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Old 05-09-2014, 07:09 AM   #1
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 10,505
Leaking clearance lights

A current discussion about tiny bubbles on an interior ceiling found here-
http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...tml#post607201 reminded me about my problem.

I had/have bubbles on an interior wall near the top in the rear.
I discovered that several clearance lights were leaking.
Unless they have changed-- these clearance lights have a tiny notch in
one side of the base where the lens snaps onto the base.
This notch is supposedly to let any water that manages to get inside leak
out the notch. This notch should be facing DOWN when installed.
The problem seemed to be that when my trailer was built they didn't
pay any attention to orientation of that drain notch.
My clearance lights and marker lights both the high ones and the ones
along the sides on all corners were just randomly installed.
About half of them were right side up and half upside down.
The installer obviously just grabbed each one and slapped in on there.

They were well caulked where the base met the wall but the lens leaked
and that water was able to half fill the lens and then enter tru the wiring hole!!

I removed each lens and saw obvious high water marks half way up
on several
The strange thing was this high water mark appeared in lights that
were right side up (notch on the bottom) the same as those with the notch on the top.
My fix was to remove each lens and clean the dirty inside and rim and then
carefully apply a thin bead of caulk all
the way around the rim of the base so the lens is caulked in place.
I believe this has stopped them from leaking.
Also the front top clearance bases had only been caulked along the
top and sides. This would supposedly let water that got behind the
base leak out the bottom. When I'm driving in rain the hurricane wind
hitting the front of my trailer forces the rain to run UP the front of my
trailer so it was getting UP under these top 5 lights!
I sealed them all the way around AND then sealed the lenses in place.

This process took at most a couple hours but it NEEDED to be done.
Just a heads up to you all.
IF you pull off a clearance/marker lens and see a dirty water line inside-
you need to seal it!!
Several of mine also had rusty mounting screws- another sign they were
leaking.
You can use clear caulk but I used white because that's what I had.
I used a thin bead around the rim of the base and you have to look
VERY closely to see it's white and not clear. Can't tell at all from
a few feet away. (Remember the bases are white.)

Happy Camping!
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Dan & Rita D
2017 Nissan Titan 5.6L King cab 4wd
2016 Evergreen Everlite 242RBS
29' empty nest model. Blue Ox WD hitch
(1 queen bed, large main cabin and huge bathroom)
Camping days 2010-53, 2011-47, 2012-41, 2013-41, 2014-31, 2015-40, 2016-44, 2017-63, 2018-75, 2019-32, 2020-41, 2021-49, 2022-43, 2023-66
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Old 05-09-2014, 07:23 AM   #2
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Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Full Timing in South Louisiana
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I just drilled a small weep hole in the bottom side of every lens. Problem solved.
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John and Rebecca Dickson
Emma-7 / Little John-5 / Iva-1
Full Timing Again, Rev B
2013 Ford F-350 Lariat CC LB PSD
2015 SOB TT - With OC's Awning Poles (#8)
At least in Heaven, RVs will be perfect, and I won't have to keep fixing them.
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Old 05-09-2014, 07:39 AM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BigJohnD View Post
I just drilled a small weep hole in the bottom side of every lens. Problem solved.
The notch IS a weep hole but my lights were still retaining water.
I decided to go ahead and make them waterproof as much as possible.
I found water marks in lights that had the weep notch in the bottom
as well as those with the notch on top.
YMMV
__________________
Peace!
Dan & Rita D
2017 Nissan Titan 5.6L King cab 4wd
2016 Evergreen Everlite 242RBS
29' empty nest model. Blue Ox WD hitch
(1 queen bed, large main cabin and huge bathroom)
Camping days 2010-53, 2011-47, 2012-41, 2013-41, 2014-31, 2015-40, 2016-44, 2017-63, 2018-75, 2019-32, 2020-41, 2021-49, 2022-43, 2023-66
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Old 05-09-2014, 08:30 AM   #4
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Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Full Timing in South Louisiana
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Totally understand. I considered doing the same as you had, but had an 1/8 inch bit and drill handy. From what I could tell on my lights, there wasn't really any way for the water to get out at all. I only had 1 side marker light, that had obviously got water into the hole with the wiring, as that's where the water / dirt mark stopped. All others were fine, but like you, didn't want to take a chance. I might go back and seal up the hole where the wires come through.
__________________
John and Rebecca Dickson
Emma-7 / Little John-5 / Iva-1
Full Timing Again, Rev B
2013 Ford F-350 Lariat CC LB PSD
2015 SOB TT - With OC's Awning Poles (#8)
At least in Heaven, RVs will be perfect, and I won't have to keep fixing them.
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