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Old 09-10-2024, 05:23 PM   #1
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Water leak over slide out—ideas?

I have been fighting with a water leak above my slide out. I have sealed the roof rain gutter, and the rain gutter above the slide. I have replaced all screws on rain gutters and added silicone to each hole. I have attached two pictures, one shows the outside top of slide, normally the rubber moulding on the slide out is flipped out when I have done my tests. The other picture shows part of the wall off so you can see where it was wet.
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Old 09-10-2024, 05:26 PM   #2
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It is only a little wet at the very bottom of the wall now.
I am assuming the most likely spot is water pooling on top of slide.

Assistance appreciated
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Old 09-10-2024, 07:11 PM   #3
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Part of the rubber gasket on the top of the slide out does not look pushed out.

I have a leak in my slide out when extended and suspect it’s from my top seal.
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Old 09-10-2024, 08:24 PM   #4
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Originally Posted by chrisski View Post
Part of the rubber gasket on the top of the slide out does not look pushed out.

I have a leak in my slide out when extended and suspect it’s from my top seal.
Yes, it is that way in the photo. As I mentioned in the original post, it was not like than when it leaked, I have been running the slide in and out to check the leak and have not bothered to fix the gasket for the photo, but I can assure you it was always out for the real tests.
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Old 09-11-2024, 04:44 AM   #5
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Would a slide topper help?
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Old 09-11-2024, 06:44 AM   #6
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I don't have a coach but... my slide also leaks a tiny bit.
I've discovered if I level side to side with the bubble not quite centered.
If the bubble is just touching the line where it puts that slide low by
a very small amount- it doesn't leak.
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Old 09-11-2024, 08:24 AM   #7
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Originally Posted by lcv800 View Post
Would a slide topper help?
Rusty
Yes, I am thinking of installing a topper. This is a destination trailer that doesn’t move, so looking to put a metal roof awning on all three slides. I wanted to fix the leak before doing that. Thanks
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Old 09-11-2024, 08:27 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KyDan View Post
I don't have a coach but... my slide also leaks a tiny bit.
I've discovered if I level side to side with the bubble not quite centered.
If the bubble is just touching the line where it puts that slide low by
a very small amount- it doesn't leak.
Excellent idea, unfortunately my signature below the post is incorrect, I sold the coach this summer. The leak is on a destination trailer, so levelling is very manual. By manual I mean getting under trailer with sledge hammer and adjusting the shims.

PS: can’t find where I can edit signature of profile.
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Old 09-11-2024, 08:51 AM   #9
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I have removed my old signature with the information about the Coach.
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Old 09-11-2024, 10:07 AM   #10
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So, if the dark spot on the lower part of the inner, exposed wall is what was wet, that corresponds with the position of the rain gutter on the outside. If the roof gutter was leaking then it should show dark up there too. Maybe I'm totally misinterpreting your photo/description.

You said you removed the screws and used Silicone. I hope not, as Silicone should not be used anywhere near a R/V. There are much better sealants to use on the sides of R/Vs such as Geocel 2300, ProFlex RV or Lexel. You may also need to remove ALL the screws and seal behind the gutter with a good bead of sealant along the screw hole line.
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Old 09-11-2024, 10:25 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 5picker View Post
So, if the dark spot on the lower part of the inner, exposed wall is what was wet, that corresponds with the position of the rain gutter on the outside. If the roof gutter was leaking then it should show dark up there too. Maybe I'm totally misinterpreting your photo/description.

You said you removed the screws and used Silicone. I hope not, as Silicone should not be used anywhere near a R/V. There are much better sealants to use on the sides of R/Vs such as Geocel 2300, ProFlex RV or Lexel. You may also need to remove ALL the screws and seal behind the gutter with a good bead of sealant along the screw hole line.
Completely agree with your analysis. Water is not coming from roof line.

I did use silicone, I removed one screw at a time and added a dab of silicone and re-inserted the screw with a new stainless steel screw. I also used silicone where the slide gutter meets up with aluminum siding of trailer. This work has drastically reduced the leak but not eliminated.

I am still getting a little wetness at the very bottom of the wall above the slide, and a little dampness on the carpet on one end of the slide.


This is leading me to believe water is coming in from top of slide.

Thanks for advice/assistance
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Old 09-11-2024, 04:04 PM   #12
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A long-shot guess.
Like windshield wipers, slide seals wear out. They get nicked at the crucial edge that makes contact with the roof, and they get stiff so contact is spotty. A nick could come from a small piece of debris left on the roof when the slide is retracted and before the slide "rolls over" during retraction. And, as many of us know all too well, stiffness comes with age.

If you haven't used a slide seal dressing, it's possible that the slide seals are giving up the ghost.

You also mentioned that the rig is a "destination" trailer...which suggests that the slide is seldom, if ever, retracted, and this means that the slide seal is never "exercised" (flexed back and forth). It also means that the seal is ALWAYS exposed...never covered by the slide surround and protected from the sun. I know you ran the slide in and out during your repair effort, but if you don't retract it when you leave after your stay, the seal is sticking out there like a sore thumb getting baked by the sun.

You suggest the leak may be coming from on top of the roof. That matches the assumption that the seal may be failing from age, lack of exercise, and just drying out. Water can sneak under it because it no longer seals.

You've done a bunch of work on other parts of the roof system, and they, too, were sources of leaks. I don't know the age of your rig, but, given all that you've done already, I'd take a very close look at that seal.

If you suspect the seal is failing, perhaps you could perform a test before you replace it. The tape for boat "shrink wraps" is amazing stuff. It's wide, so you could apply the tape to bridge the gap between the slide seal and the roof membrane, then test with a hose. If that stops or substantially reduces the remaining leak, the seal might be your problem.

Also...I agree with the suggestion to remove the gutter and renew the "caulk" behind the gutter and use better caulk in the screw holes. Perhaps also upsize the gutter screws from, say, #8 to #10 or #10 to #12,,,one size up from factory spec.

That's my hunch. For what it's worth.

PS. As KyDan suggests, definitely put a bubble level on the slide roof and check the roof pitch. The roof MUST pitch away from the main body of the rig, or water will dam up against the slide seal...making it all the more likely that water will find its way under the seal. If your slide roof pitches toward the main body of the camper, check your rig's level overall, and consider cheating the level to favor proper drainage. The roof on my slide has a pronounced pitch away from the main body of the camper. My slide actually appears to sag a bit, but that's how it's designed.
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