23IKSS Water Leak While Towing

[mbabineau]

We purchased a new 2015 23IKSS this spring. Friends of ours purchased the same model. We both towed our campers through a rainstorm over the forth of July weekend. When we arrived and opened the slide, both of our campers had a puddle of water on the floor near the dinnette. Water appears to be finding its way in around the bottom slide seal over the roadside tires. I have an appointment at our dealer's service department next week.

Anyone else having a similar issue? Given the fact it happened to both campers this could be a design/manufdacturing defect.

[drhroo]

It appears others have had this problem - posted on a recent thread. We'll need to understand this before we commit. We like this model but will need to be fully assured that it won't happen for us.

[KMP44]

Originally Posted by mbabineau

Anyone else having a similar issue? Given the fact it happened to both campers this could be a design/manufdacturing defect.

Got any pictures of the area where it leaked? We've towed ours in countless rain storms - never any leaks. Curious what the bottom seal looks like.

[ficksters]

23ikss owner here who has talked extensively to the dealer. Most likely it is coming from the kitchen slide since it doesn't lower down like the dinette and couch slide does. Look on the side of the kitchen slide and you will see the track that moves the slide in and out. Water can come in the channel above the zig zag track or on the zig zag track. That's what was communicated to me by the dealer and supposedly it's a known deal on the ikss because of the kitchen slide.


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[drhroo]

Originally Posted by ficksters

23ikss owner here who has talked extensively to the dealer. Most likely it is coming from the kitchen slide since it doesn't lower down like the dinette and couch slide does. Look on the side of the kitchen slide and you will see the track that moves the slide in and out. Water can come in the channel above the zig zag track or on the zig zag track. That's what was communicated to me by the dealer and supposedly it's a known deal on the ikss because of the kitchen slide.


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Known deal meaning something they can fix or meaning that we're stuck with it? Is it something they will fix in the new models? (Just hoping that they would have offered a bit more insight on a fix.)

[KMP44]

Originally Posted by ficksters

Water can come in the channel above the zig zag track or on the zig zag track

While driving with the slide closed? The entire track would be inside the trailer at that point.

[RooVader]

Yeah I am confused as to what the track would have to do with anything unless you mean pulling it in while raining. I have done that a dozen times with the same type of slide and have not seen any issues and I see these types of slides everywhere on various campers.

Could it have something to do with the proximity of the slide to the wheels and maybe wheels spinning water up underneath? Maybe if that seal isn't tight it would perpetually shoot water at the seal? My slide is more in front of the wheels but I sure haven't seen this and I have been towing in a ton of rain.

[mbabineau]

I should have been more specific. The leak is on the dinnette/sofa slide. The water was discovered once we arrived at our destination after towing through a rainstorm. When we opened the dinnette/sofa slide there was a puddle of water on the floor by the dinnette. The carpet was also wet. This area is directly over the tires. The bottom seal for this slide attached to the coach and wipes the bottom of the slide unit. When the slide is out, the seal make a tight fit to the slide because the slide drops down when its fully extended. When it's brought all the way in it raises above the floor. The bottom seal at this point is barely making contact with the slide and in fact over the tires it doesn't appear to be touching the slide at all. Our friends bought their Roo at the same time, same model, same year (2015)and had the exact same problem. Water flying off the tires at 60 mph will find its way over this seal. I have not noticed any problem with the kitchen slide which is a completely different design.

If older model years do not have this problem I wondering if there wasn't a design or materials change.

It's going back to the dealer on Monday. I'll post any updates!

[RooVader]

Ohhh, gotcha! That makes more sense. I would think the 23ss or any super slide models would have this same issue. I am just surprised it hasn't come up more often but your explanation makes a lot of sense. Thanks!

[KMP44]

Originally Posted by mbabineau

If older model years do not have this problem I wondering if there wasn't a design or materials change.

Picture of your bottom seal??

[Jimandchris]

Originally Posted by RooVader

Ohhh, gotcha! That makes more sense. I would think the 23ss or any super slide models would have this same issue. I am just surprised it hasn't come up more often but your explanation makes a lot of sense. Thanks!

I need to verify but our 2014 23ss, the actual slide is above the wheel well and is not part of it. Will check it though.

[mbabineau]

I'm new to this forum. How do you post a picture

[Davylee]

I have a 23SS and only had that happen once.

[DK-in-SC]

I'm glad this thread was started. I've been maintaining my seals but never knew there was a bottom seal. Sigh....
We've never had a leak like the one described but we've only had a few rainstorms while towing. I am looking at them now and do see how it could happen. On our kitchen slide here is the seal:



If you notice those four marks, they correspond to these wires and gas lines:



I can see how those things and the L shaped aluminum brackets could create a gap in the seal which would allow water to penetrate.

On the couch/dinette slide, again I see where the seal is deformed a little:



Which matches up to this on the slide:



There is also some foam right above the back tire at the back edge of the slide.



I'd check all these spots on yours to see if you can determine the entry point. Hope this helps.


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[Kanga99]

My 2015 23IKSS is at the dealer right now for this and a few more minor warranty issues after a 4200 mile 18 day maiden voyage in July. We got caught driving in the rain a few times and had water under both slides. The carpet is ruined and I am concerned about the floor of the slides themselves. The dealer claims they have it all sealed up. We will see. I will report back but it is a very sporadic thing (I normally don't go camping when rain is forecast).