Leaky Scamp

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Barb
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Joined: 06/27/2014 - 18:33
Leaky Scamp

The rain in CO just won't stop up in the mountains.  But is the leak even rain??  It's the wettest under the back window where the fur and the carpet under the table meet--the fur is not wet, the carpet is drenched and the water soaked the carpet and two rugs on top of the carpet on the main "floor."  I don't carry water, but when I took it to get serviced they put some water in the tank to check the sink (which I don't use).  I asked them to be sure and drain the water out--is there any way that water would be leaking under the back window from anything related to the tank if they didn't drain it?  Being under the window down on the floor you'd think if the window is leaking, the fur would be wet, but it's dry as can be.  All the fur inside the Scamp is dry.  My brother in law took the spare tire off to see if anything was amiss back there, but all was well.  The water is actually down where the bumper is.  Any thoughts??  Used the wet/dry vac on it today.  The camp chair I keep under the table (I always leave it down) was soaked, too, along with the canvas bag I keep my shovel wrapped in.  Kind of a mystery!!!  Haven't pulled up the wet carpet, but I kind of want to!!!  Help!

Barb
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Joined: 06/27/2014 - 18:33
Leaky Scamp 2

If water was leaking in through the window or the 1/2 way spot where the Scamp is connected, or from the ceiling wouldn't the fur be wet, or can a leak be behind the fur? 

Hoosier Scamper
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Call Scamp Service Department

There are no absolutes, you could have a leak that gets the moleskin wet and one that comes under it without getting it wet. The fist one is probably more common,  the later one less common. The fiberglass is coated with an insulation material and then the moleskin is applied over it. I believe they are all glued much like wallpaper. The "half way spot" as you put it is the belly band in Scamps terminology. I have never heard of that leaking, usually a window or the air conditioner, or a fan is the culprit. Could it be coming through the floor? Are you towing it in the rain when it happens? Do you have a Maxfan above that area? Call Scamp's Service department,  they will be glad to offer ideas.

Carl

Barb
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Last seen: 6 months 1 week ago
Joined: 06/27/2014 - 18:33
Leak

Thanks Carl.  The Scamp was in the driveway--I feel like it has to be from all the rain we've had.  It seemed odd that the carpet was so wet, but no moisture on the fur so it's good to know that it won't necessarily be wet.  I bet it's the back window that leaking because the most water is right there at the bottom of the carpet.  I'll give the Scamp Service Dept. a call next week.  Really appreciate your thoughts!! 

Barb
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Last seen: 6 months 1 week ago
Joined: 06/27/2014 - 18:33
Leak

No Maxxfan--just the escape hatch above the bed.

Greg A
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Joined: 11/02/2013 - 20:45
Scamp rear window area leak

Barb,

There are several possibilities for this given the location. There is a gasket around the rear window and it has a seam usually right at the bottom center of the window outside. This gasket shrinks over time and that seam allows water intrusion. You need to make sure that seam is sealed very well with a good automotive windsheald seal product.

Secondly, the service call water tank/sink issue could be suspicious. The water storage tank is stored under the left bench and the supply hose runs right as the base of that window over to the sink. So that would be also good to check all of that as well.

My money is on the window gasket seam.

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Barb
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Last seen: 6 months 1 week ago
Joined: 06/27/2014 - 18:33
Leak

Thanks Greg!  I was looking more closely at the back window and I can see some possible issues there for sure.  And my brother in law really wonders about the tank and that hose.  To check out the hose would we need to cut the carpet to get to it??  I really appreciate the wisdom on this site and the willingness of people to share!!  Always my first stop with my questions!!

 

Greg A
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Water tank hose

Looking at ur pic it looks like the floor carpet simply tucks under the wall trim piece. You can see the bulge under the carpet where the tank line and power cables run. Pull the carpet out from under the trim and you should be able to pull the carpet back and see the lines.

Simpler would be to fill the tank and run the pump and sink checking for leaks. If none, it's the window gasket.

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Barb
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Last seen: 6 months 1 week ago
Joined: 06/27/2014 - 18:33
Leak

Here are some photos of my back window and now I see that the side windows also have issues.  I'll call Scamp service on Monday and figure out what I need to order.  Last question (I hope)...I saw that you could have a glass place work on something like this and that it's not an easy fix.  I'm just wondering if a really good "handyman" could do it for me?  I saw you had posted some videos and I suppose he could do some research.  I just can't do any of this on my own!!  How do you know if you just need to order all new windows?  I really haven't put much $ into my 2004 Scamp so I want to do what is best!!  Thanks again for the help!!

Paul O.
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Those pictures you posted

Those pictures you posted here are exactly what my 2004 5th wheel looked like when I bought it in 2013 (third owner). The rubber shrinks over the years and the ends of the seals pull away from the frame pieces and open possible leaks. I used Lexel to fill those gaps. It seems that the rubber has done its shrinking and over the last ten years the gaps did not open much.

Cut the Lexel tube nozzle small and push the bead in to fill the voids. Do not try to smooth it with fingers or tools, it may make it worse. It is not very hard to do, and you may not need to buy new windows. Good luck!

A quick note about finding leaks. The carpet will soak up any water and stay wet, but the "rat fur" sheds water (hydrophobic) and may feel dry very quickly. I also had some wet carpet under the back window recently, inside of the storage cabinet, and I concluded that it may have been the wind driven heavy rains we had this spring.

-Paul
2004 Scamp 19 Deluxe,
2021 Tacoma, Double Cab, 6 cyl. 4WD
Colorado

Barb
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Last seen: 6 months 1 week ago
Joined: 06/27/2014 - 18:33
Thanks a lot Paul!!  I'm

Thanks a lot Paul!!  I'm thinking hard about all of these ideas and really appreciate people taking the time to respond!!  Wish I would have paid some attention to the state of things when I bought my 2004, in 2014. 

 

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