Front of the trailer leaking

BeerBrewer-MGRV

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NY, Suffolk County, Long Island
We own a 2023 Imagine 2670MK and we've got a leak in the front of the trailer that I was really lucky to find. I'm in the middle of a battery upgrade and I was considering placing the batteries inside the dead space between the front of the trailer and inside of the storage bay. So I pried back the paneling a bit so I could get a better look. When I stuck my hand in to move the insulation back I found the the insulation was soaking wet at the bottom. So I removed the rest of the paneling and found a lot of wet insulation all the way across the trailer. I went up on the roof and didn't find any obvious sources of the leak and everything looked okay. I also examined the seals that run down the sides cap and they seemed okay as well. I also examined the cap where the fiberglass cap joins the aluminum skin (it's coated black). So then I got out the garden hose out to see if I could find it. I hit the seam where the fiberglass cap meets the aluminum and water started to trickle in in a few spots. The water dripped down and hit a square aluminum bar and ran across, where it was absorbed by the insulation. So I called Grand Design and they told me that I was out of warranty. They suggested that I take it to a RV dealer to have it repaired. I told them the closest GD dealer was two hours away and that this looks to be a simple repair and that I'd like to do it myself. Their only advice was to use Geocel 2300 sealant. So I ordered a tube from Amazon and went out today to do the repair. The seem that's leaking has a black metal edge with screws every few inches. My plan was to loosen the screws and inject sealant behind the metal strip. Then tighten the screws back and wipe up the excess. Unfortunately, I don't have a tool that matches the screw head, so I can't loosen the screws. Its not a Torx, or philps head. It looks like a combination between a Torx and an Allen key. Does anyone know what type of screw head this is?
 
I don't know what those screws are.

I would not loosen them, anyway - you are liable to introduce more leaks.


Just seal the edges of the metal piece and the tops of the screws.

Dislodging any seal you don't have to is always a bad idea.
 
It's likely a square (Robertson) head like the screws on the inside of the RV. Probably a #2 . But you could pick up a couple of bits #1 and #2 locally and see which fits. I respectfully disagree with [MENTION=10501]Najataagihe[/MENTION] and suggest you do remove the screws, drive some sealant into each hole and replace the screw, then run a bead of caulk along the top edge of the trim. The more screws you can do this with all around the exterior the less chance you'll find other similar leaks elsewhere on the trailer in the future. Just my $.02.
 
No worries!

Different folks do things differently.


My primary concern is not the screws, themselves, but pulling that mounting strip off.

Things tend to stick and tearing that roof under the strip when you peel it off can lead to more holes!

(Ask me how I know!)


His roof may be new enough to not be stuck to that strip, yet.

Then, again,...
 
No worries!

Different folks do things differently.


My primary concern is not the screws, themselves, but pulling that mounting strip off.

Things tend to stick and tearing that roof under the strip when you peel it off can lead to more holes!

(Ask me how I know!)


His roof may be new enough to not be stuck to that strip, yet.

Then, again,...

Yes, agree with you there. Just pull the screws, not the trim unless you know it's needed. That makes life much easier.
 
Update... I found correct tip at the local tool/hardware store and was able to loosen the screws. As I loosened the screws on the passenger side of the trailer and the metal edge just released and pealed back. There was no sealant behind the metal edge....I think I found my leaky spot. So I filled that area with sealant. Then I remove the screws one at a time (as someone suggested) and I filled the hole with sealant. I did this for every screw. It rained all day today and I haven't seen a leak! So I may have sealed it up!

Thanks for your suggestions!
 
Update... I found correct tip at the local tool/hardware store and was able to loosen the screws. As I loosened the screws on the passenger side of the trailer and the metal edge just released and pealed back. There was no sealant behind the metal edge....I think I found my leaky spot. So I filled that area with sealant. Then I remove the screws one at a time (as someone suggested) and I filled the hole with sealant. I did this for every screw. It rained all day today and I haven't seen a leak! So I may have sealed it up!

Thanks for your suggestions!

Not surprising I guess to find there was no sealant behind the trim, but disappointing for sure. I've refurbished a few campers over the years down to studs and floor joists (when they still had fiberglass mat under the floor and in the walls). The thing I've learned is that the overall quality of assembly is about the same today as it was 40 years ago. Insulation is much better due to the way they sandwich the walls with stryofoam (with the old fiberglass mat, some pockets would have no insulation, in others it was so thin you could see the aluminum skin through it), but the caulking, roofing, products they use, and attention to detail, have not improved at all IMHO. Glad you took the time to pull the screws yourself and caulk them. Now do yourself a favor as you have time and start pulling screws everywhere and do the same thing. Including pulling the vinyl trim from the corners and caulk those screws. Anywhere you see rust on the screw you know water has already penetrated it. Okay, off my soapbox. Safe travels!
 
Now do yourself a favor as you have time and start pulling screws everywhere and do the same thing. Including pulling the vinyl trim from the corners and caulk those screws. Anywhere you see rust on the screw you know water has already penetrated it. Okay, off my soapbox. Safe travels!

What good advice! I didn't even know vinyl corner trim was removable. Its now on my to do list. This is our second GD trailer, our first was a 2018 Transcend 26RLS and we're regretting trading it in for our Imagine 2670mk. We only had a few minor issues with the Transcend that I took care of. We do love the layout of the 2670mk unfortunately we've had lots of issues with it.....
 

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