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Post by bretso on Jun 26, 2012 14:19:11 GMT -5
While restoring my 72' 1400, I ripped out the back wall to repair some water damage around the rear window. I replaced some hunks of frame, the paneling and insulation and re-sealed the rear window. (These forums were very helpful in that endeavor.)
After all was said and done, we ran a hose full blast on it for 20 minutes or so and never saw a drop come through, even with a high pressure nozzle. It seemed fairly well sealed.
Now we've had some wet weather (including lots of hail) and I've spotted a leak in the same old spot! Funny thing about painting the interior paneling, Small leak = Big Brown Water Stain! Good and bad I suppose. It looks ugly but it lets you know where the leaks are.
The trailer has been moved a few times and it's been 9 months or so since the window was resealed. I'm guessing something shifted and opened up a spot for water to come through.
My putty tape looks solid, I was very careful to snug the window frame up tight so it squeezed the excess putty out, and then I trimmed off the excess very carefully with a sharp putty knife. So, I'm not sure where the water is getting in. Visual inspection doesn't show any weak spots in the putty seal.
My newest plan of action: I'm going to run a bead of Trempro 635 around the window and then install a drip cap.
Does this sound like a smart move?
I doubt I'll be able to do a better job sealing it with putty, so I thought the Trempro would fill in any gaps I may have missed, and the drip cap will direct most water away from the less than perfect seal.
I'll be cutting down and merging two 43.5" drip caps from VTS to fit my 80" window. I'll run a bead Trempro down the middle where the two pieces meet and a dab on each screw. Putty tape behind the drip cap also.
Thoughts?
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Post by jer5217 on Jun 26, 2012 16:59:28 GMT -5
vintage campers.com have drip caps up to 87" long f.y.i.
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Post by bretso on Jun 26, 2012 17:58:26 GMT -5
Oh man! I wish I had asked before ordering.
Those drip rails are cheaper, better, one-piece and not powder coated white like the VTS version.
I'll store that website for future use. Thanks!
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Post by Redwings on Jun 26, 2012 18:12:41 GMT -5
We had that same problem with our '72 Compact. The back window leak after the restore and after a 3,000 mile trip. Where we found the water was coming in was around where the glass and the aluminum window frame was sealed. We took the trailer to our local Glass Doctor and they removed the glass and resealed it all back together. I think it cost us $50.00 and was well worth the expense.
What I learned from this: Before re-installation, I always lay my windows in a horizontal position and pour water on the glass. Enough to fill the window up about half an inch. Then I can see if any drips are getting through between the glass and the window frame. I hope this makes sense!
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Post by pathfinder3081 on Jun 26, 2012 18:54:51 GMT -5
That's a good idea "redwings", I am going to pull the rear in a couple of weeks. I have a little "drip and puddle" from time to time in a hard rain. I am still wondering if I should go with the hard tacking "Butyle tape or go with the "putty tape" that I have been using for the simple through the skin stuff. (Water ports, curbside connections)
I hope that it'e not the window, frame and it's caulking but then again it might be a good time to redo it. SHe is a 71 by the way. Do have any opinion or feed bacl for me?
Sorry fo the type, I have been having a bit of a problem editing anything that right with the format.
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Post by bretso on Jun 26, 2012 23:24:30 GMT -5
Thanks Soup. I had wondered about lap sealer. I'll pick some up.
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boandsusan
2K Post Member
Christmas parade 2012
Posts: 2,000
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Post by boandsusan on Jun 26, 2012 23:37:17 GMT -5
we We`ve had to Reinstall the rear window in 2 Compacts, both 72`s. I`m guessing that you have the same style windows. You say "same spot". Would that be one of the lower corners? Thats where both of ours were leaking. It took several times, removing and replacing, until I figured out that it was the FRAME corner joint, on both 72`s that leaked in the same place. I just ran a very thin line(on the interior of the window) of JB Weld (using a tooth pick) along the joint where the lower frame meets the side frame. Hope this helps!
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vikx
3K Post Member
Posts: 3,556
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Post by vikx on Jun 27, 2012 1:00:00 GMT -5
I wouldn't use self leveling lap sealant on anything but the roof. It will run down the side of the trailer. Dicor makes a "non sag" lap sealant for vertical surfaces....
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Post by pathfinder3081 on Jun 27, 2012 20:56:40 GMT -5
we We`ve had to Reinstall the rear window in 2 Compacts, both 72`s. I`m guessing that you have the same style windows. You say "same spot". Would that be one of the lower corners? Thats where both of ours were leaking. It took several times, removing and replacing, until I figured out that it was the FRAME corner joint, on both 72`s that leaked in the same place. I just ran a very thin line(on the interior of the window) of JB Weld (using a tooth pick) along the joint where the lower frame meets the side frame. Hope this helps! ;D That is exactly where it's at. I was looking real hard at that mitered joint too. It looks a little "rat". I'll try that and see how she does next cloud burst.. Thank you so much  |
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Post by bretso on Jun 29, 2012 10:52:48 GMT -5
. It took several times, removing and replacing, until I figured out that it was the FRAME corner joint, on both 72`s that leaked in the same place. Thanks, your suggestion helped me find the source of the problem. I'll start by admitting that I'm a novice craftsman at best. My skill level is slowly improving though. I was so sure I had done a good job of sealing the window but... when I started taking pictures of that frame corner I noticed that, not only had I used the wrong kind of screws on the frame, but several of them had worked themselves loose over the winter. I replaced the whole lot with the correct stainless screws dipped in a good RV sealant. Rained last night. No leak.  So far so good. |
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Post by edorbs on Jun 8, 2013 9:18:49 GMT -5
We had that same problem with our '72 Compact. The back window leak after the restore and after a 3,000 mile trip. Where we found the water was coming in was around where the glass and the aluminum window frame was sealed. We took the trailer to our local Glass Doctor and they removed the glass and resealed it all back together. I think it cost us $50.00 and was well worth the expense. What I learned from this: Before re-installation, I always lay my windows in a horizontal position and pour water on the glass. Enough to fill the window up about half an inch. Then I can see if any drips are getting through between the glass and the window frame. I hope this makes sense! Hello! I wanted to confirm before I had this repair done: I have a '69 Shasta 1400 and the rear window has a leak in the lower right corner. I ended up having to put a new wall in because it was warped from water damage (frame still in OK shape). I notice that while the window as a whole is tightly affixed to the body of the camper (I resealed it with butyl tape), water is pooling up in that lower corner where the glass meets the frame. I push on it and water oozes out. I'm pretty sure that the problem is the seal of the glass within the window frame. I called an RV place and they said there is NO way to take that glass out. I read above and think differently. Can someone please confirm that a glass specialist can take out the glass and reseal within the window frame? Sorry for the repeat, just want some confirmation. Or is there a way to do it DIY? Working under a tight deadline. THANKS! |
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soup
1K Post Member
Posts: 1,768
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Post by soup on Jun 10, 2013 3:41:22 GMT -5
Also quick note;
I have installed a back window that looked like it was leaking in a lower corner after replacing putty tape etc..
After having the wife outside with a garden hose and removing the window frame inside, found out it was the running/marker light above the window leaking onto the top of the window frame, the running down the side showing up at the bottom corner of the window!
Just another possibility.
Leaks suck.
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boandsusan
2K Post Member
Christmas parade 2012
Posts: 2,000
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Post by boandsusan on Jun 10, 2013 22:41:08 GMT -5
Also quick note; I have installed a back window that looked like it was leaking in a lower corner after replacing putty tape etc.. After having the wife outside with a garden hose and removing the window frame inside, found out it was the running/marker light above the window leaking onto the top of the window frame, the running down the side showing up at the bottom corner of the window! Just another possibility. Leaks suck. We found that too, but in that case we found the wooden framing around the window to be wet plus the paneling around the window looked to have been wet from the inside out. Yea leaks suck cos there are so many possibilities  |
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Post by edorbs on Jun 11, 2013 9:42:50 GMT -5
Also quick note; I have installed a back window that looked like it was leaking in a lower corner after replacing putty tape etc.. After having the wife outside with a garden hose and removing the window frame inside, found out it was the running/marker light above the window leaking onto the top of the window frame, the running down the side showing up at the bottom corner of the window! Just another possibility. Leaks suck. Yes! I had the same problem. Took that corner light out and you could tell that it had been filling up with water and then rerouting it inside. The small hole in the bottom was plugged up that is supposed to release the water when it gets in and its seal was terrible. I resealed all lights! We got the window out and found that the seal in that corner was compromised. It's good we took it apart. Now, it's off to the glass place... |
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Post by Redwings on Jun 13, 2013 20:50:21 GMT -5
We took it to an automotive window repair place and they were able to pull the seal and the window and reseal the glass within the frame using special window gooper and the original seal. No more leakage! It was The Glass Doctor (I think)..... Good Luck! Diane We had that same problem with our '72 Compact. The back window leak after the restore and after a 3,000 mile trip. Where we found the water was coming in was around where the glass and the aluminum window frame was sealed. We took the trailer to our local Glass Doctor and they removed the glass and resealed it all back together. I think it cost us $50.00 and was well worth the expense. What I learned from this: Before re-installation, I always lay my windows in a horizontal position and pour water on the glass. Enough to fill the window up about half an inch. Then I can see if any drips are getting through between the glass and the window frame. I hope this makes sense! Hello! I wanted to confirm before I had this repair done: I have a '69 Shasta 1400 and the rear window has a leak in the lower right corner. I ended up having to put a new wall in because it was warped from water damage (frame still in OK shape). I notice that while the window as a whole is tightly affixed to the body of the camper (I resealed it with butyl tape), water is pooling up in that lower corner where the glass meets the frame. I push on it and water oozes out. I'm pretty sure that the problem is the seal of the glass within the window frame. I called an RV place and they said there is NO way to take that glass out. I read above and think differently. Can someone please confirm that a glass specialist can take out the glass and reseal within the window frame? Sorry for the repeat, just want some confirmation. Or is there a way to do it DIY? Working under a tight deadline. THANKS! |
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So far so good.
