3400RL Leaky shower - Montana Owners Club

exav8tr · 07-04-2007, 07:49 AM

I have an '06 3400RL with the garden tub and shower surround. Hopefully you have the "garden tub" also. It appears I have a leak and it is from the under edge of the plastic wall cover that is a shower stall. It does not leak inside (I have pulled the three inspection plates and checked visually underneath the shower tub), the TT but on the outside, the outside wall, above the convenience center is wet and there is a pretty good drip (actually it runs out)under the coach at the hole where the low point drains go. I have checked all else and it only happens when the shower is going, not the tub water, not a drain problem or fresh water supply either. My question is this: HAVE YOU CAULKED THE BOTTOM EDGE OF THIS SURROUND PIECE? Mine seems pretty loose and my brother in law suggested caulking the bottom. Seems I remember the dealer saying don't caulk as there is a lip on the tub that prevents leakage and caulking will cause mold. I think they must have cut the lip off in the back corner to make things fit so caulking would seem the thing to do.

Any suggestions?????

Thanks Phil

bsmeaton · 07-04-2007, 08:33 AM

Phil,

I think I would still pursue a leak before starting to caulk stuff. I have heard too that the shower enclosure is not designed to be caulked, at the top or bottom.

Have you checked the shower drain - common leak area and will will run along to floor above the convenience panel until it finds a place to run down. The drain is just a hand tight nut underneath the tub.

cmp-shooter · 07-04-2007, 10:10 AM

This may help you

http://www.montanaowners.com/forums/...ad.php?t=19410

rlrich · 07-04-2007, 01:13 PM

I heard or read somewhere not to caulk that bottom edge of the shower wall. It supposedly provides an exit for any condensation that may occur behind the shower wall.

exav8tr · 07-04-2007, 01:17 PM

Brad, I had removed all three access panels checking the floor and drains. checked drain from underneath, removed access panel underneath checking for a loose fitting. Nothing....except a little water at the right rear (or is it front), corner of the shower. It only leaks when shower head is going and pointed at rear of shower. I suspect it is a problem between shower enclosure wall and the actual tub enclosure. Will give it 24 hours to dry out and then apply the caulk, wait 24 hours to dry then try again. Drain lines are tight and dry......

cmp-shooter, I knew this had come up before but I just couldn't find it. Thanks for the link.

bobby A · 07-04-2007, 04:54 PM

I have a Garden tub and shower in my 3670 Big Sky and had the same problem when the shower was on. I found out it was coming in from the faucet. I took the fauset off and filled the hole cavety up with sylacone caulk and I haven't had a leak since. Not sure if this is your issue but I figured I would bring it to your attention

Good luck
Bobby A

sreigle · 07-05-2007, 03:03 PM

Phil, if it were a caulk problem along the bottom of the wall surround, then every Montana out there would have this problem. They come from the factory uncaulked along the bottom for a good reason. The condensation caused by hot water in the shower against cooler walls outside the shower has to vent somewhere. If you caulk the bottom it may well go through the exterior wall and cause bubbles on the outside surface. I used to have pictures of the resulting bubbles but lost them when my laptop died. By the way, Fox RV in Middlebury, IN, is the one who told me the problem was because of the bottom being caulked.

Either way, I hope you get this problem solved.

snfexpress · 07-05-2007, 07:29 PM

Phil,

Steve is absolutely correct. Do NOT caulk all of the area at the bottom of the plastic side walls. But, having said that, our problem was the left side front area of the shower, closest to the wardrobe. I originally thought it was the lack of some caulking where the glass meets the wall as when I recaulked this area, all was good for a while.

Then, when we bought the Oxygenics Body Spa RV Showerhead from CW; the leak re-appeared. I was disappointed and disallusioned, as the water leak was evidenced by water clinging to the aluminum framing closest to the exterior wall of the basement. Then, I realized that the water pressure was greater, so I thought... had a cocktail and thought and...You get the picture. I caulked about 5 inches from the glass back towards the corner of the tub where the plastic tile wall meets the tub. No more problems.

I hope that my description makes sense. If not, I will try to be more illustrative.

old turbo · 07-06-2007, 01:38 AM

I wish keystone would take a look at other shower enclosures to put in their units. I have been to shows and I always look at what the shower units look like. I have a small leak I cannot find. I have seen other manufacturers with one piece units, no seperation from walls and bottom unit in there trailers, so where will the condensation on the back of these units go? I also find that some of these units are fancy colors, compared to the old white things that keystone has.

richfaa · 07-06-2007, 02:35 AM

Old turbo..You have found them out..I posted that a long time ago.Many other brands including most all MH's have caulking every where and as you said..where does that condensation go..Keystone uses a "cost effective" shower stall and the " let water run between the walls" theory is the best they can do to prevent moisture.. How about a moisture barrier..or...green board..

Wrenchtraveller · 07-07-2007, 04:05 PM

This is what a drain looks like with plumbers putty. Any movement and putty will lose it's seal and weep water. I cleaned up mine and re installed it with silicone, a far superior product.
It provides flex and still seals because of it's great adhesion. I have lived in this house for 30 years and I plumbed it myself using silicone. A good plumber told me to use silicone under the sink and shower drains so even 30 years ago, plumbers putty was an outdated product. Hard to believe they still use it in 2007.
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f7...r/P1000092.jpg

rlwhit · 07-08-2007, 02:23 AM

Phil
There is a defect in the design of the garden tub. The side wall turn up is about an inch short of going all the way to the corner. The proper fix is to remove the stall frame and pull the wall peice out far enough to cover the gap with good caulk. Your unit is new enough that I would have a dealer do it. I think most units leak and the owner does not know it.

rlwhit · 07-08-2007, 02:40 AM

Here is a pic of the problem. If you look real hard there is a gap in the turn up.

illapah · 07-08-2007, 04:42 AM

How does one tet the wall loose? I see the 'plugs' that hold the shower wall on but don't know how to get them out.

illapah · 07-08-2007, 05:13 AM

My continuing saga. Wife just took shower after wall to tub caulked. Water still leaking. Now I am exploring the faucet. Noted a water drip there. Took faucet loose, the black thing under the faucet is plastic, not rubber as I thought. Will caulk with silicone today. Then see what happens. Hope leak is fixed with that!!!

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