My r-pod wet the bed! (window leak)
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Topic: My r-pod wet the bed! (window leak)
Posted By: Jawn
Subject: My r-pod wet the bed! (window leak)
Date Posted: 09 Dec 2016 at 3:10am
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Went out to winterize for the first time (2012 rpod 177, purchased used this year) and found a corner of the mattress was wet. Plywood underneath had started to get mold spots too. I guess we're replacing both the mattress and the plywood decking under it. Given there was a little moisture on the rear window curtain, I believe this is the likely entry point... what kind of sealant would you suggest for trying to remedy this? And what are the walls made of, in other words do I need to be concerned about mold developing between layers of the wall?
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Replies:
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 09 Dec 2016 at 10:10am
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Simplest things first: Was the window shut tight? Are all the wipes between the fixed and sliding portions of the window intact? Are the weep holes (slots along the bottom frame on the outside) open or blocked? Was your 'Pod parked on a slope? If so, was the side that leaked the side that was higher? Check the screws that are around the frame on the inside. Are they all tight? Is the frame on the inside and outside pulled up tight against the wall? We had a wet bed once also. It happened when a storm went through during the night and we had the window open because we were dry camping and it was warm. I was able to dry both the bed and decking out by using a fan to circulate air. If it has not been wet long, this may be a way for you to postpone buying a new mattress (unless you want to upgrade it anyway). The walls are made of an aluminum frame with lauan plywood covered with a fiberglass skin for the outside wall, the wallpaper on the inside, and foam insulation filling the space between them. It would depend on where the leak was to know if there would be a possibility of mold. If the leak was on the inside (window side) of the frame, then it is likely no water got into the wall. If the leak was on the outside (wall) side of the frame, then getting that dried out would be good. The foam is not likely to develop mold, but the plywood would be at risk, not only of developing mold, but of having the adhesive that keeps the fiberglass skin attached weakened by the moisture. See this posting about an http://www.rpodnation.com/r-pod-plant-tour_topic1313.html - R-Pod Plant Tour to see how the walls are made. Here's a https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXNYA73rCNE - video tour. ------------- 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: furpod
Date Posted: 09 Dec 2016 at 10:11am
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The walls are a sandwich of foam, azdel, fiberglass and aluminum framing.. HOWEVER the roof, is not. The roof and front and back curves are built up of wood framing. If you are sure the leak is around the back window, clean all the silicone sealant from around the window, and recaulk the top and sides. ------------- |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 09 Dec 2016 at 10:22am
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Is the azdel something relatively recent? The information I saw was that the walls used lauan. If so, when did this change? Edit: The video about http://www.forestriverinc.com/product-details.aspx?LineID=173&ShowParent=1&tab=5 - R-Pod construction on the Forest River's R-Pod pages states that lauan is used, not azdel. ------------- 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: Jawn
Date Posted: 09 Dec 2016 at 11:08am
I didn't see any screws... are they hidden, or is this window held in by other means? |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 09 Dec 2016 at 11:51am
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You might also be looking at some condensation run-off. Screws are on the inside, not around the ouside of the frame, but on the recessed part of the frame. Think of the frame as a two-part channel being clamped around the wall. A cross section would look like a C with the wall being in the inside part of the C and the window being like this ----C. Here's a picture that might help:  This is a picture of the kitchen window in our RP-179, which also does not open. Pardon me as I assumed it was a window in the wall, not in the rear. That modifies my suggestion to agree with checking the factory caulking. I ended up removing the factory silicone sealant and applying new sealant along the top and two sides of our kitchen window after seeing gaps in the factory sealant. I also had to tighten the screws as the ones along the top and right side were loose. What complicates this is that a flat window is installed in a curved surface. It would have been better for Forest River to have put a flat frame in which the window could sit, but that might have had its own complications. The part about ensuring the weep holes are clear is still valid. Also, make sure the weep holes are on the bottom. I don't think it is unprecedented for the window to have been installed upside-down. ------------- 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: podgirl
Date Posted: 09 Dec 2016 at 2:45pm
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Have had the back of my r pod leak two different times. The first time I was told it was from the spoiler with lights on top. They said some of the screws were not even connected. They made sure they were tight and caulked. Later found water on the same area and took it to a dealer that has the technology to pressurize the cabin, apply a soap mixture to outside and then gave me pictures to show the leaks. They wanted a ridiculous price, $800 so I brought it home removed old caulk from areas that showed bubbles and then applied flex seal. Only had it rained on once and no leaks. Hoping for the best. ------------- Sally |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 09 Dec 2016 at 3:57pm
Sorry, yes, luan, in fact now,a second layer on the outside, under the fiberglass roof. My mind was on the new camper..  ------------- |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 09 Dec 2016 at 8:00pm
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I looked up Adzel. It looks like a good product for RV use. Perhaps Forest River will switch to it. I suspect it is significantly more expensive than lauan though.
------------- 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: furpod
Date Posted: 09 Dec 2016 at 8:02pm
Yes.. well.. our new TT is significantly more expensive.. LOL ------------- |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 09 Dec 2016 at 8:10pm
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Significantly larger also! I just looked on the Lance site and saw pictures. It looks really nice. I hope you enjoy it. Having 4-season camping ability is great. We would definitely need to upgrade our TV before we could even think about moving to something that heavy though. ------------- 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: Jawn
Date Posted: 27 Mar 2017 at 5:43pm
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Well crud, this isn't looking good. I bought a cover and put it on the rpod for the winter to hopefully keep the water out, had been checking on it and all seemed dry... just checked today, saw a dark streak down the rear corner... I think it's something above the window leaking through the wall. The trim between ceiling and rear wall was loose, and adjacent surfaces are mushy... not good! I think this may be more than I can deal with.  :(  Inquiry out to a local repair specialist.
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Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 27 Mar 2017 at 7:57pm
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I'm sorry to hear this. It is not a good thing to feel it is mushy. I hope you can find someone who can help. It sounds to me like some of the sealant dried out with age and cracked, letting water in. ------------- 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: Jawn
Date Posted: 08 Jul 2017 at 1:11pm
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Finally got the 'pod back. About $2500 to fix the leak and replace the damaged interior panels (most of which was labor costs for the interior work). We've had a lot of heavy rain lately, seems dry so far... hopefully no more such issues!
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Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 09 Jul 2017 at 6:34am
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Hopefully not. That repair place was expensive!
------------- 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: Jawn
Date Posted: 10 Jul 2017 at 2:42pm
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I'm starting to think I'm not meant to own a camper. Today a tree branch landed on it and put a couple sizable holes in the roof, one of which all the way through the interior paneling as well. At least this one should be insurance eligible....
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Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 10 Jul 2017 at 3:08pm
That is like the worst thing I've heard today. So sorry for the incident.------------- bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 10 Jul 2017 at 4:15pm
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That's insurance work. I purposefully store Pod away from trees, we get some straight line winds in TN that can be devastating. Plus we have old timber. ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 11 Jul 2017 at 8:13am
Ouch! When it rains, it pours.  My condolences and hopes that insurance will cooperate in getting this fixed.Beause of the roof, ours had to go to the factory for repair. Central Mutual Insurance was very helpful. I only had a $200 deductible plus the cost of the trip to the factory to pick it up as they paid to get it to the factory, but not to pick it up. That was okay because we also got a factory tour.------------- 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 |