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  1. #1
    agoutdoors
    Guest

    Unwanted Water in the Underbelly - do you have any? Better double check...

    I seem to be cursed with our brand new 385TH. First an axle issue, now this...

    When I was dealing with the axle issue, I noticed water dripping from between the frame and the plastic cardboard covering the underbelly where the freshwater tank was along with one septic holding tank. Keep in mind I had yet to use the trailer so I had not put water in it. So either the manufacture had for testing or the dealer had. It was winterized by the dealer prior to me taking possession.

    The dealer said they checked it out after fixing my axle issue but they said "we saw no signs of water"...that didn't add up with me. After a discussion with GD about it, I let them know I would be doing my own investigation, they said OK and let them know what I found.

    I found a lot of water. See the links for video and the below pictures:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bt7MDExymiY
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbuirEXsnN4
    Both of these were taken after some water had poured out, then I decided I should video.

    Click image for larger version. 

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    I did some basic testing of water lines and sewer lines with the underbelly cover partially removed but saw now obvious signs of new water.

    So with that information, and another phone call with GD, they authorized me to get a 3rd party to come out and take a look.

    He came out on Monday and we completely cut out and removed the cover to give us full access to everywhere we needed to get to really so some testing and get our heads into the void spaces.

    The good news is we found no leaks in any part of the fresh water system or the septic systems. Bad news is we did discover what we believe to be the reason why there is water in the rear underbelly AND the front underbelly.

    (see next post - it appears they are limiting the file size in a post)
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails IMAG1116.jpg  

  2. #2
    agoutdoors
    Guest
    Here is where we believe all the water is coming from:

    Click image for larger version. 

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    The water streaks and lots of rust seem to lead me to believe its been like that for sometime. I live in Washington state...it rains a lot.

  3. #3
    agoutdoors
    Guest
    Here is the other side of the frame that is allowing the water to enter into the underbelly:

    Click image for larger version. 

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    2 of the pictures are from the slide rails that are close to the wheel wells. The 3rd picture is where the top of the frame meets the bottom of the actual floor. The road spray from the wheels is penetrating the frame into the underbelly. The space around the slide rails is obvious however we also noticed that where the frame and floor meet is not sealed so water is able to get through that point all along the frame where road spray is hitting. There are dried water drops on the edge of the upper frame (think I-beam). It seem like a lot of water but it must just be pouring in when the roads are wet.

    I talked to GD about the findings this morning and other than putting a bead of silicone along the frame and floor point, and adding some foam or silicone the holes around the slide rails where the slotted track is not, there is no fix for this. They said there is not a way of sealing around the slotted track of the slide rail.

    So at some point, all that water and moisture is going to start a mold and mildew problem from the insulation being constantly wet. If you have a chance to look at how your rigs are built, there is likely a way for air to end back into the inside of the cabin since there are air ducts to deliver warm air to the spaces to help prevent freezing...thus a possible health issue for those with allergy sensitivity and eventually anyone entering into a rig with that problem.

    Maybe I am overly cautious or concern, but to me this seems like a bigger problem that just my 385TH...is this common on more models of GD? Is this a problem that you would see on other manufacturer's? I am going to start looking at a few other brands to see if they might have the same type of problem or if they have a "fix".

    If you check your rig's, simply remove a couple of the screws holding on the underbelly cover and see if there is rust at the point of the screw holes on the frame...if there is rust, there might be more going on than you know about. If more people start finding moisture in the underbelly and the insulation soaking wet, we need to all call into GD and demand something be done.

    Let me know if I have not done a good job of explaining what I found or if you want more information.

  4. #4
    agoutdoors
    Guest
    Also forgot to mention, it appears that when there is enough water in the rear underbelly, it overflows into the front underbelly as seen in the photo here:

    Click image for larger version. 

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    So, the rear was far worse than the front, but there is moisture in the front area also.

  5. #5
    thompsjk
    Guest
    I have been following this since it started. I picked up my 385 last August and on the way home it started raining. It rained heavy for about two hours of my trip home. The day after getting home I noticed oil dripping out of the front compartment and found that one of the slide out hoses had a big bubble at one of the fittings and was leaking. I called Grand Design and got a moble RV tech to come out to my house since I could not pull the slide out back in. When we started removing the front underbelly water started running out. I asked the tech if he seen any signs of leaking plumbing and he said no. He then said it was not uncommon to have water in there and he sees it more offten then not when pulling the underbellys off of campers. We have used ours 6 or 7 times since then and I have not seen any signs of any more water but have also not pulled it in the rain again. One difference in mine and yours is I did not have any water in the rear section of the underbelly.

  6. #6
    Seasoned Camper PolarBear's Avatar
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    Nov 2014
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    Follwing ,,,,Thanks
    Nelson & Susan
    Bakersfield, Ca.
    FT @ Orange Grove RV Park
    2015 GD379FL Solitude
    We Pull with 2016 RAM 3500 DRW, 4x4, 6.7 Cummins
    We are FTing and FT Work we have a few more years till we can travel

  7. #7
    Rolling Along
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
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    Northfield Center, Ohio
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    I also had some water leaking from the underside of our 2015 305RE, when stopped at a dump station. In checking everything that I could, at the time, I was unable to determine the origin. When the opportunity presents itself, I will pull the underside down to check. This is one thread that I belive is/could be a very serious one, and one that is undetectable.

  8. #8
    Splitsworld
    Guest
    Ago,

    Your videos are nothing compared to my leak..lol. You should see how much water came out of mine! i'm guessing about 1/3 of the fresh tank, and that was before the underbelly came out. (mine was due to a cracked tank)So the gist of it is that you are saying that the water you are seeing in the underbelly is coming in through the under part of the slides? I asked my mobile guy and he said the same thing, basically that it is impossible to really seal the bottoms up and he sees water in these all the time? I wonder why there are not drain holes in the bottom belly. I understand this is a winter package deal but i am thinking its time for some redneck engineering on my part. I am glad i no longer live up in the NW so rain isnt that big of a deal but i will take a look at my slides. there has to be a rubber strip we can use like the side and top of the slides?
    Last edited by Splitsworld; 03-04-2015 at 07:01 AM.

  9. #9
    Seasoned Camper CManley's Avatar
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    Feb 2015
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    My last trailer in heavy rain the tires would kick up enough water to push up past the slide resulting in wet carpet (It did not have an under belly). In addition the black material that protected the flooring and insulation was getting pelted by rocks and had started to wear. The solution was to craft inner fender wells from galvanized steel sheets. I added fender wells to both sides (only had one slide out). This approached resolved the water and road debris issues.

    I haven't taken possession of the new trailer yet, this was one of the things I was going to look at.
    The mountains are calling and I must go" John Muir

    Chuck
    2015 Reflection 303 RLS
    2005 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD Duramax
    Elk Grove, Ca


    http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...psotab2qdx.jpg

  10. #10
    Site Sponsor Cate&Rob's Avatar
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    If we can't be sure that water won't get into the under belly, how about making it easier for the water to get back out again? Flush mount duck bill drains over holes at the low points would accomplish this.
    http://www.thmarine.com/products/Aer...k-Bill-Scupper
    Just a thought . . .

    Rob
    Cate & Rob
    2015 Reflection 303RLS

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