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

[Tequila]

Not so fast, Sealtech did not pick up a leaking window on my current RV. I found wet carpet just 2 weeks after they had done a leak test. The seal had gone bad. I now remove the internal screws along the bottom of my windows and the lowest side screw every year or so and gently pull back the frame. If there has been a leak, you will see it on the bottom of the frame opening. You have to be careful as those srcews go into the outer frame and hold it in place so you do not want to remove them across the top or sides and you want to disturb as little as possible.

Sealtech does not hurt, but do not assume it will reveal everything.

[delad1954]

I have found that a Sealtech test is the best way to find out if you have any leaks that need to be looked at

[thomasmnile]

Crawfordville wrote:


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!!

1. Not all RV dealers have the capability to perform a pressure test for leaks.

2. Other than inside or covered storage, how do you do that? :h


It's an RV, leaks happen. Shouldn't on a new trailer, but they do.
Hope the problem is resolved to your complete satisfaction.

[coolestdude]

I bought a new TT in December and as we have been getting much needed rain the last couple of weeks my new TT started leaking were the roof meets the front of the TT. Got up their to take a look and almost all of the caulk was cracked.

Happy Trails!

[ghostrider421]

Doug33 wrote:

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?

It's not the leaking so much as the krap wood they used inside the walls. Luan wood is not made for much of anything beyond doll houses. It's a very, very soft wood. If you research and ask the mfgrs how and what they use in construction, you can avoid this materiel.

As to the windows leaking, my neighbor bought a new class A this year - paying a premium for the unit - his leaked on the way home. It was brandnew from the factory!

As to the OP - the unit may have sat on the lot for most of a year or more and it rains in Fla a lot - so these leaks may have been occuring all along, which is why they'd take the wall apart. Get rid of the Lemon now.

[ghostrider421]

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.

So, they used krap plywood. Did you know that Luan is a really softwood made primarily for doll houses?

They should have used 3/8" marine plywood instead.

[whitescrew77]

I didn't realize it would do it at such a low pressure. Now that I think about it, 0.5 to 1 psi would probably blow the windows right out of the trailer! How do you attatch the blower to the trailer? Or do you just put the blower in the camper, and shut the door and wait a bit for it to build pressure? Seems pretty good idea as long as you have a bug sprayer full of soapy water to cover the whole trailer!

[Crawfordville]

Perfect illustration. I want to witness the test when it is done on our RV.

I'll continue to keep you updated on the madness...

[westend]

whitescrew77 wrote:
O.k. I'll bite.

What do you do to pressure test a travel trailer? Pressurize it with 0.5 psi of compressed air and spray soapy water all over the exterior and look for bubbles growing? That would take a lot of air to do the job.

The pressure test requires a volume of air to raise the pressure inside the structure by 1/2"-1" of water column, as measured with a manometer. The air pressure of the device delivering the air is inconsequential, as long as it delivers the necessary volume.

FWIW, I used a squirrel cage furnace blower and I know others have used leaf blowers to perform the test. For the first test, I also used a DIY manometer.

This is a pinhole leak with the interior pressure of 1" differential:

[Crawfordville]

"What do you do to pressure test a travel trailer? Pressurize it with 0.5 psi of compressed air and spray soapy water all over the exterior and look for bubbles growing? That would take a lot of air to do the job."

Yes, they do something like that. Not all dealers are able to do it but luckily ours can.

[Dtaylor]

Perhaps it has been leaking all along, it just took the heavy storms to dump enough water to make it visible. I have an area in my back wall that was not there 3 weeks ago and now appears to be delaminating. I do not see a source for the leak but feel sure it is coming from the large picture window. Emailed factory with pictures and they said they would take care of it.

You now have yours at the dealer and they are working on it. I would simply make sure the work is 100% or DO NOT ACCEPT it. If possible, visit during various stages to check up on the work they are doing

[whitescrew77]

O.k. I'll bite.

What do you do to pressure test a travel trailer? Pressurize it with 0.5 psi of compressed air and spray soapy water all over the exterior and look for bubbles growing? That would take a lot of air to do the job.

[Double_Haul]

I really don't think dealers inspect a whole lot especially if the unit is new. I was looking at a new unit on a dealer lot during a rainy day. Entered into the unit and heard dripping in the shower. Opened the door and the skylight was leaking bad. The salesman looked at it and said, "guess I need to get that checked out". This too had been on the lot through quite a few rainy days and either nobody noticed or they didn't care. I too would now demand a leak test and report as a condition of a sale.

[parkersdad]

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 have had one for two years with no leaks so I don't think you can make that general statement.