Water beads up and drips from the ceiling in the both expanded-foldout ends of our new Jayfeather ultra lite X19H. We picked up the new trailer Tuesday in Middlebury Indiana, spend three days sanitizing tanks & testing. It rained, but we didn't notice any leaks anywhere.Friday we drove here (Frankfurt KY), and it has been raining close to non-stop. We discovered leaks this morning (Sunday). It's now evening, and we still haven't been able to stop the drippy tent-tops. (Have gotten bedding dried out, thank goodness.) Question - If anyone has a Jayfeather expandable, have you had experience with water leaking and beading in large beads all over the inside ceiling of your expandable ends? We've wondered about condensation, but have had fans on it, with no change. We changed tightness of the shepherd's-crook bar that supports the ceiling to increase the pitch on the roof, but that doesn't change anything. Will running the roof AC fan to circulate air help or increase the problem?There was also some pooling of water in the two back corners of one expanded end. We worked with the short zipper on the outside back corners, and we seem to have stopped that problem. Crossed fingers.If someone has dealt with this problem, we surely would like to hear from you!Thanks in advanceCarol and Clint

Remember Jayco has a 2 year warranty.

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sounds more like condensation.fans alone won't cure it.you need to allow for air movement by cracking a vent open and a tent end window. just moving the hot air around inside, without a way to exit the trailer, doesn't do much good.also, did you have Popup Gizmos or the generic solar blanket versions?that will help even more with condensation.moisture on the inside of the canvas ceiling is almost always due to condensation.

bikendan wrote:sounds more like condensation. X2.I have a molded fiberglass trailer, and interior condensation is the ugly side of its legendary absolutely leak-proof-ness. Vinyl is just as unbreathing...

bikendan and Francesca - Thanks very much for taking time to help. Such kind people are out there! So, more likely condensation seems to be the opinion. I googled "Popup Gizmos". Photo looks like they are easy to get on. I'm surely ready to give it a try. Maybe could go into Lexinton and buy one for one end of the camper & see how it works, if it's sold in an rv store.Carol

Leaky expandable ends in 2013 Jayfeather 19H | Good Sam Community

Handyman_Xenabl
Explorer
Oct 07, 2013
We have a Jayco X17Z and haven't had any problems with leaking tent ends after 2 years, and not even after a weekend of torrential rain last weekend.

However we do notice condensation in damp weather and this can easily be severe enough to make you think there is a leak. Not to say you don't have a leak, but hopefully what you're experiencing is condensation.

If you can, always leave the zippers open a little and also a window or two and the bathroom vent.

I use a CPAP so condensation can be more of an issue for me than DH.

A lot of people recommend the pop up gizmos to help with condensation.
Gizmos and I'm ordering these for next spring.

Good luck with the water issue and hope it's simply the condensation and not a leak!
msue
Explorer
Oct 07, 2013
I had solar blankets stitched for my popup. Now I use them along with reflectix on the ends. Also, remember when you are camping to have a window open for ventilation.
Carol33
Explorer
Oct 07, 2013
Hi Chuck S - Yes, good point. Mother nature has done seasoning of those small side-zipper seams big-time, if that's what needs to happen. :)
Ok, Padlin, a space blanket or blue tarp held with clamps, for a temporary solution. The sun is out this morning, and the drip from the tent ceiling has stopped. For the moment. Guess it rains a lot here in Kentuckey to grow the grass and produce the racehoses. Maybe we'll go back to Keeneland & I'll see if I can win the price of a solar blanket or a tarp :)
bikendan, the Gizmos will be the long-term solution. I love the wet Oregon coast with the fog drifting off the beach and into the redwoods, so I will get them ordered for a long-term solution.
What a night. If not for y'all's help I'd be aa teensy bit discouraged.
Thanks!
Carol
Chuck_S
Explorer
Oct 07, 2013
Camper tentage needs to be seasoned. The seams leak (seep) when first wet. Procedure is to wet the tentage with a hose and let it dry. The stitching will swell and fill the needle holes. Seems you're letting Mother Nature do this. :)

-- Chuck
bikendan
Explorer
Oct 07, 2013
Carol33 wrote:
So, more likely condensation seems to be the opinion. I googled "Popup Gizmos". Photo looks like they are easy to get on. I'm surely ready to give it a try. Maybe could go into Lexinton and buy one for one end of the camper & see how it works, if it's sold in an rv store.
Carol

Popup Gizmos are not sold in any stores, too much of a specialty item.
surprised you haven't seen them mentioned here before. they are the #1 Hybrid Mod.
only can buy directly from PUGs.

you could buy the generic 5x7 solar blankets. they're also known as survival blankets, sportsmen blankets, all-weather blankets.
but the 5x7 size won't completely cover the front bunk.
the PUGs are custom-fitted for your model of hybrid or popup.

and i've found that blue tarps are not as effective, since they don't the same construction and they don't insulate as well either.
Padlin
Explorer
Oct 07, 2013
A blue tarp or space blanket held on with small spring clamps will do the same thing if you want to see if it'll help.
Carol33
Explorer
Oct 07, 2013
bikendan and Francesca - Thanks very much for taking time to help. Such kind people are out there!
So, more likely condensation seems to be the opinion. I googled "Popup Gizmos". Photo looks like they are easy to get on. I'm surely ready to give it a try. Maybe could go into Lexinton and buy one for one end of the camper & see how it works, if it's sold in an rv store.
Carol
Francesca_Knowl
Explorer
Oct 07, 2013
bikendan wrote:
sounds more like condensation.

X2.

I have a molded fiberglass trailer, and interior condensation is the ugly side of its legendary absolutely leak-proof-ness. Vinyl is just as unbreathing...
bikendan
Explorer
Oct 07, 2013
sounds more like condensation.
fans alone won't cure it.
you need to allow for air movement by cracking a vent open and a tent end window. just moving the hot air around inside, without a way to exit the trailer, doesn't do much good.
also, did you have Popup Gizmos or the generic solar blanket versions?
that will help even more with condensation.

moisture on the inside of the canvas ceiling is almost always due to condensation.
1492
Moderator
Oct 07, 2013
Moved from Forum Technical Support