Doug, thanks so much for an in-depth reply.
1. NONE of the previous 4 shops determined it was a defective slide seal causing your problem?
No.
2. You have NO experience, but have determined you need the slide seal replaced?
It's called desperation. I don't know what else to do! The techs who have worked on it seemed very very knowledgable. The first shop was Alliance Coach in Florida, an ex-Monaco repair facility. Who better to solve it than them? And I know they removed the slide topper when they worked on it, but I don't know what else they did.
After the third guy worked on it, about a month ago, we had a heavy rain, and it was dry inside. Thought the problem was solved! Next rain....wet. The fourth guy said the reason it didn't hold was that the third guy had used silicone to adhere two pieces of rubber together, and that the silicone had come loose. He used some type of epoxy which melted the two pieces back together. He felt certain that that was the source of the leak. I held a hose on it for 20 minutes, and it was dry inside. First rain: wet.
I took the slide topper off, which seems in decent condition to me, and the seals at the top of the slide look in good condition too. But then, they look good to me all the way around!
Yes, I'm a slide novice. It just seems to me that the next logical step is to replace the seals. And if they're done correctly, one of two things will happen. Either the leak will stop, or, if it doesn't, at least I can begin to research other causes knowing that the seals AREN'T the cause. Process of elimination.
What really confuses me is that it leaks even with the slide in. And when it is in, the seals all the way around look pretty darned good. At least to my novice eyes.
So, yeah, I don't know if this will solve it, or it's a waste of money. I just don't know what else to do. And I *have* to get this fixed.
3. I would hesitate to trust a Mobile Tech to fix your problem if 4 other shops have not determined the problem.
I'm not expecting him to "fix the problem". I'm only expecting him to install the new seals which are on the way from the factory.
4. Is the Slide cover in good repair and the slide cover "mount" track secured and sealed to the sidewall/roll wrap? If the slide cover leaks on Monaco products that contributes to a slide leak. Monaco's require the slide cover to be in good repair to prevent excess water from flowing thru onto the slide room roof.
You know, what's odd is that when the slide is out, and we get a good rain, it gets just squishy wet inside. Two days ago, when the weather was forecast to be clear, I removed the slide topper and put it over on the coach roof to check things out. Later, I moved the topper stuff onto the top of the slide itself, with the topper cover, the long tube which covers the fabric when it's rolled up, lying right against the joint where the slide top meets the coach wall. And you know what? When it started raining (good weather report, eh?) it just got damp inside, not the typical squishy wet. So, did that cover deflect some of the water, or cover up where it's leaking?
7. You should be able to look on top under the slide cover or inside to see if the seal has come loose from the long top mount. Have someone operate the room while watching and you will see if the seal rolls loose somewhere along that mount.
I'll check that out today. I'll watch from the roof while my wife brings the slide in. Again, everything that I can see up there looks ok.
dave
