SV235RS slide leak issue

[wbrichar]

Greetings, I am new to the forums! We are the proud owners of an SV235RS. Just got back from a 4 nite road trip. We experienced a leak issue our 3rd nite out:

It started raining pretty heavy about 3am one morning and continued such that I had to break camp in the rain. When I started to pull the rear slider in all of a sudden from the left side it looked like someone was pouring water out of a jug! (of course I put the slider back out) I'd estimate a bit over a gallon spilled into the camper.

The camper was relatively level when this happened. Once we got home I checked the rubber seals and didn't find any damage.

I would greatly appreciate any advice on this issue. We have had the camper out in the rain before but it was lighter rain.

[bikendan]

i would advise you to tilt the trailer back before bringing in the slide.
since no one makes a slide topper for rear slide trailers, you'll have to assume that the wiper seal may push the water to one side or the other, if the trailer is level.

[acadianbob]

I'm guessing that you had a bunch of pooled water sitting on top of the slide. When you brought it in, it ran into the interior. The slide does tip down in back when you first run it in. You might want to leave it in that position for a minute to drain as much water as possible from the top of the slide.

[MOD Guy]

Originally Posted by bikendan

i would advise you to tilt the trailer back before bringing in the slide.
since no one makes a slide topper for rear slide trailers, you'll have to assume that the wiper seal may push the water to one side or the other, if the trailer is level.

x2.
I always keep ours 1/4 bubble high in the front. Water can and will get under the outer top edge of the slide "seal" when the slide is out. It is more of a flap than a seal. When water runs down the sides, it can be held by suface tension and run on the underside, back toward the camper, and possibly get past the rubber flap on the underside. Guess how I know

I have never been able to find a slide topper to fit, so I carry a compact folding ladder
5' Compact Folding Step Ladder - GP Logistics SLD-S5 - Ladders - Camping World.

This is tall enough for me to reach the slide roof from each side to make sure it is dry (beach towel) and to make sure there is no tree debris before I pull it in. If the roof is wet, I make sure to get the towel under the seal/flap edge all the way around.

[wbrichar]

Many thanks for the replies. Yes, was a Noah's flood kind of rain. We'll now carry a ladder like MOD guy suggests along with some extra towels and maybe a squeegee on a stick. And, our break camp procedure will now have a step for tilting all the way back (if rain)

Thankfully, she's all dried out now and no damage.

[bikendan]

yep, that's one of the negatives of rear slide models.
for some reason, slide topper manufacturers ignore this market.

[wbrichar]

I wonder if some aftermarket kit is available that would address this.

I was just at the service counter at the RV dealer and they basically blew me off when I questioned them on what could be done.

Imagine - say you bought my 235rs new and took it out right away and had this happen.... Were it me, the dealer would have had the thing back on his lot as a return. Its amazing to know that Forest River would tolerate such a design flaw.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by wbrichar

Its amazing to know that Forest River would tolerate such a design flaw.

this is an issue with all rear slide TT's, no matter who the manufacturer is.
i've seen the same issue with the Keystone Outback trailers, the best selling rear slide TT's