Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks: slideout leaking

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slideout leaking

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Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
Forum Discription: Ask maintenance questions, share your podmods (modifications) and helpful tips
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=9238
Printed Date: 28 Apr 2024 at 8:01am
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Topic: slideout leaking

Posted By: bigbearcraig
Subject: slideout leaking
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2017 at 7:08am

We have a 2017 179 that the slideout is leaking rain water when closed. Have any of you experienced this and if so where was the problem? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Replies:

Posted By: densmorema
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2017 at 7:53am

Never had a problem, but make sure your unit is always level if it isn't you can have leaks also there is a little gutter above the slide that could be clogged,you might want to check that.good luck.

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Mike and Cherie
Michigan
2015 R179 2016 silverado

Posted By: mjlrpod
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2017 at 9:00am

I struggled with this decision when i was considering my T.T.. I liked the 172, but i was giving serious thought to the 176 because of the little extra room with the slide out. We decided against it for 2 reasons. We felt we are almost never in the trailer unless we are sleeping. We also are believers in the fact that every hole you put in a trailer, will eventually leak. Your lucky to find it leaking right away, before the damage can get to far out of control. I would install a cover on that section. And if i park it for the winter, i would put some type of rubber cover over the whole area. Just like in real life, a seal will only perform for so long before it has a leak.

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2017.5 Rp-172
2020 R-pod 195
2015 Frontier sv 4.0L 6cyl
I'll be rpodding

Posted By: Blue Highways
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2017 at 9:01am

I have thought about the leaking potential with our 179 at the slide-out seams, but have not yet experienced leakage. I did notice one time last summer that the lower rubber gasket strip at one slide's sealing point had become dislodged from its attachement for about 8", but it was easy to carefully press back in, so that it would stay.

At that point, I used an Armoral-type product to keep the whole gasket length pliable and guard against UV aging. When it is raining all night, and we bring the slide back in next morning for departure, there have been some wet on that top panel that moves inside the trailer as it rides inside during the retraction. (Most of the rain drops get wiped back by the top gasket.)

From inside, I always take a towel and wipe that top surface down, but it's usually never enough to really soak the towel. If I forget, I suppose it could run off during the movement of towing, and then water would run downward, and appear somewhere else inside. Dens had a good idea to make sure those little angled gutter pieces outside are still doing their job. I'll inspect ours.

Brad & Layli

Western NC

Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2017 at 9:03am

Haven't had any leaks yet, I agree make sure the pod is level and it is all the way out and there is no debris along the seal.

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Leo & Melissa Bachand
2017 Ford F150
2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk
Previously owned
2015 Rpod 179
2010 Rpod 171

Posted By: bigbearcraig
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2017 at 9:29am

Thanks for the responses. The unit is level, I've checked the seals, and the gutter is clear. I'm thinking it might be a void somewhere in the caulking.

Posted By: john in idaho
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2017 at 10:25am

I was at an RV show yesterday and i was talking to the local rPOd folks. He mentioned that sometimes the slide motors get a little out of synch, and one side may not go in or out as far as the other. He said he has found on his unit, if he holds the switch down about 5 seconds after the slide has stopped, he can sometimes hear the other motor catch up. Just thought I would pass that along - may or may not be true.

Posted By: jalong
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2017 at 11:18am

Leaves , small sticks & pine needles can get stuck under the rubber seal and can raise it up enough to allow water to run under it. It may help to brush off the top of the slide-out before closing it.

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John & Sue
2016 179 - built in April 2015
2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.6L 13-16mpg with 179 - 21-28mpg without

Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2017 at 4:52pm

bigbearcraig,

Was it closed -dry - and then it rained and you have leaks? Or did you have it open, rained, closed it, and you had leaks? I have had one instance of closing my slide after a rain and a small puddle of water inside. No issues with leaks either opened or closed and leaks. Is it under warranty? Obvious debris on the slide can cause issues. I do use a slide cover when I think necessary. Also the dealer also advised me to run motor drive both in and out for several seconds to ensure slide is all out or all in. I have been lucky so far. Have been thru severe thunderstorms and tornado warnings, high winds etc. First step of troubleshooting is visual inspection.

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Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."

Posted By: ronahue
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2017 at 6:00pm

I posted these on a different topic the other day the one on retiming your slide may be helpful:

R-pod Maintenance

Here are some great videos that Lippert did with maintenance and operational information for the Schwintek slide system.

Lubrication of the mechanism: http://youtu.be/8KbVRFMo1Rg

Manual override: http://youtu.be/bGL4aILZYcY

Retiming: http://youtu.be/hSafAnjxIV4

In 2 years and over 100 nights camping we have never had our slide leak If retiming doesn't work I think the dealer should be your next step. Don't be discouraged once you work through this you will love the 179.

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Ron & Sharon
2015 R-Pod 179
2022 Nissan Frontier

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