Uh-Oh - rotting wood

[frogblossum]

Well.....lots to learn about being first time rv owners. Bought a used 2009 Wildcat that looked to be barely used and in good shape. Here's the issue and any help is very appreciated.

The small bedroom slide gasket (the inside one) has come out of place. Had a trailer repairman come look at it and it must have been out a while because the floor is rotting .

We have several summer trips planned & paid for and none of the repair shops can get us in until the middle of June & then they estimate 3 weeks to repair it. One company said they'd take it now and work on it as they can.

My question: The gasket has to be repaired now. I know the wood needs to be replaced - but does it have to be now or can it wait until winter when we won't be using the trailer as much?

Also, in one of the posted pictures, the repairman said the black bar should be resting on the floor. Is that right? As it is now, it's lifted about 2 inches from the floor. It moves in and out well (except for the gasket getting in the way now).

We haven't even gotten to use the trailer yet and now it looks like we're in for a big bill. Lessons learned. Again, thanks for any advice...

Ellen

[MtnGuy]

I think I would just use the camper, and forget about the rot. Once you take care of the moisture, then the wood shouldn't rot any more. Dry it out as good as possible so there won't be a mold problem. By the looks of the photos, I don't think I would even fix it when winter comes.....it doesn't look all that bad.

[NWJeeper]

As water travels from top to bottom then the seal on the bottom would not be the cause of the failure but rather I would be looking for how the water would be getting in from above. The seal on the bottom is a wiper and is meant to wipe water off the slide when opened or closed. There is a gasket on the outer flange of the slide that makes contact with the side of the rig and compresses when closed. From your pictures that gasket appears to be fine.

As for the slide mechanism being on the floor, Ours on our bedroom slide looks much the same as yours and came from the factory that way. It has to be where it has to be in order for the slide to open level and close tightly. I would get a second oppinion. For sure the seal at the bottom should be fixed as it just shouldn't be that way but I don't think it is the cause of your water intrusion. Could be an improperly sealed window above the effected spot or a bad seam, just can't tell that from pictures. Get a hose out with a sprinkler and start running water on it from above and see if you can find where water might be coming in.

[Palomino_G210]

That gasket/wiper hanging down could be preventing the seal on the wall/flange of the slide from sealing against the trailer wall giving water a route to enter.