Leak Fix - I Hope

[fusedlight]

Here's a view of the back window area showing the drip path at the lower-left corner. Every time it rained, that area would be damp (click to embiggen):

on the right is the suspected culprit...after the fix. There was a rivet in there without a cap. It looks like water came in through there and migrated down the window edge where it showed up at the bottom. I put in new rivets, caps, and interior washers. We shall see what it's like after the next rain.

[chse]

Looks like the previous owner removed the curtain rod holder. Is this rust? that would mean he/she used a steel instead of aluminum rivet. Since the rivet is gone you could use a small plastic plug normally used to hide screw holes and glue it in with a RV specific sealer (no, no not silicon).

[fusedlight]

Those are my new rivets. Aluminum. Nicely gaskets we and capped. The Dot is making new curtains.

[fusedlight]

Nicely gasketed and capped. Stupid cell phone!

[fusedlight]

*sigh* first rain and still a bit of dampness. Ok, kids... Suggestions ?

[Casita Greg]

Just curious as to whether you applied a dab of sealant (please don't use silicone) on the hole before you inserted the rivet, or did you just squeeze the rivet and cap assembly into a dry hole? The rivets, if inserted dry won't seal against leakage without a dab of sealant in the hole and under the base of the rivet cap. Those caps are merely cosmetic, they don't provide any moisture sealing ability. Could be a possible entry point for water to get in. It isn't possible to tell from your pics, so I thought I would mention it.

[fusedlight]

Uh, ummm, aahhhhh.... sealant, eh? Um, ahhh, uhhhh.

Well,

No, actually.

Guess I'll just go out and get an honkin big tube of

Silicone Caulk

and redo those spots. Bwahaha... yeh, it won't be silicone.


BTW... I did read in some earlier posts that gunk wasn't needed. Just saying...

[Donna D.]

Originally Posted by fusedlight

...
Guess I'll just go out and get an honkin big tube of

Silicone Caulk

and redo those spots. ...

I almost had heart failure

[Carol H]

Gary my first thought was perhaps the rivet diameter was to small or the rivets a little long and your not getting a nice tight bound. I take it you did use caps and holders - if so a little dab of butyl tape under the cap or a dab on none silicone caulking. If you think its all good then I could be looking at possible leaks from above that area that could be working their way down to that spot - a vent or awning perhaps?

[fusedlight]

I'll be putting a dab of the non-silicone (heh... sorry Donna. I had to do that) on those spots and running the hose on the roof to see if I've taken care of things. There are some other things up there that might be causing issues. The PO went kind of nutso. If that's OK, it's back to working on the interior.

[stevebaz]

My 13 foot Scamp had a wet line around the window frame like that. I removed the window and found the seal area leaking. I also found that the factory over cut the shell for the window frame and with the factory foam gaskit failure and the window shifting down it was the source of the leak. I removed the window and crappy foam seal for the window and used buytl tape in its place. It was not hard to do other than some issues with rusted mounting screws. It takes 2 people a roll of butyl tape. ( I used black) and I suggest replacing all of the screws while your at it as they are soft and easy to strip. Pull one and take it with you when you go to the RV supply store. You will need a square drive driver bit.

[Carol H]

Gary I see you have an awning if its on the side that you have the leak I would be looking closely at that. The water can be leaking down from it behind the retroflex. With all the pulling on the awning after years of use the mounting hardware & sealers on the top outside can become loose. I had troubles with my awning leaking at the mounting points (not enough to notice wet rat fur) but enough that I did see some dampness around the upper part of the window it sits above after a few days of camping in some very wet weather.

[fusedlight]

It's been raining on-and-off all day. I just went out and checked the Scamp.

No Leaks!!!!!!! Woot!!!!!

Caps and goop on the rivets did the trick.