Water leaking into Basement

[Paul and Holly]

Rain water is getting into the basement through the compartment door latch!






Has anyone else experienced this? If so what have you done? Seems like a poor design.

Thanks in advance for any ideas.

[fishkayaks]

I'm experiencing this issue as well... my next step is to replace the weatherstripping on my six years old 36FB. I've tried running a bead of silicone at the top of the frame to encourage water to drip outside the door instead of behind it or down the sides but that was ineffective. Any other ideas?

[wintertree]

Since I got our rig home just three days ago....(new owners)....I have been having a good look around the rig for issues....any caulking that needs touch up.....etc.....Something that comes naturally to me as I have an RV tech background.....Funny that this post arrived as one of my thoughts when I was checking operation of all the doors was " How can this door not have moisture wrap around the upper frame and enter the coach ?Regards less of the good fit of the gasket rubber.....water will get in....I am going to get some quality foam weather stripping the right thickness (as you can get all thicknesses)...black in colour.....and put it towards the outside of the door frame(on top of the door)....across the top and down only slightly on the sides ....any amount on the sides the door will bind....but moisture running down the coach wall should hit the foam barrier and carry on......The thickness has to be only slightly thicker than the door gap.....so its still easy to close........Thats what I came up with ....but nothing will be done till warmer weather....A drip cap above the door would be the best.....but no paint work on it may make it look out of place....Wes

[Paul and Holly]

Here is what I did, some water still gets in the compartment, but a lot less now. You need to make sure the top latch striker is siliconed in.20190217_085603.jpeg20190217_085644.jpeg

[830hvacman]

When I was at the factory back in 2016 for some service, they installed a gasket along the top of the complete compartment opening. It has what looks like a bunch of hairs on either side of a firm clear plastic wiper.
This is something that the door Mfg. suggested they do.
Hope that helps
Now this has stopped water from getting into this "side hinged" compartment door, but I still have a problems with the "top hinge" door leaking water at times, so much so, I keep a towel rolled up along the complete opening inside the help wick water away or keep it from flowing thru to the other side, which has happened. I really need to empty out the whole compartment and get someone inside and someone outside spraying w/ water and try to find out where its getting in.
Good Luck!!

[wintertree]

Hello Everyone....Just an update....First thankyou for the original post on this topic....We just got our RW 38RL and I have been going over it fixing things.....mostly cosmetics so far....Loose inside moldings....crooked light fixture...one broken catch on the pantry door...One slow rise blind sorted out....and more. As you can see ...minor stuff....Anyway got to the exterior and noticed the possibility of a leak here and there because of some poor / missing caulking....nothing major.....Then The large cargo door.....and then the post about water getting in.....I remember some small "Bulb Seal" (3/8" black) that I purchased for our boat doors....how well it worked....and that I had some left over....i did manage to find it and install some on the top of the two doors in question...without a doubt....work perfectly and does not increase the closing pressure as it is thin and hollow as bulb seal is ....and quality rubber....Make sure you install only to the beginning of the radius on both sides so not to bind on the hinge side...It stays tucked inside of the gap when the doors are closed....and is not noticeable...
Wes

[piper guy]

Can you post a picture Wes ? And thanks for the suggestion

[wintertree]

Yes I will get pictures of the install (bulb seal) tomorrow as it is already dark here....I have not posted pics on this site yet and will endeavour to get it right.....Wes

[wintertree]

The pics should show up showing the rubber bulb seal in place on the top of the cargo area side opening doors....Wes