Water and Wood (wet wood-framed camper)

[rockandroll]

I've got a wet camper folks. The front siding is always damp after a good Central American rain storm complete with fungus. Luckily the wood is not rotted yet.

I resealed all of the seams before leaving California and the rubber atop seems just fine. How in the heck can water be getting in!?

Not sure what I can do. I'm thinking I'll make it a point to put a tarp over the top whenever we're in for a good downpour.

 

[xtremexj]

I have the exact same camper as you and I had water get into mine - although much worse than yours. See link here:

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=50555

I haven't fixed mine yet but will starting the repair by the end of this month. If you read my thread there is some good input the guys gave me as to how to fix it.

Shane

 

[rockandroll]

I have the exact same camper as you and I had water get into mine - although much worse than yours. See link here:

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=50555

I haven't fixed mine yet but will starting the repair by the end of this month. If you read my thread there is some good input the guys gave me as to how to fix it.

Shane

Thanks Shane.

Probably not a coincidence that it's the exact same corner we're both having problems with. Mine's not as bad as yours yet. And a plywood swap would be pretty hard to get accomplished while on the move in Central and South America. I'm going to just have to take precautions to keep the water out.

I even checked the seals behind the orange light cover there and everything looks just fine! Frustrating. I'm flabbergasted on how water is getting in there.

Here's a pic of the outside

You can tell i did the resealing myself! Function over beauty.

 

[xtremexj]

I missed the part about you being on the road.:Wow1: Make sure you have a lot of duct tape with you incase it comes apart like mine did - you'll need it.

 

[eugene]

Is yours like mine where the wood is sandwiched between aluminum siding on the outside and inside, then the roof sits on top and the screws holding the trim on go right through the roof and into the wood on the sides so even the slightest leak wicks right in. The the U channel on the bottom holds it there.
I pulled the skin back and replaced the wood with cedar since its rot resistant and left the inside layer of aluminum off.
The wood on mine was so rotten I could pull the bottom trim screws outwith pliers and the trim fell out then the wood rained out like mulch.

 

[JCMatthews]

Good luck

Sorry to hear about the water problem. I hope the camper holds together and you don't have to make major repairs while on the road. I was looking at this same camper, maybe I will look at something else.