Our 26DBH continues to leak

[jaclynhilgers]

We purchased our 2017 grey wolf 26DBH exactly one year ago. Among numerous other minor issues and craftsmanship issues our slide continues to take in water every time it's rains more than a sprinkle. We just pulled it out of storage and had our first big rain this week. It only leaks when the slide is in. The dealer has "fixed" it or done nothing about 5 times. They can't seem get it to leak and even water tested it when I was there. I believe when it's not quite level (as its parked on the road in front of our house) seems to be the problem but they just dismiss that and say that shouldn't matter. Which I agree, that shouldn't matter but it in our case it does! I just don't know what to do anymore. I'm so frustrated!

[doc73]

I do not know if it might have been you or another Cherokee owner that had a thread about this a bit ago.. But I had the same issues after about a year of ownership. I had water leaking in the same place along the top of the slide. I had two places for it to come in, in my mind.. The screws that hold the rain gutter in (had this leak on another TT) or the top seal of the slide.

A visual inspection of the seals looked like the caulking was good, I ran a hose on light mist over the sealant and got water, even though it looked good. As I did a bit more looking I found the water was actually coming from BEHIND the seals inside the camper. Tough to get in writing but it was running down from between the inner wiper seal and the inner wall of the camper. I had ASSUMED it was coming from under the seals.

I peeled off the old silicone looking stuff on the top and found the top seal was a two piece unit, an outer bulb seal with a "C" like channel on the rear and the inner "wiper" seal (the seal you are holding up with the ruler). The inner wiper seal had the corresponding reverse of the "c" to hold the bulb seal in place.

What I found was the wiper seal, while it in inside the TT, was actually just stapled the the OUTSIDE of the aluminum siding every 8 to 10 inches. No sealant between the rubber wiper seal and the uneven siding (due to the staples). SO the only thing keeping water was entering the trailer was the very thin bead of silicone type material they ran ONLY along the seam between the sidewall and the bulb seal once popped into the C channel.

I sealed the wiper seal then reinstalled the bulb seal and resealed this. A few days latter I came out and found it did not seam to bond well to the siding (not sure what I used). I re did this all over again and used Sika 221 and now 2 years later no more leak.

[jaclynhilgers]

Doc73 - thank you for the response! We will definately check to see how our wiper seal is attached. I've never believed it was a striaght forward void in the silicone. I'm even going to show this to our dealer.

[doc73]

Found a few photos of my seal repair

Ever so slight break in the sealant
[IMG]20151104_160329 by doc736, on Flickr[/IMG]

Lower seal is the bulb seal and the top is the wiper seal.
[IMG]20151104_160403 by doc736, on Flickr[/IMG]

All the sealant they used to keep the water out...
[IMG]20151104_160252 by doc736, on Flickr[/IMG]

[doc73]

Originally Posted by jaclynhilgers

Doc73 - thank you for the response! We will definately check to see how our wiper seal is attached. I've never believed it was a striaght forward void in the silicone. I'm even going to show this to our dealer.

Think we posted at the same time.. Added some pics from my findings from when I did the repair.

[smnavalley]

Originally Posted by jaclynhilgers

We purchased our 2017 grey wolf 26DBH exactly one year ago. Among numerous other minor issues and craftsmanship issues our slide continues to take in water every time it's rains more than a sprinkle. We just pulled it out of storage and had our first big rain this week. It only leaks when the slide is in. The dealer has "fixed" it or done nothing about 5 times. They can't seem get it to leak and even water tested it when I was there. I believe when it's not quite level (as its parked on the road in front of our house) seems to be the problem but they just dismiss that and say that shouldn't matter. Which I agree, that shouldn't matter but it in our case it does! I just don't know what to do anymore. I'm so frustrated!Attachment 135323Attachment 135324Attachment 135325Attachment 135326Attachment 135327

Hello there! So unfortunately I had the same issue you're having. Luckily (fingers crossed), it's been fixed. In addition to the local dealer, I got the factory involved. The last fix is a larger seal (exterior) on top of the slide. According to the dealer, they're using these large seals on their production line now. Here's some pics... I'm in a slight rush (trying to get the TT loaded for a trip this weekend). I'd be more that happy to chat with you about the ordeal I've been through in hopes it alleviates your current leak.

Lastly, that large ugly clear silicone in one of the pictures was removed and replaced after I unloaded on the local dealer on his lot in front of one of their customers

[K9 Lord]

Hi we also have a 2017 26dbh and have had the same issue. We have taken ours in four times due to it leaking and it still has not been fixed. When the slide is closed and it is raining, we have water that runs from underneath slide to the other side of the camper. One stream goes to the door by the kitchen and into the bedroom and another going towards the bathroom. Many things have been replaced and it continues to still leak when it rains. Dealership can't figure it out and we are beyond frustrated.

[gmmastertech1]

I also have a thread on this. Ours is 2017 23DBH and has the exact same leak with the slide closed. I have owned it for 10 weeks and the dealer has had it for 5 of those! For the same problem and they can't fix it either. They tell me it's fixed, I pick it up (over 2 hours each way), and find out it's still leaking when I get home!

[lozki]

Does slide box leak when in or out?

[lozki]

[QUOTE=lozki;1483501]Does slide box leak when in or out? Could be some silicone breaking free where the slide box screws into the wall, I've seen a lot of those leak when the slide box is in, also you always could put a slide box topper to prevent the rain from settling on top of the slide box

[smnavalley]

Can't speak for the original poster, but mine only leaks when the slide is in.

[VinceU]

Originally Posted by smnavalley

Can't speak for the original poster, but mine only leaks when the slide is in.

Every one thus far says slide in.

[gmmastertech1]

Yes, when in. And no offense by any means, but no way should any of us have to install a slide topper on to correct a condition that shouldn't be there. That's like putting a tarp on a leaking roof of your house to correct it

[Iwannacamp]

I don't have a dog in this fight, my opinion is fix with some guarantee of never fail from water damage or give me full credit on new RV. Enough is enough. The manufacturer obviously knows this is an issue.

[lozki]

Some say the schwintek slide out system just has a hole in it, being that you can't do any about it, I've seen lots of units like yours leaking same way

[jaclynhilgers]

There are plenty of us having the same slide issues that I think forest river needs to address this. I don't want to have to buy a topper to prevent a leak that shouldn't be happening in the first place. I was in contact with a FR customer service person last summer and he couldn't have cared less. I was so angry, to the point of tears, and he showed no compassion. I feel like there is no sympathy from FR or dealers. As if throwing down $20,xxx isn't a big deal and problems should be expected.

[jaclynhilgers]

What I found was the wiper seal, while it in inside the TT, was actually just stapled the the OUTSIDE of the aluminum siding every 8 to 10 inches. No sealant between the rubber wiper seal and the uneven siding (due to the staples). SO the only thing keeping water was entering the trailer was the very thin bead of silicone type material they ran ONLY along the seam between the sidewall and the bulb seal once popped into the C channel. [/QUOTE]

We checked into this and appears as though ours is sealed the same way yours was. I'm not sure we're gonna do it ourselves or bring it to the dealer. It's a 2hr drive one way and we could probably do a better job given their history of "fixing" things.

[doc73]

It was worth my day worth of time to know it was done right.

[mikakuja]

While I may agree with the statement "slides should have no leaks or issues so there should be no need for a topper", I disagree with the reasoning to not put one on.... The way I see it, a topper is just cheap insurance against inevitable leaks on a slide which lead to delamination or rot. The extra bonus of a topper is that when you bring the slide in during wet weather you don't have to screw around trying to dry the slide roof off once it's in, just the two side walls. The wiper seals never do a great job taking the water off the slide when bringing it in and I really don't need the extra moisture in the rv.

[Iwannacamp]

X2 I don't want one without toppers anyway...or never again