Awning leaks between metal rail and sidewall of trailer

pvoinche

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RV LIFE Pro
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May 30, 2024
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Location
Louisiana
I have a 2022 GD Imagine 2600RB. When it rains, it pours water down the side of the trailer under the awning. Originally there was only one small leak and was repaired (under warranty). I have seen posts that say to caulk the railing, but where? From underneath where it rests against the fiberglass side? Or from the top where the rail starts against the TPO roof? Any suggestions, youtube videos are welcome as the awning doesn't protect us from ANY rain.
 
I have a 2022 GD Imagine 2600RB. When it rains, it pours water down the side of the trailer under the awning. Originally there was only one small leak and was repaired (under warranty). I have seen posts that say to caulk the railing, but where? From underneath where it rests against the fiberglass side? Or from the top where the rail starts against the TPO roof? Any suggestions, youtube videos are welcome as the awning doesn't protect us from ANY rain.

Is it the actual rail or the gap where 2 pieces of rail butt up against each other?

The butt joint is notorious for leaking. You can caulk it, but it will work itself open again while driving the beautiful roads...

Insert disclaimer here- **If you read the manual for the awning, it will say that it should be put away during rain, as it is for shade only**
 
I have a 2022 GD Imagine 2600RB. When it rains, it pours water down the side of the trailer under the awning. Originally there was only one small leak and was repaired (under warranty). I have seen posts that say to caulk the railing, but where? From underneath where it rests against the fiberglass side? Or from the top where the rail starts against the TPO roof? Any suggestions, youtube videos are welcome as the awning doesn't protect us from ANY rain.

If you are having the same problem as me, the rail that the awning slides into is pulling away from the sidewall of the RV. I had to fix this by replacing all of the screws holding that rail to the sidewall with molly rivets. It hasn't pulled away since.
 
Is it the actual rail or the gap where 2 pieces of rail butt up against each other?

The butt joint is notorious for leaking. You can caulk it, but it will work itself open again while driving the beautiful roads...

Insert disclaimer here- **If you read the manual for the awning, it will say that it should be put away during rain, as it is for shade only**
It leaks even when the awning is all the way in, especially over the door. It does leak where the butt joint is, but also along the entire length of the awning in several different places. The awning has no holes, nor does the gutter.
 
I have a 2022 GD Imagine 2600RB. When it rains, it pours water down the side of the trailer under the awning. Originally there was only one small leak and was repaired (under warranty). I have seen posts that say to caulk the railing, but where? From underneath where it rests against the fiberglass side? Or from the top where the rail starts against the TPO roof? Any suggestions, youtube videos are welcome as the awning doesn't protect us from ANY rain.
From the top. Yes where the awning track gutter rail fits up against and covers the TPO roof membrane. You can pull off the rubber strip that covers the screw heads and tighten the screws if they have worked loose. If the screws were loose I would use some type of sealer on the threads when you reinsert the screws. Then replace the rubber strip to cover the screw heads. Then caulk the joint between the TPO roof membrane and the top of the gutter track. I just did this on our RV.

I have even seen owners use eternabond and run a 4-5 inch strip from the rooftop over the side and partially cover the very top of the trim track and gutter. Of course on the awning side of the trailer the trim with the screws into the side wall incorporates the awning track groove and gutter, on the opposite side of the trailer its just the gutter trim piece and no awning track groove.

You really don't want water to get in behind the track or gutter, as the water could wick in behind the TPO membrane and start to soak and rot the roof wood sheeting edge or roof rafters. I have seen videos of companies installing "forever" roofs and when they remove the gutter trim strips and remove the old TPO membrane they find the TPO membrane was not cut straight or is too short and the roof sheeting on the edge had no covering or protection. On a lot of other brand RVs you notice they extend the roof TPO membrane over the side at least 4 inches to be sure the roof material is covered. Grand Design does not do that, barely an inch over the side wall.
 

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