UPDATE: Purchased brand new TT and it has leaks

[Crawfordville]

UPDATE:
WE picked up the TT on Saturday with warranty work complete for the 5 leaky windows (they replaced anything that got wet including mattresses, curtains, complete bunk area, and wallboards. Luckily, while at the dealership it was raining like crazy and no leaks. The culprit of the window leak was a window manufacturer defect in the window gasket. Apparently there are many, many new RVs out there in the southeast that are having this type of issue. They are frameless windows but I'm not sure who the window manufacturer is. I'm happy to report that Keystone was fantastic to work with, even though the dealership was doing the warranty work. Keystone is reimbursing us for one month's loan payment because that is how long it took to correct issue (window manufacturer delay)and because we never had an opportunity to use the TT before leaks appeared.




Original post:
We purchased a 2013 Keystone Premier Bullet from Camping World. We got it home and a week later we had really bad storms for about a week. We checked for leaks and sure enough the windows leaked at the bunks and the kitchen window. It is now at Camping World being fixed under warranty - replacing windows, curtains, bunk mattresses, luan, etc. My question(s) is this:
1. Is this common?
2. Since this is a 2013 model and bought when 2014 were coming in wouldn't the dealer have known about the leaks since it has been on their lot for months?
3. At what point does delamination begin?
4. Suggestions?

Thank you for any input.

Karen

[Crawfordville]

I figured I would provide an update to our nightmare of an RV (buyers remorse). As stated earlier at the end of June 2013 we purchased a brand new 32' Premier. Got it home and it leaked when it rained. Took it to the dealer on July 4th.

Fast forward to today. Still don't have the RV back. Apparently the window manufacturer had a bad run on windows. Keystone still has not received the windows from the manufacturer and apparently many other people in the southeast are experiencing same issue. We have a trip planned for August 10th with people flying in from CT and it is doubtful that we'll be able to go on it. Still have not used the RV one time but still have to make payments!!

But what I have learned from all of this is two things.
1. When buying an RV - demand that it have a pressure test done on it to detect leaks.
2. Dealers position the RVs on their lot in a way that water leaks are very unlikely. But when someone buys the RV and gets it home and it is not "strategically placed" leak issues will arise if there are any.

UGH!!

[WoodGlue]

With wet luaun, mold and mildew enter the equation right away!

WoodGlue

[Doug33]

Seattle Lion wrote:
He said that one of their biggest problems was refusal of dealers to fix trailers they didn't sell. I told him that I was surprised. Car dealers always do it. I then asked him if maybe they didn't pay the dealers enough to cover repairs. He admitted that this is probably the case.

So, if you have an industry with bad initial quality and a warranty program that undercompensates dealers for fixing manufacturing defects, you have a recipe for failure. Dealers will either refuse to do warranty work or they will do it poorly because of the low compensation.

Many moons ago when I owned a Coleman PU, I remember the dealer telling me that for warranty repairs, the manufacturer reimbursed the dealership for much less per hour on labor than the dealership charged for their own work.

[Doug33]

flasteve wrote:
WOW I would be so upset. I will not be getting a keystone bullet. Thank you for telling me it is a piece of leaking junk. I feel sorry for you and hope the dealer fixes your travel trailer.

I believe his was a Premier edition, where my Bullet is not. I have not had any leakage issues, but mine is a 2014.

My question is when does mold enter into the equation?

[Jerry9n]

I am a firm believer on pressure testing (learned the hard way after my trailer started delaminating). I pressure tested my trailer and ended up recaulking a two year old trailer, many leaks which I firmly believe were there from day one. Warranty is not an issue since manufacturer is kaput. A pressure test will show every tiny leak. It can be done by yourself or commercially for a nominal price at some dealers.

[Seattle_Lion]

It's amazing to me that caulking would crack. I would think that a 2013 TT would have silicone caulk all around. Even old fashioned latex caulk should have enough flex to travel. However, as I learned, the RV industry has horrible initial quality. Also, a related issues is that the industry does not pay the dealers a reasonable amount to perform warranty repairs.

In my dealings with Dutchman, I spoke with a senior manager in the warranty department. He said that one of their biggest problems was refusal of dealers to fix trailers they didn't sell. I told him that I was surprised. Car dealers always do it. I then asked him if maybe they didn't pay the dealers enough to cover repairs. He admitted that this is probably the case.

So, if you have an industry with bad initial quality and a warranty program that undercompensates dealers for fixing manufacturing defects, you have a recipe for failure. Dealers will either refuse to do warranty work or they will do it poorly because of the low compensation.

[flasteve]

WOW I would be so upset. I will not be getting a keystone bullet. Thank you for telling me it is a piece of leaking junk. I feel sorry for you and hope the dealer fixes your travel trailer.

[LakeN]

If possible, I would get photos of repair in progress. also get service work orders/documentation of what's been repaired. once your unit is out of warranty, you may need this info "down the road."
We have had 2 TTs that had delamination....one was brand new. For peace of mind, you can get a moisture meter + do a self test on repaired wall (interior or exterior) which will show if moisture is present within wall. Meter is used by marine industry for fiberglass boat hulls. Our local rv dealerships don't seem to own one.
Best of luck to you!

edit: not saying you do have delam, just that water intrusion can cause it to occur 🙂

[Crawfordville]

Thank you. That helps a lot.

I'm going ask them about the kitchen window area and why they are not replacing the wallboard and luan there as the window leaked. My hunch is that the kitchen cabinet has silicone sealing it against the wall so it was not affected. But still going to ask.

[WoodGlue]

Crawfordville wrote:
WoodGlue -

They are replacing the luan at the bunk bed area. I wasn't sure where the luan was located. I couldn't remember if luan was used as a bunk base - doesn't seem like it would be sturdy enough.

The bunk base should just be regular plywood of some sort. Luaun is used in the walls as a means of gluing the sidewalls together.

Generally:

Fiberglass Exterior>Luaun>Insulation>Luaun>Interior Wallboard

Does that help any?

WoodGlue

[Crawfordville]

WoodGlue -

They are replacing the luan at the bunk bed area. I wasn't sure where the luan was located. I couldn't remember if luan was used as a bunk base - doesn't seem like it would be sturdy enough.

[WoodGlue]

Crawfordville wrote:
We purchased a 2013 Keystone Premier Bullet from Camping World. We got it home and a week later we had really bad storms for about a week. We checked for leaks and sure enough the windows leaked at the bunks and the kitchen window. It is now at Camping World being fixed under warranty - replacing windows, curtains, bunk mattresses, luan, etc. My question(s) is this:
1. Is this common?
2. Since this is a 2013 model and bought when 2014 were coming in wouldn't the dealer have known about the leaks since it has been on their lot for months?
3. At what point does delamination begin?
4. Suggestions?

Thank you for any input.

Karen

1. Sometimes after sitting on a lot unsold, the caulking will get dried out and the road stresses will crack loose the windows as someone else suggested.
3. Delamination isn't usually caused by water ingress into a window. Unless the luaun got soaked underneath, you should be ok. This is one reason why I'm so against luaun.

WoodGlue

[steelpony5555]

As was said if that TT sat on their lot for months or in some cases even a year and was never moved there is a good chance the caulking got dried out and when you moved it cracked and started leaking. Although it does sound like major leaking??? Also depends on the tilt of the trailer, maybe when you parked it was tilted in the direction letting water run down that side. So to answer one of your question, no it is not that uncommon. Good that they are fixing it though.

[Doug33]

john&bet wrote:
A fast trip back to dealer is in order with a respectful but stern conversation.

They said it was already back to the dealer for repairs.

It seems odd that the TT didn't leak in all the time it was sitting on the lot, considering it was a 2013. And it doesn't sound like it has anything to do with the slideout, so I don't know what could have changed from the dealer's lot to your place. Maybe towing it around loosened up some bad window seals - maybe they dry rotted sitting around? Seems unlikely but who knows?

[john_bet]

A fast trip back to dealer is in order with a respectful but stern conversation.