Pass Through Storage Door Trim and Rain Intrusion

[Big Myke]

I have noticed that when it rains the trim on the storage doors apparently is not water tight. I say this because when I raise the door and fasten it to the magnet catch, water begins to run down the inside of the inverted door. Anyone else noticed this? If so, what have you done to correct? Secondly, does the material the door panels are made of absorb water? I'm thinking the answer to that one is no, but what about if water gets in there and then freezes between the trim and the panel?

 

[howson]

I have noticed that when it rains the trim on the storage doors apparently is not water tight. I say this because when I raise the door and fasten it to the magnet catch, water begins to run down the inside of the inverted door. Anyone else noticed this? If so, what have you done to correct? Secondly, does the material the door panels are made of absorb water? I'm thinking the answer to that one is no, but what about if water gets in there and then freezes between the trim and the panel?

Big Myke--can you please fill out your signature line? I forget what year & model GD you are referencing. (I could look through your posts but having it right in the sig line will make it so much easier!)

 

[Big Myke]

Big Myke--can you please fill out your signature line? I forget what year & model GD you are referencing. (I could look through your posts but having it right in the sig line will make it so much easier!)

I have been meaning to do that...

 

[huntr70]

No, they are not sealed.

It's because the door material does not expand and contract at the same rate as the aluminum framing, so it would never stay sealed anyway.

Did you ever look at the larger compartment doors when it is cold out? They appear bowed because the framing shrinks more in the cold than the door material.

 

[howson]

I have noticed that when it rains the trim on the storage doors apparently is not water tight. I say this because when I raise the door and fasten it to the magnet catch, water begins to run down the inside of the inverted door. Anyone else noticed this? If so, what have you done to correct? Secondly, does the material the door panels are made of absorb water? I'm thinking the answer to that one is no, but what about if water gets in there and then freezes between the trim and the panel?

The pass-thru storage doors on my 315 don't leak, though they aren't completely waterproof, either. Those catch trays at the ends of the pass-thru (or whatever they are called) are a smart design feature choice by GD to account for this potential IMO.

The storage door for under the bed--that was (and still is) another story. I haven't permanently fixed mine (yet) but I know the problem.

The insert (the "insert" is the brown metal trim piece that stays attached to the camper) that the door closes in is the issue. Along the bottom interior edge of the insert it is not flush with the aluminum frame (but it is flush with the exterior wall). In other words, on the bottom edge (inside the storage area) there's an air gap between the aluminum frame and the bottom of the insert. I can feel this with my fingers when I reach in and feel along the bottom back edge of the insert.

When the screws were installed to attached the insert to the aluminum frame, the gorilla that installed them drove them right through the thin metal of the insert. This created gouges in the insert with gaps around the screw head and bent the insert down at a angle. When water collected in the down-turned insert, gravity directs it to pool and then it leaked through the gaps around the screw heads, entering the storage area.

As a temp fix I removed the screws, added silicone in and around the insert screw holes (and on the screws themselves) and then reinstalled. Before tightening I also bent the bottom of the insert up (gently!) so it is not so easy for the water to pool.

If all of those words make no sense, I can take pictures later when I get home from work later today.

-Howard

 

[Big Myke]

No, they are not sealed.

It's because the door material does not expand and contract at the same rate as the aluminum framing, so it would never stay sealed anyway.

Did you ever look at the larger compartment doors when it is cold out? They appear bowed because the framing shrinks more in the cold than the door material.

No, Steve I have not noticed that but makes sense. So does Howard's observation about the drip trays at either end of the storage area. Thanks!

 

[Big Myke]

The pass-thru storage doors on my 315 don't leak, though they aren't completely waterproof, either. Those catch trays at the ends of the pass-thru (or whatever they are called) are a smart design feature choice by GD to account for this potential IMO.

The storage door for under the bed--that was (and still is) another story. I haven't permanently fixed mine (yet) but I know the problem.

The insert (the "insert" is the brown metal trim piece that stays attached to the camper) that the door closes in is the issue. Along the bottom interior edge of the insert it is not flush with the aluminum frame (but it is flush with the exterior wall). In other words, on the bottom edge (inside the storage area) there's an air gap between the aluminum frame and the bottom of the insert. I can feel this with my fingers when I reach in and feel along the bottom back edge of the insert.

When the screws were installed to attached the insert to the aluminum frame, the gorilla that installed them drove them right through the thin metal of the insert. This created gouges in the insert with gaps around the screw head and bent the insert down at a angle. When water collected in the down-turned insert, gravity directs it to pool and then it leaked through the gaps around the screw heads, entering the storage area.

As a temp fix I removed the screws, added silicone in and around the insert screw holes (and on the screws themselves) and then reinstalled. Before tightening I also bent the bottom of the insert up (gently!) so it is not so easy for the water to pool.

If all of those words make no sense, I can take pictures later when I get home from work later today.

-Howard

I will take a look at the slider storage on my next visit.

 

[315RLTSinPA]

Howson, I know exactly what you mean about the trim around the storage door under the bed. What got my attention was I could pull the door open without unlocking the latch. I also had to bend the trim up so the latch would catch. Then to make it more secure I replaced the end thumb latches with keyed locks and put 1 of the thumb latches in the center where the original keyed lock was. Also when I replaced the locks, I got ones keyed the same as the main door. Then I replaced the slam latches with keyed alike locks so all my locks are keyed alike. (P.S. this is going to cost you more money)

 

[howson]

Howson, I know exactly what you mean about the trim around the storage door under the bed. What got my attention was I could pull the door open without unlocking the latch. I also had to bend the trim up so the latch would catch. Then to make it more secure I replaced the end thumb latches with keyed locks and put 1 of the thumb latches in the center where the original keyed lock was. Also when I replaced the locks, I got ones keyed the same as the main door. Then I replaced the slam latches with keyed alike locks so all my locks are keyed alike. (P.S. this is going to cost you more money)

Well, at least I read this before I bought all new locks. Getting them all keyed alike is yet another item on my "RounToIt" list that I haven't, um, gotten around to yet. My Project Days:Camping Days ratio is already about 3 weeks to one day as it is. "POW" is keeping me busy.

 

[Big Myke]

I will take a look at the slider storage on my next visit.

It's been raining here in mid-Atlantic like monsoon season in the Pacific! So, slider storage is leaking badly. If it wasn't for the cardboard boxes that I had items stored in soaking up most of the water It would have had at least an inch of water inside! Inside compartment under bed is still dry but for how long? It looks like the cutout for the door flange/frame is too big and does not have a gasket or sealant to take up the void. I felt nothing on either side of the door frame that could be considered an attempt to seal. I saw no evidence of what Howard discovered on his slider storage insert. I don't want to do anything that would void a warranty claim but thinking I could take care of it myself...?

 

[315RLTSinPA]

When it comes to water leaks, the heck with worrying about the warranty, do what you have to do to stop it.

 

[Big Myke]

That's what my gut told me also! Getting a break in the weather next two days.

 

[howson]

That's what my gut told me also! Getting a break in the weather next two days.

Mike--pls post when you've got this figured out.

-Howard

 

[Big Myke]

Mike--pls post when you've got this figured out.

-Howard

I sure will.

 

[Big Myke]

I have made one observation and one repair. I noticed that the door seal and the inside edge of the compartment is split and aligns perfectly. The repair that I made was to where the key and lock assembly passes through the door panel coincidentally, also in alignment with the seal and compartment edge splits. The assembly was excessively loose. I applied silicone sealant to the mating surfaces and the hole in the door and reinstalled the lock, tightening until it was flush on both sides. I think this may have been the issue for me all along. It has continued to be rainy here and no repeat of the intrusion.