Leaking windows.... Again !!!!!

Well this was an interesting trip to the sierra's... Got a little snow and then rain coming home. Noticed that the windows inside were wet when I woke up... thought it was just condensation... got home to find the entire insides of my trailer soaked and the wood swollen around both of them. The seals appear fine on the outside but all my gear on the inside is completely wet. Large pools of water under the mattress as well. This is the second time. The first occurred two years after getting my CI... paid 80 dollars to seal the window.
Ok what do I do? The wood around the windows is swollen ...will this stain the wood ? Since this is the second time do I need to replace both of the widow seals? They appear good from the outside. I don't want to do this again !!!! If I had known that these windows would leak I would not have ordered them. I want to take it to Alaska but do not want to worry about flooding my cabin.
This could be a concern to all of us... keep your eyes pealed !!!
Will wait for the big guys to write back.

Todd

 

Hi Todd,

When you had the windows sealed, did they seal between the glass and the gasket or between the aluminum and the gasket or both?
Early on, we only sealed between the aluminum and gasket. Time showed us that occasionally a leak developed between the glass and the gasket. So, we now apply sealant to both areas just to be sure.

Identifying the leak can be a little tricky. Some leak only when sitting still, others leak only when driving.

First you need to make sure that the leak is actually the windows. Don't peel back the gasket until you have verified that the gasket is actually leaking. If you peel it back to take a peek, you will have to reseal it just to be sure.

Dry out the cabin first. Then run a hose over the windows. It may take 30 minutes or more before the water shows up. If it doesn't leak, spray harder. You need to simulate 60 mph rain from the drive home. Don't use a pressure washer since the force is much greater than anything you would experience in normal driving.

If it is leaking between the glass and the gasket, a bead of water will form on the inside, between the glass and the gasket. If the wood is getting wet without seeing the bead forming, then the leak is between the aluminum and the gasket.

Limit the water to the window area. That way if you see water appear somewhere other than the windows you will know that it probably is still the windows.

If the gaskets are still pliable, you can continue to use them.

If you do identify the leak, give us a call at Camp-Inn 608-565-7443 or email us at camp.inn@tds.net and we can walk you through the best way to repair it. We can also send you some new gaskets if they are needed.

If you can't locate the leak, give us a call or email and we will help you to locate it.

Thanks,
Craig Edevold

 

Hi Craig

Last time it was the window and seal. Now both are leaking. Since I don't want this ever to happen again I am taking it to one of two trailer restoration shops in Orange, Ca. Going to have them completely pull the windows and seal both inner and outer glass. I can not travel and have to worry about water flooding my traIler.
Will have them contact you for proper walk thru. They can also assess the wood inside for damage since it was swollen and wet to touch.
Hopefully this will not happen to others but should it what to prepare
themselves for.
Thank you for responding. Hope

 

Ok Craig

Going to Mels trailer restorations in Orange. Will take it in on monday.
Will have Mike give you a call . Thank you

Todd

 

I have noticed through out the forum whenever anyone posts a problem, asking for help, solutions, they are almost always scolded for doing so.

Really makes me wonder what are you all hiding?

 

I am not sure that 'scold' is the right word. I think that the people who respond are recommending that Cary and Craig are the best people to address these issues and they are!

 

Jean I too do not think we have anything to hide but I think we all know that Craig and Cary know better than any of us how to fix a problem and I for one would not want to give someone advise that could be wrong or even less than the best.

 

Good answers. Thank you. Its true they arec the best folks to answer the questions and from what I've read, they do an exceptionally good job helping everyone. Just had to ask as I've seen this throughout the board. Being a man made device...I know all too well things happen. No fault of anyone...its Murphys law. It isn't often in this day and age you get that kind of service. It is good to see and I hope they can keep it up as they get more popular. Because they will.

I am still dreaming. Would like to have one but with this economy and lay offs every year where I work....I will continue to live this fantasy through all of you.

Thanks again for all the responses. Happy camping and good luck with your adventure Jen. I've read it all. Maybe someday.

 

PS: AND... Craig and Cary's time is Much better spent building them and working directly with the clients then on a forum!

And if you read....any problem is always always remedied to the customers satisfaction.

 

Jean, this is another Minnesota Jean,

I have owned two used Camp Inn's. Craig and Cary treat each teardrop as "one of their own". They expect problems to appear because the products are used, not museum pieces.

Problems lead to new design changes, which improve the end point.
Customers at times are the problem solvers.

The forum is a public posting of all that is good and bad about a teardrop. Free advertising about the product and customer service. Craig,Cary, and Betsey's involvement in the forum provides evidence they are engaged in the continued success of the company. They build a superior product with superior customer service. They price point reflects the quality.

To summarize, their presence on the forum is needed!

Keep in mind, any RV is going to have problems, just like a stick built home will eventually have problems. RV's have a rough life, towed at high rates of speed, subject to wind resistance, all forms of weather, flexing due to road surfaces, curbs, pot holes, stopping, and starting.

Jean

 

Jean, I would like to add that you will find that this is a canned answer on this forum, as it is an unofficial forum, as was developed for and by CI enthuseists, and not by CI.

When my husband and I started considering CI and were lerkers here on the forum there were some threads that did nothing but berate the quality of their CI trailer, but when put to the test, never contacted the good folks at CI. Hence the "Have you contacted..." We are very loyal to the folks at CI, and as much as I know Serenity, I will never know it as intimately as they do.

 

Thanks for the replies. I get it, as you can see by my replies.

Someday...will dream until then.

 

Jean, stop dreaming and start clicking. There are very few purchases of toys that I have made that I didn't suffer buyers remorse. I usually feel upset about parting with money on "frivolous" toys. Frankly, the CI was one of the bigger toys I've bought, and the one I regretted the least.

I've looked at RVs from diesel pushes on up to the camp-inn and nothing out there, with the exception of airstream units come close to CI build quality. The stuff coming out of Elkhart is full of stinking , off gassing glue and 1/4 inch plywood...designed to look pretty, just don't touch it. I can't say any thing like that about CI.

We've seen other commercial teardrops owned by friends fall apart (literally) in 3 years. And their camper was also built by a "big name"...it's been "fixed" but the new one is just like the old one....I hope it doesn't disintegrate too. But, I have no doubt our Serenity will be around for a long, long time even though there are a few minor problems. But anything made by man, will have those.