rlmurraysr59
New Member
:dead: I am at my wits end! I made the mistake of buying a Fleetwood product, namely, a 2002 Southwind 37-U from Walt Michael's Stupid Store in Belleville, Michigan in August of 2001. No fool like an old fool!
The living room slide-out has been a leaker since we bought it. I tried to get in touch with the dealership when I noticed it leaked but didn't have any luck. I have never been able to talk to the dealership. I called Fleetwood and they pretty much told me that it was my problem. Sound familiar? So I decided I had to fix it myself.
I released the tension on the topper and crawl on top of the slide out to see if I could find the leak. What I found was that all the screws, aluminum, had been broken off in the trim piece on the inside leading edge of the slide-out. It had also never been caulked or sealed. I bought stainless steel screws and Devcon caulking and fixed the trim. It reduced but didn't stop the leak.
Next I caulked along the inside edge of the slide out. It is covered with rubber roofing material and appeared to be sporadically glued along that edge. I caulked it with Devcon and it seemed to hold for a while. I found that if rain were predicted and I moved the slide-out in a few inches which tilted it up that the leaks didn't seem to be as bad.
So my question to my fellow RVer's is: Could it be possible that the water which seeps through the topper also be seeping through the rubber roof material? Is there a sealant for rubber roofs that can be rolled, brushed, or sprayed on to stop it from seeping if that is the case? Would it affect anything adversely if I purchased a long sheet of aluminum and placed it over the rubber roofing material and fastened it down? When the slide-out is run it it raises up and contacts a rubber strip that I guess is suppose to stop moisture from coming in. It doesn't contact anything when the slide-out is extended. I don't think it would affect the aluminum cover or that the aluminum would be in the way. There is a sheet metal shop a couple miles from my home so I know I can get the metal.
Let me know what you think. You can also e-mail your suggestions to ronretire55@hotmail.com. Thank you!
The living room slide-out has been a leaker since we bought it. I tried to get in touch with the dealership when I noticed it leaked but didn't have any luck. I have never been able to talk to the dealership. I called Fleetwood and they pretty much told me that it was my problem. Sound familiar? So I decided I had to fix it myself.
I released the tension on the topper and crawl on top of the slide out to see if I could find the leak. What I found was that all the screws, aluminum, had been broken off in the trim piece on the inside leading edge of the slide-out. It had also never been caulked or sealed. I bought stainless steel screws and Devcon caulking and fixed the trim. It reduced but didn't stop the leak.
Next I caulked along the inside edge of the slide out. It is covered with rubber roofing material and appeared to be sporadically glued along that edge. I caulked it with Devcon and it seemed to hold for a while. I found that if rain were predicted and I moved the slide-out in a few inches which tilted it up that the leaks didn't seem to be as bad.
So my question to my fellow RVer's is: Could it be possible that the water which seeps through the topper also be seeping through the rubber roof material? Is there a sealant for rubber roofs that can be rolled, brushed, or sprayed on to stop it from seeping if that is the case? Would it affect anything adversely if I purchased a long sheet of aluminum and placed it over the rubber roofing material and fastened it down? When the slide-out is run it it raises up and contacts a rubber strip that I guess is suppose to stop moisture from coming in. It doesn't contact anything when the slide-out is extended. I don't think it would affect the aluminum cover or that the aluminum would be in the way. There is a sheet metal shop a couple miles from my home so I know I can get the metal.
Let me know what you think. You can also e-mail your suggestions to ronretire55@hotmail.com. Thank you!