I have a leak in my Bigfoot 17, need advice - Fiberglass RV
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Old 10-02-2015, 04:49 PM   #1
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I have a leak in my Bigfoot 17, need advice

Hello again. We bought our 88 Bigfoot 2 months ago. It sat for 14 years. We got it very cheap and new it needed some work, and here I am. The floor in the drivers side front has a 10" section that is dis colored and spongy. When it rains, water is collecting there and draining out through the uppermost front drain hole. I sealed up all windows, except the front, with a bead of sika flex marine sealant. I also sealed around the top of the bellyband and around the fridge vents. Water is finding its way into the fridge cavity and draining toward the front of the trailer. Today I reached up with the exterior fridge removed, and it was wet up by the upper vent. My trailer has 2 fridge vents. The upper is not removable without taking out screws. Have any of you seen these vents leak? I also sealed up the roof vents with dicor lap sealant. I feel the water is getting in the fridge cavity. I attached a couple of pics. Any advice? This is stressing me out.

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Old 10-02-2015, 05:33 PM   #2
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Remove the refrigerator vent screws, get new stainless steel screws and, when you put it back together, rather than putty tape or Dicor, use 1/2" wide compressible foam weather-stripping to seal the door against the body.



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Old 10-02-2015, 05:45 PM   #3
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I think I found the main problem. I was just out again looking at the fridge. The water appears to be running down the upper fridge vent and right over the aluminum casing for the lower vent. From here it just runs right into the upper seam of the removable vent. It's running akong the upper wood support of the bottom fridge opening, and down along the wood side support, to the belly of the trailer. I might need to fabricate some type of gutter.

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Old 10-02-2015, 05:47 PM   #4
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Here's a couple of pics I took from inside the fridge cabinet looking up toward the upper fridge vent.

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Old 10-02-2015, 06:18 PM   #5
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None the less, it's still a good idea, especially with a trailer that sat for so long, to pull every panel and window and reseal. Those that don't leak soon will as the trailer gets used and parts start moving against each other again. Be proactive and you will be able to have many more years of enjoyment with your BigFoot



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Old 10-02-2015, 06:26 PM   #6
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Trailer: 2014 16 scamp side dinette/Rav4 V6 Tow pkg.
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My fridge vents were leaking and i put in foam weather strip and it stopped the water from seeping in and on to floor in front of fridge. Someone above mentioned it as well. Carl
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Old 10-02-2015, 06:30 PM   #7
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Thanks for the advice. I'll do the foam weatherstripping. I don't think that will cure my leak though. It's running in the top of the removable door where it mates to the casing for the door.


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Old 10-02-2015, 07:00 PM   #8
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They have gutters you can install over your vents- http://www.amazon.com/EZE-RV-Gutter-...rds=rv+gutters
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Old 10-02-2015, 08:55 PM   #9
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Thanks for the link. I was thinking about going that route. I'm in Canada though. I'll see if I can find it locally or order.


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Old 10-03-2015, 06:34 PM   #10
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3M makes a vinyl adhesive Gutter, installed over my windows several yrs. ago
works great! Purchased @ an R.V. center. Good luck!
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Old 10-03-2015, 06:51 PM   #11
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Thanks Mikell. I'll be looking poking for that. I plan to install the weatherstripping under the inside top portion of the removable door. Hopefully this will cure my leak. The 3" closest to the edge of the trailer under the fridge is rotten. I plan to fix all of this in the future. Lots of work needed on this old trailer, but worth it in our eyes.


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Old 10-04-2015, 08:52 AM   #12
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Name: ginette & ron
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Wish you lots of luck . Enjoy fixing up your Bigfoot. We have had ours for 2 years now and can say nothing bad about them. Well worth the effort to fix. What area of Canada are you in?
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Old 10-04-2015, 10:32 AM   #13
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I'm in BC, Kamloops to be exact. Thanks to all of you for the kind words and help.


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Old 10-04-2015, 10:49 AM   #14
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Originally Posted by Michael Collins View Post
I'm in BC, Kamloops to be exact. Thanks to all of you for the kind words and help.


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Rats, I was just in Kelowna last week and would have enjoyed seeing your project. This isn't the BigFoot that was in Salmon Arm by chance is it?



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Old 10-04-2015, 01:24 PM   #15
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No it was in Summerland. Acted fast and picked it up for $1000. Price reflects the work needed. If you're ever around the Loops, let me know.


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Old 10-04-2015, 01:56 PM   #16
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You a now hurting me big time. We spent several nights with Liz & Klaus Haverkamp (the VW guy) in Summerland on our way back from Kelowna. Judy has known them for 20+ years. Our trip to Summerland was postponed by almost a month due to the fires in Chelan (where Judy lives)



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Old 10-04-2015, 02:06 PM   #17
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Bob those weren't the owners of our Bigfoot. Our Bigfoot lived in Bamfield on the island, where it saw plenty of years of salt water air, which gave it a unique color on all the metal. I purchased it from the original owners. I wouldn't doubt that the previous owners knew your friend. Summerland is fairly small, but most definitely beautiful.


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Old 10-04-2015, 03:05 PM   #18
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Klaus Haverkamp was very well known up and down the valley when he was running his VW shop. He did that for about 40+ years before retiring. The last two times we came across at at Oosoyos the Border guys both knew his name and his shop .....


We will be up that way again at Christmas.



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Old 10-04-2015, 07:34 PM   #19
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Have a safe trip when you travel north. Thx again for all the help Bob


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Old 10-07-2015, 10:14 AM   #20
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Just posting here to come back later when I have more time! Experienced the same sort of leak in our 85 Bigfoot 17' this fall.
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