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10-13-2018, 12:52 PM
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#1
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New Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Starkville
Posts: 6
M.O.C. #21146
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Water/Moisture inside of plastic under electric slides
I have a 2018 3791RD model. The model has 5 slides, 2 hydraulic and 3 new style electric slides (not cable driven, but track driven). I include this info because I have a curious problem occurring I am not able to figure out. ONLY and ALL of the 3 electric style slides are experiencing leaks. I have no water coming inside of my RV. The plastic underneath the slides was sagging down and is sagging on many of these trailers I see, even new ones. Later on after owning the rv I was investigating the plastic to see how I could fix the sagging, only to find water/moisture inside. I drilled a small hole in the bottom of the sagging plastic and water trickled out of each slide. I have investigated every seam and even done some additional caulking, but when heavy rains occur, I still get water into the area. I do have slide toppers. It seems odd to me that it is occurring on all 3 slides that are designed with the electric system and not the hydraulic, so I thought it may be the tracking on the side of the slides. Caulked this area- still no luck. Additionally, I use my rv for work travel, and taking it in for warranty work is not really a option, so I am trying to mitigate the issue myself. Thoughts?
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10-13-2018, 01:28 PM
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#2
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: STAYTON
Posts: 1,118
M.O.C. #18157
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Could it possibly be condensation? It’s possible that the conditions would correlate to the temperature/humidity changes, especially if the inside is warm.
Mark
__________________
“Hard times create strong men, strong men create good times, good times create weak men, and weak men create hard times.”
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10-13-2018, 01:29 PM
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#3
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New Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Starkville
Posts: 6
M.O.C. #21146
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Photos of issue
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10-13-2018, 01:31 PM
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#4
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New Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Starkville
Posts: 6
M.O.C. #21146
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Hey mark, I have the A/C on 70 nearly all of the time so it is cool inside. However, I had the same thought as well. After the small holes were drilled in the bottom of each plastic piece, I had no moisture for a while so I thought it was condensation and the issues were fixed, however, after heavy rains I still get moisture in there.
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10-13-2018, 01:32 PM
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#5
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New Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Starkville
Posts: 6
M.O.C. #21146
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Sorry for the side-ways photos
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10-13-2018, 05:15 PM
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#6
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Hagerstown
Posts: 908
M.O.C. #16013
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what?
Have same camper, live in the northeast, we have had constant cloudy rainy days off and on for months with occasional sun shine this year. I checked mine and no sagging from water build up. Maybe just condensation build up or the seam at the bottom and wall intersection leaking that I have read more than once was causing a water problem and eventually rotted floor. Remember the other kitchen slides are much lower than the others heat will rise, guess I will start checking mine more than often now. Or since you have the A/c on all the time the floor inside and outside will be cooler than the air temps and it builds condensation with no air movement cause of the plastic cover? Would be nice to know the outcome of this.
__________________
2018.5 3791 Rear Den Montana, on the lake no 3rd A/C, Mini Split
Electric Brakes ..... Disk Brakes, it`s the only way
F350 Ford Dually 4:10`s w/bags (payload 5595 lbs) Sumo Springs 63 gal aux tank
Reese Goosebox Mor/Ryde SRE 4000 X Factors Monroe shocks.... real smooth ride
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10-13-2018, 07:18 PM
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#7
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: westminster md
Posts: 2,328
M.O.C. #17894
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You defiantly have a MAJOR issue here. That is not normal. I have an older 2011 model with 4 hydraulic slides. 3 of them have Darco (trap like material ) on the bottom and the bedroom slide has what I think you have on yours. My plastic is cracked in a few places to the point I can see bare wood. I have never noticed any moisture there.
I don't think your issue is a leak since 3 slides are doing the same thing. I would bet an extreme condensation issue. I would get that unit to a dealer ASAP before it becomes a really major issue and rots the slide floors. I would bet that has already started.
__________________
2018 Chevy 3500 LTZ Dually Diesel 4x4 CCLB
2011 Montana 3455 SA. 6 point level up. Disc brakes. Curt Q24 Hitch. 5 step glow steps
Progressive EMS. Valterra tank valves. Sailun G637 tires. ARP fridge control. All led lighting. Mor Ryde IS
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10-13-2018, 07:24 PM
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#8
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: westminster md
Posts: 2,328
M.O.C. #17894
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On another thought, Don't know where you are and if its hot and humid, but try turning off the a/c and opening all the windows and see if the issue lessens or disappears.
__________________
2018 Chevy 3500 LTZ Dually Diesel 4x4 CCLB
2011 Montana 3455 SA. 6 point level up. Disc brakes. Curt Q24 Hitch. 5 step glow steps
Progressive EMS. Valterra tank valves. Sailun G637 tires. ARP fridge control. All led lighting. Mor Ryde IS
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10-15-2018, 07:33 AM
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#9
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New Member
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: San Antonio
Posts: 3
M.O.C. #20933
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Just a quick thought, it could be a problem with the weather stripping on the top and side of the slides. The top weather strip should overlap the side weather strip. If the side overlaps the top, water can run down the sides inside the side weather strip, especially during a heavy rain.
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10-28-2018, 11:15 PM
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#10
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Omaha
Posts: 258
M.O.C. #17319
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We have a 2010 Montana Mountaineer with 3 hydraulic slides. All 3 slides had 4" rubber roof tape where the top of the slide meets the outside flange. Under this tape, about 3 inches from the flange is a roundhead screw. The screws were about 10 inches apart. When the tape was installed at the factory, they rolled over the top of the tape with a roller. Each time the roller went over a screw, it left a V shaped air pocket between the screw and the flange. This was on the big 16 foot off door slide in the living area and on the entertainment slide on the door side. The tape on the bedroom slide was sealed down fine with no air pockets. I removed the tape on 16 foot slide and on the entertainment slide and replaced with 6" wide rubber roof tape which I got from my dealer. The old tape didn't come up easy - I had to roll it with my thumbs to get it off and almost peeled the skin off my thumbs. I put the new tape down and rolled it with a J roller. No air pockets. I did this in 2012 and have had no leaks. My unit was only 2 years old when I did this and some of the air pockets had dirt and stains in the air pockets which I had to clean up.
You might want to check under those slide toppers and see if you have any air pockets in your tape.
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10-31-2018, 06:23 PM
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#11
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Islip Terrace
Posts: 405
M.O.C. #22165
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We have had a similar leak in our 381, in order for water to get there it has to get between the exterior cladding & substrate. The first attempt by the dealer was unsuccessful, I went over every seam & joint, I concluded it was leaking through the side slide out window. I sealed the exterior of the window frame with silicone & it hasn't leaked since, I plan to remove the window & reseal it properly, hope this helps you.
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10-31-2018, 06:27 PM
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#12
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Islip Terrace
Posts: 405
M.O.C. #22165
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I also sealed the glass to the weatherstripping so i am not sure yet which path the water took, but until I remove it & can inspect it better currently its not leaking. Does yours leak when the slide is closed? Or both, ours only leaked with the slide out.
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11-09-2018, 08:55 PM
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#13
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Established Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Jackson
Posts: 31
M.O.C. #21134
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2018 3561 RL - similar issue found today. Electric bedroom slide had moisture about 2 inches up the walls and the carpet was wet where the floor meets the walls. Got down to around 32 last night and had rained a couple days prior. First time we noticed this and we have been on extended trip since June 1st. If it's condensation then the 4 season package good to 0 degrees is B.S. Think I'll caulk the slide tracks and around the side window frames and see what happens.
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11-11-2018, 08:23 PM
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#14
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Islip Terrace
Posts: 405
M.O.C. #22165
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob & Debbie
2018 3561 RL - similar issue found today. Electric bedroom slide had moisture about 2 inches up the walls and the carpet was wet where the floor meets the walls. Got down to around 32 last night and had rained a couple days prior. First time we noticed this and we have been on extended trip since June 1st. If it's condensation then the 4 season package good to 0 degrees is B.S. Think I'll caulk the slide tracks and around the side window frames and see what happens.
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There is no down side to caulking the windows, good luck.
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05-12-2019, 03:46 AM
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#15
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Established Member
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Somersworth
Posts: 33
M.O.C. #5794
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Mine really got bad and plywood is indeed in bad shape. Don’t know what to do.
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05-12-2019, 08:10 AM
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#16
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Montana Master
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Milwaukie, OR
Posts: 1,580
M.O.C. #23668
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I think the windows are a great place to start to investigate water penetration. Seals around roof joints are also good. If there's water where it shouldn't be then a seal somewhere isn't performing.
RV's are built with a single line of defense against water. Anything that penetrates the roofing material or wall (like a vent or a door or window) creates a necessary weakness in the exterior barrier. The single application of caulk or tape to keep the water out is all there is. If it isn't properly applied at the factory, or if it fails, there is no redundancy to manage water back out at there typically is in S&B construction.
A good cap-bead around the slider side windows will help but is a temporary fix. A removal and good re-seal of the window frame is your best bet. If you pull the window you will likely see where the water penetrated if that's the culprit.
__________________
Jeff & Sandi (and Teddy - 7lb Schnorkie)
2018 Montana HC 305RL / HW Progressive EMS
2015 RAM 3500 Laramie Longhorn Crew Cab 4x4 DRW / Demco Recon Hitch on RAM Puck Ball
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05-12-2019, 11:08 AM
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#17
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Montana Master
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Kansas City, Missouri
Posts: 2,727
M.O.C. #7992
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My neighbor had a similar problem with his Flagstaff. After much investigation the dealer figured out the windows were installed backwards. The weep holes were on the inside of the 5'er. May not be your problem but it is something pretty easy to check.
__________________
2006 3000RK
2009 Ram 2500
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05-12-2019, 02:05 PM
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#18
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Islip Terrace
Posts: 405
M.O.C. #22165
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I removed & resealed every baggage compartment frame, not one had anything but a thin bead of silicone which broke from the lack of fasteners holding the frame in. When you would close the doors you could see the frame move,now they all have butyl tape, enough fasteners & a bead of silicone, no more leaks. One by one I am removing & resealing each window, theres no down side just time & I feel better knowing they are properly sealed. if you still cant find the source of the leak you should see about pressure testing, you will throw up when you see how many leaks there are, some critical some not, but still a leak. If you have an electric or cordless leaf blower you could check it yourself with a pump sprayer of soapy water.
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