Possible Leaking Lights? 13','84, UHaul.

[J.S.Lahm]

Greetings, I want to repair/replace the lights or the gaskets or backing part that goes on behind the light - against the camper. They may be leaking, but for sure they don't look wondeful. When I had it painted, the guy put silicone over the tops of the lights, I now know that silicone is a no no, and am looking for an alternative. I suppose there is a thresd on this site that will help me and someone will direct me to it. YOU ALL ARE AWESOME. I have my 13' U Haul painted, new spare tire & A C covers on it, sign painter all lined up to put some words on the tire cover BUT there is a leak. Actually had inches of water in back compartment, I have camper parked tipped toward the back for this reason. I know the windows are leaking, right now they have duct tape on them, not touching the beautiful paint of course, and am learnig how to repair / replace them from this site. In the mean time I was looking at the lights and am going to do something about them. Leaking or not we (camper, me and Bitty dog) are heading to Wild Wonderful WV in a couple weeks.

[mary and bob]

If you look close at the marker lights you will see some notches in the base, they are there to run the wire out from under the light when the light is mounted on a flat surface with no hole in it behind the light. On the Uhaul campers the wire goes through the outer shell, under the light, and may create a path for water to enter if not sealed properly. The screws that hold the light on go into plastic inserts that push into the shell. In trying to get some of the screws out on our trailer the inserts turned. In that case to remove the light I'll either have to break the light or cut the head off the screws. Water leaks are sometimes difficult to find where the leak originates. I recently had to remove the solar panel to find and fix a leak in the seam where the two halves join. I originally thought the leak was where the wire from the solar panel came in but it turned out to be in the seam. I had to pull down the carpet to find the leak, so we installed new carpet on the ceiling. You can get replacement lights at uhaultruckparts.com, camper parts are under miscellaneous. It's also possible that water is leaking in around the window, getting in between the inner and outer shell, and then down into the compartment.

[Thomas G.]

I agree with Bob's advice above.

For my UHaul, I installed a drain hole in the back next to the battery. I fiber glassed the edges of the hole to protect the plywood and stuck in a 1 inch soffit vent. I store it nose up.

Search UHaul windows on this site. There is lots of information on repairing leaks and if you are fast, you may even buy new side windows for $40 each.

[Donna D.]

If you can't get the correct gasket, I'd use Butyl.

[mary and bob]

Uhaul didn't use a gasket with these lights, and a gasket won't seal up the notches in the base. And to make things more difficult you can't get at them on the inside because of the inner wall. I've only had one light off and don't remember if there is a grommet that the wire went through. Butyl tape is probably the best option if the screws will come out. I still have a couple of mine leaking too. I just got some butyl tape this past weekend at a RV dealer.

[djtriceflt]

Ms. Janet,

I know Ms. Donna, and many others, frown on silicone but I have had termendous success with Permatex Black RTV gasket maker. My tailight housings were splitting and in bad shape and I basically recreated then out of this gasket maker. It is not cheap, about $10 for a caucking gun tube, but it definitely has been holding up well. One of my taillight lens housings was so bad that I had to do the repair in stages. I have not used this on the marker light lens housings and I do think butyl tape would be best for that seal.

Hopefully, I won't get in the dog house for mentioning this?

[Donna D.]

Originally Posted by djtriceflt

Hopefully, I won't get in the dog house for mentioning this?

Of course not. The only real problem I have with silicone is when folks think they need to use it to seal up a vent, windows, baggage doors, belly band, etc. It DOES have it's use and abuse... it can be a temporary fix that becomes a permanent problem when used for the wrong purpose on all molded fiberglass trailers.

[Thomas G.]

Originally Posted by Donna D.

.........It DOES have it's use and abuse... it can be a temporary fix that becomes a permanent problem when used for the wrong purpose on all molded fiberglass trailers.

Exhibit "A", my old solar panel:

[djtriceflt]

Originally Posted by Donna D.

Of course not. The only real problem I have with silicone is when folks think they need to use it to seal up a vent, windows, baggage doors, belly band, etc. It DOES have it's use and abuse... it can be a temporary fix that becomes a permanent problem when used for the wrong purpose on all molded fiberglass trailers.

Well stated! And, I promise not to Permatex my solar panel!

[jimcapon]

go to uhaultruckparts.com. they may have used lights for sale.

[mary and bob]

Originally Posted by jimcapon

go to uhaultruckparts.com. they may have used lights for sale.

They have new lights, both red and amber, $2.10 each, they don't have the Uhaul name on them. After you go to the web site, click on "miscellaneous parts' then on " camper parts" and scroll down until you find the lights. There is no gasket for them.