Ahoy! Water leak below - any ideas?

[Julie C]

Hello GD family!

We did our walk through & took possession of our 2023 Grand Design Solitude FL R on Thursday. Everything went well - we found a few small things and the the dealer fixed them straight away.

Next, we went to a nearby campground to test the rig out by staying in it for a day & night. We showered & then headed to bed. The next day, sometime in the afternoon, we noted water in one of the hook up side storage bays - specifically, the bay right under the bedroom slide.

Facing the bay, the water was running down the right side of the bay across the bottom of the bay and then out onto the ground via the left side.

Any idea what this could be?

We have an appointment with service on Monday a.m., but forewarned is forearmed!

 

[ocbizman1]

Hello GD family!

We did our walk through & took possession of our 2023 Grand Design Solitude FL R on Thursday. Everything went well - we found a few small things and the the dealer fixed them straight away.

Next, we went to a nearby campground to test the rig out by staying in it for a day & night. We showered & then headed to bed. The next day, sometime in the afternoon, we noted water in one of the hook up side storage bays - specifically, the bay right under the bedroom slide.

Facing the bay, the water was running down the right side of the bay across the bottom of the bay and then out onto the ground via the left side.

Any idea what this could be?

We have an appointment with service on Monday a.m., but forewarned is forearmed!

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Fortunately (knock on wood) we've not experienced a leak in our current rig. Had one in our last trailer, but that was caused by one of the tires exploding along a desolate stretch of Arizona highway near a pile of bleached bones and some large hungry vultures! When the tire exploded a piece of it came up thru the sub-floor and ruptured the water line under the bathroom sink. Our last trailer was a Jayco Kiwi 23B. The water pump was right there above the breach and somehow came on spewing water all over the inside.

On a side note, does anyone have a recommendation on a wireless RV water leak detector?

 

[trailrydr]

Fortunately (knock on wood) we've not experienced a leak in our current rig. Had one in our last trailer, but that was caused by one of the tires exploding along a desolate stretch of Arizona highway near a pile of bleached bones and some large hungry vultures! When the tire exploded a piece of it came up thru the sub-floor and ruptured the water line under the bathroom sink. Our last trailer was a Jayco Kiwi 23B. The water pump was right there above the breach and somehow came on spewing water all over the inside.

On a side note, does anyone have a recommendation on a wireless RV water leak detector?

We bought the ones below. They were recommended by some here on the forum as well.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01IWTCLHA/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[ocbizman1]

We bought the ones below. They were recommended by some here on the forum as well.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01IWTCLHA/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Thanks. That was one of the brands I was looking at. I with Lippert made one that connected to OneControl.

 

[LanerC]

If that leak happened in my 310GK I would suspect a fitting on my water pump. Or a fitting behind the nautilus water panel. The removable wall on the right side, facing the bay, inside the bay, gives access to the water pump and connections to the Nautilus. Four screws hold the panel in on mine.

 

[Julie C]

If that leak happened in my 310GK I would suspect a fitting on my water pump. Or a fitting behind the nautilus water panel. The removable wall on the right side, facing the bay, inside the bay, gives access to the water pump and connections to the Nautilus. Four screws hold the panel in on mine.

Thanks! We will take a look but still keep our Monday appointment even if we fix it ourselves. It's brand new after all

 

[Julie C]

We bought the ones below. They were recommended by some here on the forum as well.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01IWTCLHA/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Do water leak detectors actually work for 5th wheels? And where are they best placed?

 

[gigattime]

I would guess one of the connections on the Nautilus System. It has a bunch of fittings behind that panel. We had an elbow leak on our unit when it was just a year or two old.

I replaced the elbow and no more issues since.

 

[gigattime]

Do water leak detectors actually work for 5th wheels? And where are they best placed?

They do. Most put them behind the wall in the basement storage where the water heater, pump, and back side of the Nautilus System are located.

 

[Tom Traveler]

If that leak happened in my 310GK I would suspect a fitting on my water pump. Or a fitting behind the nautilus water panel. The removable wall on the right side, facing the bay, inside the bay, gives access to the water pump and connections to the Nautilus. Four screws hold the panel in on mine.

The OP’s leak is nowhere near the pump or Nautilus panel. There are water lines runnng near the indicted source of the leak. These lines feed the bathroom in the 380FL. I would suspect a leak in the shower drain or a shower or sink fitting. Did you hookup a hose and run rhe shower and sinks during PDI?

 

[Julie C]

This is excellent information. Thanks!

 

[Julie C]

The OP’s leak is nowhere near the pump or Nautilus panel. There are water lines runnng near the indicted source of the leak. These lines feed the bathroom in the 380FL. I would suspect a leak in the shower drain or a shower or sink fitting. Did you hookup a hose and run rhe shower and sinks during PDI?

We did. Turned the shower on - all the sinks... everything

This is good intel too.

 

[Gronk1]

Do water leak detectors actually work for 5th wheels? And where are they best placed?

I put a leak detector under/near: the water pump, water heater, kitchen sink, bathroom sink low point in the basement (behind the wall). It has alerted me to a leaking pump...twice.

 

[Chatmancd]

Some additional information to add to what Julie shared: The water leak only occurs when I am connected to the city water, when I turn the city water off the leak slows down and stops.

 

[Julie C]

Problem solved!

It was a cracked cold water line leading to the washer hook up

The dealer fixed it within about 2 1/2 hours at no cost

 

[gigattime]

Thanks for updating the post.

 

[timlisajax]

Do water leak detectors actually work for 5th wheels? And where are they best placed?

Hi Julie - the leak detectors do work, and sometimes they work too well. We have camped in cold weather and I put additional heat, besides the OEM Grand Design vent, to the underbelly and it can create condensation which set off the alarm. A bit of a nuisance but peace of mind. I placed our detector in one of those aluminum throw away baking pans - about 8" x 8" or so. I placed it under all of the hoses that are attached to the Nautilus on the back side. On our camper, there was a short panel of carpet covered plywood which I replace with plexiglass. Whenever I hook up to the Nautilus, I can see behind the panel and check for leaks. Again, peace of mind.

RE: your leak - based on your floorplan, there are alot of water and drain connections in the rear of your camper. First thing I would check would be to make sure all of those are snug.

 

[timlisajax]

Problem solved!

It was a cracked cold water line leading to the washer hook up

The dealer fixed it within about 2 1/2 hours at no cost

Just saw your update. Glad its fixed.

 

[Jerryrapp]

Check for cracks around the edges of the bathroom skylight. After rain it leaks into shower and into ceiling, walls and eventually on to the ground through the underbelly cover. Not properly caulking either. Happened to us.

 

[Mechanic Bob]

Thanks for reporting the issue and the repair!

We had to caulk all around the shower frame, as we noticed water on the floor after we showered. I could see daylight between the shower wall and the front track. Also water was leaking where the bottom rail and side rails joined together.