T2363 Water Leak Help

JaredB · 03-05-2012, 06:28 AM

Good Morning Everyone,

I know its been a while since I last posted, but I hope all is well. I thought I'd ask the more knowledgeable people here to get some insight on a water leak in my T2363. I spent most of yesterday looking for the source but to no avail.

To give you a little background. The carpet and sub floor is wet in the front non-door side storage compartment (under the kitchen counter top adjacent to the couch). It is about a one foot square area. The wall paneling and cabinetry is solid and shows no water staining which would indicate where the leak originated. The camper is parked on a slight incline, with this corner being the lowest, so water is funneled to this side.

I looked at the roof as well as window above the storage compartment, but didn't find any gaps in the caulking that would allow water to enter. The only crack I found was in the butyl tap at the top of the storage compartment. I did caulk it; however, I find it hard to believe the water is entering here. The reason being, the wood framing around the door shows no evidence of water.

Does anyone have any thoughts as to where the leak could be? I have put some photos below of the area. It is pretty much dry now, but I obviously want to get it fixed. Also, I can take more photos, but I only snapped two on my way to work this morning.

Thanks in advance.

MACK C-85 · 03-05-2012, 09:01 AM

Do a light check on the door. At night, place a light in the compartment and close/lock the door. Look for light showing anywhere between the frame and the side of the trailer, also between the door and frame. I had a leak like this that drove me crazy (I had pulled the frame and replaced the putty, and replaced the door seals twice) until someone here suggested this test. It was immediately apparent that the door had been bent in an attempt to break in. I was able to gently bend the door until there was no more light showing and amazingly no more leak.

Mack

**Tweety** · 03-05-2012, 10:10 AM

It's amazing how much water can get in through a crack that looks like a hair. We had a popup once that the entire front storage compartment had to be rebuilt, and when the factory took it back they said it was due to a crack in the stuff around the side storage door that looked like a hair to me. So, I wouldn't discount the crack you found in the butyl tape. That said, have you checked the front window seal for leaking and water running down between the walls to the floor?

JaredB · 03-05-2012, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tweety

have you checked the front window seal for leaking and water running down between the walls to the floor?

I did check the front window. That was actually my first thought. But I found no leak and the flooring/walls under the window are completely dry.

Jim-Bev-2363 · 03-05-2012, 10:55 AM

The corner molding and the vinyl insert can leak. You cannot see a leak from the outside because of the screw cover, so take covering off of screws and tighten screws. You might even see some rusty screws that can be replaced and resealed.

It looked like the vinyl covering was missing from your access door. Might need to replace that after checking the mounting screws.

Gene · 03-05-2012, 08:49 PM

That looks like the larger door on the 2003 and later models of the T2363. My 2363 is a 2002 with the smaller door there. I did discover a leak on mine and found it was the latch didn't pull the door closed tight enough. I think Mack has the right idea, put a light inside and look for any light outside.

JaredB · 03-09-2012, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gene

That looks like the larger door on the 2003 and later models of the T2363..

That is correct. Its a 2006 model.

I did the light test and found the door was not sealing well on two sides. I tried to get it to close better by adjusting it, but I will need to get some more weatherstripping material to take up the remaining gap.

It rained yesterday, and so far everything is dry. Its is just odd that I wasn't able to trace a water line back to its source.

I will update if it occurs again, but I appreciate all the help. I would not have thought about using the light.

mainah · 03-13-2012, 04:16 PM

Water leaks are a pain they can be a good ways away from the source and run along a seam and come out some where other then you might think. I had to rebuild the compartment floor in the back of my T1700 there was a leak some where before I got it and it settled in the plastic bottom of the camper and rotted all the stringers and the floor.