(This is my 1st post, so I don't know if the photos will upload.) I noticed crack in paneling (2nd photo) and then realized MDF trim (around slide out) was wet by floor. On Oregon Coast, we had had 2 days of torrential rain. The next day, I opened bench up -- carpet in the outer corner was soaked. I only had one latch closed on storage access door, so water may have leaked in through there. It's wettest in the corner, and, thankfully, I caught this early. The walls around the windows are dry (per pinless moisture meter).
Being aware of issue of rain water running down slideout sidewall and wicking underneath slideout and getting in through screw holes, I realized this has also happened. I called Northwood -- they agreed I should cut it open. That's what I did. I removed some of the Darco on both sides, about 12" in. The center is fine (again, using moisture meter).
The wood was soaked under the Darco, so, even though I don't know how I will repair this, I am relieved that the wood will have a chance to dry out. We have more heavy rain coming tomorrow, so I made a makeshift drip edge with blue painter's tape and duct tape. I'm hoping this is the sole cause of the leak. I wonder if that would account for the wet MDF trim? If water got in through storage access door, could it have traveled over there (perhaps between carpet and foil backed "pad"? Or is it from water wicking up underneath slide? My fear is that maybe water is getting past the wiper seal in that corner??
The outer corner on the opposite side is where the wood is worst, having gotten in through this electrical opening. I feel I caught all this early compared to many, but it still sucks! (I have my drip edge taped up, so the air can get on the wood as long as it's not raining.)
Another question, will I have to replace the Darco before bringing slide in? I'm stationary, but just wondering if the bare wood -there is some kind of purplish coating (glue that Darco was adhered to?), would be too much friction? Just FYI, I am using a dehumidifier -- already was, but even more important to help things dry out.
Does the wiper seal look normal? It looks like it was either cut or torn (just below blue tape in photo). The fragment hanging is Darco I cut. I've seen some RVs with the wiper seal dangling down a ways as a drip edge. Mine does not. It's the same on the other side.
Being aware of issue of rain water running down slideout sidewall and wicking underneath slideout and getting in through screw holes, I realized this has also happened. I called Northwood -- they agreed I should cut it open. That's what I did. I removed some of the Darco on both sides, about 12" in. The center is fine (again, using moisture meter).
The wood was soaked under the Darco, so, even though I don't know how I will repair this, I am relieved that the wood will have a chance to dry out. We have more heavy rain coming tomorrow, so I made a makeshift drip edge with blue painter's tape and duct tape. I'm hoping this is the sole cause of the leak. I wonder if that would account for the wet MDF trim? If water got in through storage access door, could it have traveled over there (perhaps between carpet and foil backed "pad"? Or is it from water wicking up underneath slide? My fear is that maybe water is getting past the wiper seal in that corner??
The outer corner on the opposite side is where the wood is worst, having gotten in through this electrical opening. I feel I caught all this early compared to many, but it still sucks! (I have my drip edge taped up, so the air can get on the wood as long as it's not raining.)
Another question, will I have to replace the Darco before bringing slide in? I'm stationary, but just wondering if the bare wood -there is some kind of purplish coating (glue that Darco was adhered to?), would be too much friction? Just FYI, I am using a dehumidifier -- already was, but even more important to help things dry out.
Does the wiper seal look normal? It looks like it was either cut or torn (just below blue tape in photo). The fragment hanging is Darco I cut. I've seen some RVs with the wiper seal dangling down a ways as a drip edge. Mine does not. It's the same on the other side.
