Moisture Meter paid off big time

mcj7247 · 07-15-2017, 01:09 PM

I went to look at a used 2001 M-1950 this morning in Allentown, NJ and i brought my moisture meter along with me to evaluate any potential water damage. When I arrived a quick walk around showed no major issues and the trailer looked to be in good general condition. Inside was very similar with all the applinaces clean and fuinctioning properly. The A/C was on keeping things nice and cool, hot water heater working great and fridge cooling things down just fine. When I started reading the corners with the moisture gage I found 3 spots that pegged the meter. In the front upper right corner, in the shower stall next to the skylight and below the window next to the bed on the back wall. I inspected these areas from the roof and outside and all 3 had significant issues. The bedroom window had a rubber seal that failed, the caullking around the skylight was completely dryed out and cracked. I did a quick look over the entire roof and the water damage was really bad with that rubber tire effect in some spots where the roof had separated from the bud board. Ultimately I passed on the purchase but the moisture tool saved the day. The owner was totally shocked and had no idea. Without the gage I may just have bought the unit and never known it had any issues. My search continues for a dry M-1950 but a big THANK YOU to JohnB for piloting the tool and sharing such extensive info about how to use it.

p.s. I used the gage in "wall" mode and most of the dry spots read <10%, many read 0. But the spots that were wet pegged the meter and it beeped. If anyone wants more info on how I used it I'd be happy to share the details. It took me about 10 minutes to locate the wet spots and another 10 to get the ladder and check the roof.

Barisad · 07-15-2017, 04:10 PM

This has probably been a topic of conversation in the past ? What's the brand/kind of moisture you're using? I do believe we need one of these.

Thanks!

Relie · 07-15-2017, 04:25 PM

Same here on purchasing on one of these. I'm thinking it would probably pay for itself, just in agrivation. Any idea of cost and where to purchase?

Thanks!
Dave

Barisad · 07-15-2017, 04:39 PM

Of course I did an internet search for RV moisture meter. The list was overwhelming. I'd really like to purchase a tried and true model..

Opinions? Experiences?

Brand and model would be extremely helpful.

Thanks!

Relie · 07-15-2017, 04:41 PM

Ya, I know what you mean. I would like one, but not going to spend a fortune on one..

Barisad · 07-15-2017, 04:48 PM

Sure sounds like it saved mcj7247 a lot of work and money?

**JohnB** · 07-15-2017, 06:00 PM

Mark,

Thanks for the good words and glad the meter came through for you. I can see from your post how you made out....Thanks a bunch for reporting back. As suspected, the owners had no idea they had issues as they never saw water inside the camper. It had not advanced enough to show up inside the camper but was in the walls and ceiling for a good long time. I suspect these good folks did not know how to do roof maintenance to help prevent these issues.

To those following along, see this post on the meter Mark is talking about.

http://www.sunlineclub.com/forums/f7...per-17613.html

You can also see the meter in action on this post which is a wet project camper I am rebuilding. This post helps show how the campers are built from the inside out and what is behind the walls and ceiling. The meter is a really good tool but it needs to be understood, it has some limitations and how to work around them. That good tool, combined with the knowledge of how the camper is built, how it can leak and why, can be a powerful combination.

http://www.sunlineclub.com/forums/f7...avy-17684.html

Thanks

John

Barisad · 07-15-2017, 06:25 PM

JohnB,
Thank you very much for the reply and very informative meter in action.

mcj7247 · 07-17-2017, 05:04 AM

The moisture meter I used is on the right and is the same one that JohnB suggested in his link. Got it from Amazon as well as an IR heat gage for checking tire and bearing temps. Both work like a charm and are now part of my travel kit.

p.s. The temps for my hubs/tires after an hour of driving were 215 to 225F (hubs), 115-125F (tires). Good luck!

johnnybgood · 07-17-2017, 08:12 AM

Sounds hot on the hubs. I get readings of 110-120 degrees.

**JohnB** · 07-17-2017, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcj7247

p.s. The temps for my hubs/tires after an hour of driving were 215 to 225F (hubs), 115-125F (tires). Good luck!

Hi Mark,

H'mm, what was the 215 - 225F temps on, the camper or the truck? That is not mega hot and it may be from brake heat of stopping the vehicle but it is higher then normal then for just coasting to a stop. Or there is an issue starting.

When I do a camper hub check, I try and coast down and let the engine slow down the rig so I do not get too much brake heat from stopping. Then I can get a more accurate reading of just the camper axles bearings. This post on another camping forum shows one of my camper heat readings on the T2499 I had. Scroll to the bottom of the first post
Annual Brake Inspection and Axle Re - Lube (Pic's)

Thanks

John

mcj7247 · 07-17-2017, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnB

Hi Mark,

H'mm, what was the 215 - 225F temps on, the camper or the truck? That is not mega hot and it may be from brake heat of stopping the vehicle but it is higher then normal then for just coasting to a stop. Or there is an issue starting.

When I do a camper hub check, I try and coast down and let the engine slow down the rig so I do not get too much brake heat from stopping. Then I can get a more accurate reading of just the camper axles bearings. This post on another camping forum shows one of my camper heat readings on the T2499 I had. Scroll to the bottom of the first post
Annual Brake Inspection and Axle Re - Lube (Pic's)

Thanks

John

That's great info John and thanks for the heads up. I'll def check into it but my gut instinct is that we are both correct. When I checked my hub temps I literally jumped out of the truck in my driveway with the heat gun in my hand and checked the temps, without even shutting the truck off! This was after an hour long drive on a windy mountain road where I used my brakes, ALOT! Including a 12 degree hill for a few hundred feet. I figured since I want to check my temps from time to time on the road, I purposely wanted to get a baseline with them hot after a long drive. There is no indication of brake drag, no brake smell or smoke and the brakes work well. I also push the trailer in and out of the garage.... by hand. I serviced the bearings/brakes at the beginning of the year (repacked bearings and adjusted the brakes). I also put 800 miles on them during a trip to Shenandoah in the spring and things were fine. I'm going to go ahead and pull a wheel when I get a chance to confirm and will report back.

Thanks again for the heads up and for watching out for me

- Mark

**JohnB** · 07-17-2017, 08:26 PM

Hi Mark, yes brake heat can get you up in the 200's real quick. It is not a true bearing temp. Before pulling the wheel, just drive a good 20 to 30 minute with not much braking and coast down to a stop and check it. If you have a real bearing or a dragging brake issue, it will show in 20 to 30 minutes. Many times less.

A stuck brake caliper on a truck can get to 500F and sometimes 650F. been there done that... have the brake stink to smell for it LOL My IR gun lives in the back seat cover of the truck.