Cabover Leak...Help Appreciated!

While you're up there, check for cracks around the running lights. I had two that had to be fixed when I bought my "C" brand new. The dealer found the problem before I even picked it up. They told me it happens on new units enough that they check all of them before delivery. Builders sometimes overtighten a screw around a running light because they use power drivers.

You have to tear into that and replace any rotted wood and I see a fair amount of it from your photos. Your screws indicate that they were drilled into rotted, wet wood.

I think your left side rain gutter should be extended further forward, but I'm not convinced that is where your problem is.

I think once you tear into it and replace what is rotted, you will find where the origin of your problem is by virtue of the worst of the rot will be near where the water is leaking in.

You can continue to band-aid it, but you will be chasing water problems non-stop until it gets fixed right.

YOur pictures appear to show that you have the same C as I have although mine is a 2001 and your might not be that old.
We found water damage where you have it, but just on the right side. We recaulked the trim and that kind of worked but later we caulked the running lights and that really worked. (I see your last post).
But the one thing that ended any new problem was last year when to stopped at a Walmart on the west side of OK city. We went in the back way and left the front way. Guess what, they have an eight foot height pole? across the front entrance. We hit it at about 3 mpg. (we were not the first to do that). Fortunately there is a RV sales and service about 1/2 mile away. As we pulled in the first words we heard were ' I see you have been to Walmart'. Anyway they rebuilt the cabover which was covered by insurance. Now I don't want to tell you what to do, but if you ever visit OK city, you might want to look at visiting that Walmart. (joke).

Well we're back replacing more rotted wood. Last fall I sealed the heck out of every seam with eternabond, replaced all the screws with longer Kreg Blue Kote screws. Last weekend I check it and the wood in the corners was soaked It had all winter to leak and I think it came through the cab lights.

I've got 2000 Coachmen Santara Class C with a leak in the cabover. Much like Mike's the wood had rotted and I replaced it and dried it out. Apparently I didn't get the leak sealed and it's wet again. I'm going to order a roll of Eternabond tonight. I plan on removing the trim strips putting down the eternabond and re-attaching with new screws.

What have you guys who have rebuilt your cabovers used on the inside to finish it out? My coach has 1/8" luan covered with a vinyl wallpaper like material. My DW is concerned that the repaired section blend in with the rest of the coach. I can't get that panels locally and it's too far to Elkhart.

Paul

EMD360 wrote:
Have you made any progress? The screws just hold on the trim where the two pieces of filon meet at the corners. I took apart the rear corners and that was the case there. I bought a bit larger stainless steel screws than were in the trim at Bolt Depot. I didn't refill the holes just used eternabond. The new screws did catch wood though so didn't think I needed to fill the holes. The back corners do not hold water like the cabover. Good luck getting this one fixed. Hope you can patch it and go camping!

Thanks for the note. Don't know that I have. This situation hasn't made camping impossible...just aggravating to deal with. I'm at the point of believing that the water may be traveling from the window or from towards the back of the window. Someone suggested some J channel from Home depot to extend my gutters. I'm going to try that. Ahhhh...what an initiation to Class C ownership!!!

Thanks to everyone who has entered their thoughts. Your time and effort is much appreciated. Have a GREAT week!!!

I looked for Gitrot myself a year ago and couldn't find it but many boat supply places have a similar product. I had the same problem on my 2 Class Cs and that is the main reason I will never have another C. That large cabover section just hangs out there unsupported and gets a lot of stress on rough roads. It is very inexpensive to replace that plastic insert that fits in the trim and makes it look a lot nicer.

Have you made any progress? The screws just hold on the trim where the two pieces of filon meet at the corners. I took apart the rear corners and that was the case there. I bought a bit larger stainless steel screws than were in the trim at Bolt Depot. I didn't refill the holes just used eternabond. The new screws did catch wood though so didn't think I needed to fill the holes. The back corners do not hold water like the cabover. Good luck getting this one fixed. Hope you can patch it and go camping!

Every time I replace any screw or bolt I always use stainless steel.

I had a very similar leak. I re-sealed the large seam across the top etc and it still leaked some. Next I re-sealed the marker lights and pulled the trim and along the roof and the trim that runs down the front. I sealed each screw head with a dab of caulk. Took some cleaning behind the trim as it was pretty dirty in there. Was careful to keep the caulk low so the trim would fit back (my trim is fairly flat vice some of the 'domed' stuff you see). For the most part I think it was a leaking marker light.