, I expect that the water is coming up from the road as opposed to down from the roof. You've said that you've checked the hatch seals, but how about fully replacing them? Are you sure that the seals around the slide are well fit and sealing properly? Have you checked around pipes (like where the lines for the low point drains drop through the floor? Finally (and I say this only because it happened to me) - are you sure that the water is coming in at the rear of your trailer? Are you sure water isn't migrating down the hallway? Have you checked the seal at the bottom of the door? ------------- Craig :: 2009 RP171 towed by a 2017 F150 |
Posted By: ron_whitt
Date Posted: 28 Jun 2014 at 9:22am
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Some RV places can do a pressure test from inside out and see where air is leaking out = water going in from outside. They pressurize the trailer and then spray water on outside surface and see where air is escaping from inside the trailer. If you can't find your leakage that might be a way to go... good luck. ------------- Ron & Shirley 2020 Tacoma 2012 177 rpod |
Posted By: MontanaPodder
Date Posted: 28 Jun 2014 at 11:31am
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Thanks for all the replies. I've got my work cut out for me this morning! ------------- Just Purchased a 2013 Rpod 177! -Austin |
Posted By: jarpod
Date Posted: 28 Jun 2014 at 1:25pm
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montanapodder
i purchased a 2010 175 with water damage on the left rear wall (as you face the bed) below the window. i could stick my finger through the wall at the dealers . yes i got a discount , when i got home i immediately sealed all outside joints with dicor then did the rear window but only the top and partial sides with silicon . when i tore the damaged panel out and replaced the wall studs i left it open so all the wood could dry out before repaneling it and during this time we had storms and while inside i noticed i still had a leak around the window on the bottom left corner so in the down pour of rain i went ourtside and put silicon in that area which stopped the leak then after the rain quit and everything was dry i pulled the silicon off and redid it to insure i had a good bond. the leak had been there since the camper was built. and the wood studs were rotten and soft like a sponge its all good now . might want to check the bottom corners of the window if you have one. hope this helps
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Posted By: David and Danette
Date Posted: 28 Jun 2014 at 5:15pm
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I hope you have made some progress today in finding your water leak. Are the latches on the storage compartments holding the doors tight against the seals. I hope you spraying it with a hose will help you in finding the leak. Hope to when find you find it, that it easy to fix. ------------- 2018 Vista Cruiser 19BFD (2018- 2012 Vibe 6503 (2014-2019) 2009 r-pod 171 (2009-2014) Middle Tn 2014 Ram 1500 Quad cab |
Posted By: ToolmanJohn
Date Posted: 28 Jun 2014 at 8:31pm
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Also , pressurize the water system, and look for water leaks under the hot water heater. Mine leaked from the FIRST HOUR of ownership, but I was already 50 miles away from the dealership when I discovered it.
Ultimately, it was tracked down to being a square ring seal for the electric element in the water heater. It would slowly drip when the system was pressurized, and the water always ended up inside the rear cargo area. Wet sawdust and a little puddle. The ring was twisted likely from the factory. I was very disappointed the selling dealership didn't find it during delivery inspection. The O-Ring was an easy fix and I haven't had a problem since. |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 28 Jun 2014 at 10:15pm
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During heavy rain, at highway speed, I'll get water between the panes of the front windows. One more area to check. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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Posted By: Budward
Date Posted: 01 Jul 2014 at 5:30am
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Leaks can be very frustrating- I had a leak around the improperly installed rear window in my new 179 that ruined the kitchen counter. I talked to FR directly about a replacement counter- they said it would take about 2 weeks to get one to an FR warranty service center nearby. The selling dealer wasn't very interested in helping me out and is a 200+ mile round trip. Been over a month and it still hasn't arrived  We've had ours around 2 months and have been on several trips but still haven't towed in the rain, I'm dreading when I do due to FR's poor workmanship... ------------- 2014 179 Towed by a 2015 Ford Transit Diesel Supervised by a German/Aussie mix and a Labradoodle! |
Posted By: hogone
Date Posted: 01 Jul 2014 at 11:27am
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last year i experienced some water under the bed and under the table (not alot but still water). this was after driving in a 3 hour monsoon. nothing else was wet or even the slightest bit damp (ie: walls, windows, cushions, etc). i have driven threw many other rains (though not quite like this) and have seen no water. i have washed my pod alot with some pretty heavy spray, no water. i can only assume it came from underneath, but can't find an obvious breach (though water doesn't need much). hogone ------------- Jon & Pam 2013 RP177 2023 F150 2017 HD Streetglide CHEESEHEAD |
Posted By: g4royce
Date Posted: 01 Jul 2014 at 1:26pm
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We get leaks between the panes too when driving in heavy rain, so we just roll up some paper towel and stuff it there to help with the spray that gets forced in. We also had the rear window problem as ours was one of the first models off the line but FR recalled and replaced the windows from that generation. Some early 2010 models were also built with the faulty back window. If you can somehow find out if your back window has been replaced or not, FR has in the past provided the replacement window to the dealer of your choice for free. However FR does not cover the labor cost for actual replacement unless you're the original owner. We are currently dealing with dewinterizing (finally!) and finding a mysterious leak/condensation from somewhere behind the fridge. ------------- ChaiPod 2009 RP152 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe 3.5L V6 |
Posted By: Keith-N-Dar
Date Posted: 01 Jul 2014 at 8:11pm
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We are in our fourth season and have towed and camped in all kinds of weather with no sign of leaks or "poor workmanship." Sorry if you got a bad one. It is not part of the makeup of the breed.
------------- Keith-N-Dar Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers) 2011 R-Pod 177 2010 Ford F-150 |