Black streaks on interior ceiling

[gjetzen]

OK everyone here is a strange one. the DW and I just made a month long trip to Fla. Upon arrival and after set up I noticed some black streaks on the interior ceiling, just like what you would find on your TV wheel openings after going through a mud puddle. They were black like road grime and wiped right off. I didn't think much of it at the time. When we got home and opened up the slides there they were again only worse, again they wiped right off. It did rain a bit both down and back. The unit is a 3295rk so it has 3 slides. there is no issue with the bed room slide. The other 2 slides are long. I would guess the street side is 16ft and the curb side is 14ft. Both slides "appear" to close tightly. I was wondering if they may be out of adjustment slightly and not closing tight enough at the top, or is the seal at the top bad. Anyone out there ever have this problem?

[Bill-N-Donna]

It sounds like some kind of air leak around the edge
of the slide that may be helping to spray some moisture
on the ceiling. The black may possibly be coming off the
edge of the seals. I really don’t have a clue but just guessing.

[bncinwv]

Bill may be correct with the air leak. Older models have been know to experience some sag on the roof portion of the larger slides. A good visual inspection with a ladder and a garden hose may reveal clues as to what is actually happening.
Bingo

[HOOK]

Do you have slide toppers? If not, it could be from dirt or debris on top of the slides. Saw a man roll into Camping World last week with so much stuff on top of his slides that it was standing up above the top of the edges of the slides. Sticks ,twigs , leaves and debris will get between thw top of the slides and the seals and cause leaks.

[gjetzen]

Tried a good soaking with the water hose around the slide seals. it revealed nothing. Not a drop of water inside. but I'm thinking that the wind at 60 mph is forcing the water past the seals somehow. Is there a way to tell if the slides need to be adjusted they seem to be tight enough at the top but I'm not sure, and the seals seem to be in good condition. Thanks Bill and Bingo for your input.

[gjetzen]

Larry, No I do not have slide toppers, but I swept the tops of the slides off before closing it up because I was parked under an oak tree that was dropping acorns and leaves. I guess I could have missed something. While its open I will climb up on the roof and make sure that there is nothing wedged under the seals. Thanks Larry.

[tweber502]

Walter, just grabbing here but is your roof vent open in the living/kitchen area? If it is, then during travel could that cause a negative pressure inside the rv forcing air in around the slide seals?
I hate to answer a question with a question but just a thought. If this is possible then the air could enter through the place with least resistance which could be around the slides. Tim

[gjetzen]

Thanks for the input Tim. I will check that, sounds possible but I guess anything is. This is the first trip in 8 almost 9 years of ownership/trips that something weird has happened without any obvious clues.

[drknapp]

We have had the same happen in ours a couple of times (we don't have slide toppers). I finally figured it was from when the top of the slides was still wet near the wiper seals that are around each slide. When you run the slides in the wiper seal flips direction and flings stuff up on the ceiling if any moisture remains around it.

[8.1al]

drknapp nailed it, if you have a little dirty water on the top of the slide when it is coming in the seal flips inward and flings it on the ceiling. We had that happen and it drove us nuts trying to figure it out

[gjetzen]

Hey everyone thanks for all the input.