3011DS bedroom water damage rear wall

[Homer Vista]

I just bought my 2020 3011DS and it had an independant inspection. Regretfully, the damn guy never noticed the water damage in the bedroom on the back wall next to the wardrobe and next to the window. There is no damage next to or around the window so I preliminarily ruled that out. I did find a hole in the Dicor around the right ladder flange on the roof, but after scraping all of the Dicor away on both flanges there is no evidence of water. Roof seal integrity all looks intact. Where else can the water have come from? Nothing underneath but empty cargo space that is all dry. The damage is about 18x18 from knee to floor abutting the wardrobe and theres no damage inside the wardrobe on that rear wall. I'll be tearing it apart in the next week to repair. I also intend to seal around all ladder flanges just in case. Thanks!

[kenandterry]

Can’t say I’m impressed with your inspector, as you found this problem on your own.

Not being familiar with your exact layout, are the clearance lights anywhere, and I mean anywhere, near the area of concern? Remember, water damage can be evident quite a distance from it’s source, as it travels from start to finish.

Over the years, there have been reports of water intrusion at the clearance lights as their seal weathers.

[Homer Vista]

Originally Posted by kenandterry

Can’t say I’m impressed with your inspector, as you found this problem on your own.

Not being familiar with your exact layout, are the clearance lights anywhere, and I mean anywhere, near the area of concern? Remember, water damage can be evident quite a distance from it’s source, as it travels from start to finish.

Over the years, there have been reports of water intrusion at the clearance lights as their seal weathers.

I have the standard marker lights up at the top with the integrated backup camera, but I'll definitely examine those more closely. Thanks!

[Homer Vista]

Sorry, I can't insert an image from my Google Pics link... I finally pulled off some wallpaper and there's a lot of rot & mold below and right of the window. Has anyone removed that window? It looks like a beast to do...

[Homer Vista]

Originally Posted by kenandterry

Can’t say I’m impressed with your inspector, as you found this problem on your own.

This is an understatement!

[Homer Vista]

Let's try this with a (sideways) picture... good grief...

[kenandterry]

Looks like you found some of your problem.

BTW….Now that you know how to post photos, turn your camera (iPad of cellphone) sideways to take landscape photos, versus upright portfolio photos.

Make the photos wider than taller, then they usually post correctly on the forum.

[BehindBars]

Originally Posted by kenandterry

Looks like you found some of your problem.

BTW….Now that you know how to post photos, turn your camera (iPad of cellphone) sideways to take landscape photos, versus upright portfolio photos.

Make the photos wider than taller, then they usually post correctly on the forum.

In addition, if you are using an iPhone in landscape mode, put the shutter button on your right if you want proper orientation.

Originally Posted by Homer Vista

Let's try this with a (sideways) picture... good grief...

Or you can just quickly put the photo in an editor and rotate it before you post, as I have done for your photo:

[Homer Vista]

I removed the wallpaper and Luan. What's with the sheet metal? It seems to serve no purpose that I can see. One small piece was just floating in there attached superficially to the Luan. Got a mobile glass place coming in 10 days to pull the window, clean everything, re-seal and reinstall. Next week I'm going to pull all styrofoam, clean everything and wait to see what the window looks like after removal before I replace everything. What pathetic workmanship!

[kenandterry]

Originally Posted by Homer Vista

I removed the wallpaper and Luan. What's with the sheet metal? It seems to serve no purpose that I can see. One small piece was just floating in there attached superficially to the Luan. Got a mobile glass place coming in 10 days to pull the window, clean everything, re-seal and reinstall. Next week I'm going to pull all styrofoam, clean everything and wait to see what the window looks like after removal before I replace everything. What pathetic workmanship!

Are you the original owner of this Forester 3011?
This sure looks like someone made some hack repair since the assembly line.
RV build quality has been a sore point for a very very long time, but this looks worse than the public has discovered.

[Homer Vista]

Originally Posted by kenandterry

Are you the original owner of this Forester 3011? This sure looks like someone made some hack repair since the assembly line. RV build quality has been a sore point for a very very long time, but this looks worse than the public has discovered.

I am the 2nd owner. It only had 4000 miles on it and the seller was adamant that they did nothing at all to the RV. I suspected some sort of repair at the factory that they simply covered up. Built June 2020 so beginning of Covid mess. I plan on removing all materials from that area prior to window removal to thoroughly examine everything. Good thing I'm very handy, but disappointing nonetheless. Thanks!

[Duckogram]

Viewing from the cheap seats, what makes you think the water penetration is coming from the window?

I see no evidence to support that opinion. What I do see is evidence of wicking. Your photos appear to show the water stain on the luan and interior foam along with mold emanating from the floor. The source is unknown however it is possible for water to travel along the joint where the wall meets the floor.
The “sheet metal” aka GSP is assembled within the walls before the walls are set on the platform. They are used as backers to mount heavy items such as TV’s, Rear ladders and cabinetry.

When my unit was new, one of the first things I did was to run a bead of lexel along the base of EVERYTHING that was wood (real or manufactured) that touched the vinyl. Saved a lot of cabinetry and wallboards over the years.

YMMV

[billcrews81]

Originally Posted by Duckogram

Viewing from the cheap seats, what makes you think the water penetration is coming from the window?

I see no evidence to support that opinion. What I do see is evidence of wicking. Your photos appear to show the water stain on the luan and interior foam along with mold emanating from the floor. The source is unknown however it is possible for water to travel along the joint where the wall meets the floor.
The “sheet metal” aka GSP is assembled within the walls before the walls are set on the platform. They are used as backers to mount heavy items such as TV’s, Rear ladders and cabinetry.

When my unit was new, one of the first things I did was to run a bead of lexel along the base of EVERYTHING that was wood (real or manufactured) that touched the vinyl. Saved a lot of cabinetry and wallboards over the years.

YMMV

Agree,, no staining at all at the window corner and really bad at the bottom, looks to be wicking up. have you had someone soak the window and check for leaks? I found mold once in the front of a Mallard in the storage area and the leak was nearly 10 feet away coming from the water heater and slowing migrating to the low point. looks almost like your back up lights may be seeping and puddling on the floor and wicking up... But these are the cheap seats.. and Those cabinets might need removing also.

[Homer Vista]

Originally Posted by Duckogram

Viewing from the cheap seats, what makes you think the water penetration is coming from the window? I see no evidence to support that opinion. What I do see is evidence of wicking. Your photos appear to show the water stain on the luan and interior foam along with mold emanating from the floor. The source is unknown however it is possible for water to travel along the joint where the wall meets the floor. The “sheet metal” aka GSP is assembled within the walls before the walls are set on the platform. They are used as backers to mount heavy items such as TV’s, Rear ladders and cabinetry. YMMV

Originally Posted by billcrews81

Agree... no staining at all at the window corner and really bad at the bottom, looks to be wicking up. have you had someone soak the window and check for leaks?

I hear what you're both saying. Where that finger-sized hole is in the foam is all wet on top of the bottom sheet, and that seam is directly below the corner of the window. My hypothesis is that water is running down from that corner straight down the seam to the floor as well as migrating horizontally along the other seam towards the wardrobe. Make no mistake, I will be ripping it all out and investigating further before the window removal appointment. As a side note, the RV was stored in their driveway, which sloped front and slightly passenger side. CarFax was clean and they are adamant that the RV has never been in the shop for repairs with only 4000 miles on it. Any guess how long this may have been going on? Thanks!

[billcrews81]

Originally Posted by Homer Vista

I hear what you're both saying. Where that finger-sized hole is in the foam is all wet on top of the bottom sheet, and that seam is directly below the corner of the window. My hypothesis is that water is running down from that corner straight down the seam to the floor as well as migrating horizontally along the other seam towards the wardrobe. Make no mistake, I will be ripping it all out and investigating further before the window removal appointment. As a side note, the RV was stored in their driveway, which sloped front and slightly passenger side. CarFax was clean and they are adamant that the RV has never been in the shop for repairs with only 4000 miles on it. Any guess how long this may have been going on? Thanks!

Good luck to you, that suxs that you'll spend half the summer repairing it. Similar thing happened to me on my last buy. Hopefully you dont have to keep it at a storage facility and can work it all from home.

[Homer Vista]

Originally Posted by billcrews81

Good luck to you, that suxs that you'll spend half the summer repairing it. Similar thing happened to me on my last buy. Hopefully you dont have to keep it at a storage facility and can work it all from home.

In July we're moving into this unit full-time for 3 years... gotta get it fixed!

[Duckogram]

Originally Posted by Homer Vista

I hear what you're both saying. Where that finger-sized hole is in the foam is all wet on top of the bottom sheet, and that seam is directly below the corner of the window. My hypothesis is that water is running down from that corner straight down the seam to the floor as well as migrating horizontally along the other seam towards the wardrobe. Make no mistake, I will be ripping it all out and investigating further before the window removal appointment. As a side note, the RV was stored in their driveway, which sloped front and slightly passenger side.

Just a thought. Since the window has no corner another possibility is that the water may be running down the aluminum tube frame. It is even possible for the water to be penetrating the tubing via a screw hole, then running to the end and down where the sill frame meets the vertical frame which is a corner. Water seeks the lowest point but if the unit was parked tilted to the right front then to have the leak on the left rear narrows down the point of entry. Also consider that the water could be running down the inside of the outer wall which is adzel and would not be damaged, to the seam you indicated had water on the top, and then in from there.

As far as how long for the wall to look like that depends on where the unit was parked. That info is not available from Secret Squirrel but if it was in Florida, about a week.

I agree that disassembly will be required to fix it. The window would have to come out anyway so you can get the new wall behind it.

We full timed in our 2800 here in FL when we were homeless a la Hurricane Irma. It was not a problem for 2 Adults and 1 fur kid.

[Homer Vista]

Originally Posted by Duckogram

Just a thought. Since the window has no corner another possibility is that the water may be running down the aluminum tube frame. It is even possible for the water to be penetrating the tubing via a screw hole, then running to the end and down where the sill frame meets the vertical frame which is a corner. Water seeks the lowest point but if the unit was parked tilted to the right front then to have the leak on the left rear narrows down the point of entry. Also consider that the water could be running down the inside of the outer wall which is adzel and would not be damaged, to the seam you indicated had water on the top, and then in from there.

As far as how long for the wall to look like that depends on where the unit was parked. That info is not available from Secret Squirrel but if it was in Florida, about a week.

I agree that disassembly will be required to fix it. The window would have to come out anyway so you can get the new wall behind it.

We full timed in our 2800 here in FL when we were homeless a la Hurricane Irma. It was not a problem for 2 Adults and 1 fur kid.

Thanks again, Duck. It was parked in San Jose, CA and now resides in Phoenix, where it's already hot & dry. I examined all roof sealant and there are no visible signs of comprimise. Next steps are to rip out the damaged materials inside, hose the window and look for leaks, pull the window and examine and reseal/reinstall, remove and seal all marker lights at roof line and seal around all ladder flanges on the rear (roof already done). Anything else you can think of? It'll be me, wife & 2 young 15 pound cats that have never travelled :-(

[billcrews81]

Originally Posted by Homer Vista

Thanks again, Duck. It was parked in San Jose, CA and now resides in Phoenix, where it's already hot & dry. I examined all roof sealant and there are no visible signs of compromise. Next steps are to rip out the damaged materials inside, hose the window and look for leaks, pull the window and examine and reseal/reinstall, remove and seal all marker lights at roof line and seal around all ladder flanges on the rear (roof already done). Anything else you can think of? It'll be me, wife & 2 young 15 pound cats that have never travelled :-(

Will you be documenting with Video your Repair? Maybe a Youtube upload?

[Homer Vista]

Originally Posted by billcrews81

Will you be documenting with Video your Repair? Maybe a Youtube upload?

Yes to both... already started, but there will be a bunch of editing... stay tuned... I can barely influence my wife, let alone a community