Leaky Class C window

[Colliemom]

Finally found out why those upper bunk windows on Class C's tend to leak. According to my sales guy yesterday, those windows are sealed with a small plastic rim around them. Cause they are exposed to sun, they get hot and that plastic begins to warp. They get hit by bugs etc. whle they are on the road and even getting a little bug down in there can cause the plastic not to seal tight, hence the leak. He said the plastic is really small. Makes sense. Theere's other sealers in there too, but here and again, like any window, they age with time.

[Pooker]

Leaks are common in ALL types of RVs. That's why you should have a once or twice a year routine maintenance of repairing/replacing the sealing around every window and everything on the roof (vents, A/C's, antennas, etc.). If a salesman singles out one type of rig for one type of problem (the Class C bunkover window), I'd be wondering why he didn't mention the front windows of travel trailers (another favorite leaking spot) or the corners of the outside trim; the roof A/C, etc. of Class A's or around the large windows.

I have a C with a wide overhead bunk window in front and two small windows on each side. No leaks yet (fingers crossed here). But had a 22' TT in the past that had a leaky front window no matter how many times we sealed it! Never did discover where the water was coming in!

So, lesson #820 - check every place on your rig for potential leaks, no matter which type of rig you have and keep that silicone handy!

Pooker

[Bethers]

I agree with Pooker - and I don't listen too much to sales reps - they have lots of not the best info - sorry to say that, but it's true. Most of them have never worked in service on rv's and never owned an rv. They are in it to sell the rv's. I have twice now corrected wrong information from sales reps on simple things. Won't even ask them difficult stuff. That said, talk to them, but take what they say with a grain of salt.

I have had a leak in my rv - not any windows though - and I do have the front window - and my rv is 11 years old now. RV's - just like houses and cars and everything else - need to be maintained. If not, things go wrong. And even when maintained, things go wrong - fridges quit working, etc - there will be maintenance on all rv's.

And be very careful about what silicone you use - some will help - some will hurt. In the maintenance section, I have posted some dos and don'ts from a maintenance class - and it's where I learned the ingredients in some of the silicones that even are said to be for rv's won't work on rv's. (Don't you just love THAT?)

[AlmostThere]

As I store my motorhome during the winter months, and it can get below freezing here, I get my rig winterized. The place where I take it to have that done also will check all the seals, which I had done, too. Beth is right. Maintenance is key!

[Colliemom]

o agree with you on the The sales guy was just answering my question as to why the windows leak. Same goes for those in the front of trailers cause I asked him about that too. This guy is an RVer, so he knows about the rigs as opposed to some who just sell them. That's why he pointed out to me about the materials used in lightweight trailers. He just wanted me to be aware of it and it doesnt mean it's every brand. Just the one I was kind of looking at.He gave me a lot of helpful information. And no he didnt have a FW he was trying to sell. He just thought that since I was going solo, that it might be easier to hitch up without having to keep getting and out to see where the TT's hitch is back there. He iddnt recommend any particular TT, just let me go browse and look for myself, pointed out some of the features on the better made trailers as opposed to others etc. I do agree with you on the ssales reps. I can tell the ones who are being honest from those who are out to make a sale. I steer clear of them. This guy was the first on who took the time to actually tell me about things and show me different things, things to watch for, things to think about etc. He's a sales rep for Camping World which I am sure many of you are familiar with.

[Bethers]

Excuse me, he pointed out the way the lower priced trailers were made, because he makes more money on the more expensive trailers. Now, yes, some are made with cheaper materials. Did you know if you buy premade kitchen cabinets, they have 3 grades? Would you know what to look for? That said - yes, I'd love the more expensive rv's but I also know I can't afford them. Would I not have the leak I have with mine on a more expensive one? I WOULD have it. Why? Because it was caused by damage from a gas station sign that was someplace it didn't belong.

ALL the light weight trailers will be made with somewhat less quality. Why? Because they are doing what they need to to both keep them light weight and to keep the price down on them - which most of the people looking for lightweight are also looking for lower price. If you are going to buy the heavier trailer, you best start looking at the bigger and heavier duty trucks - whether 5th wheel or trailer.

I'm not trying to argue with you. But you seem to be believing everything these sales people tell you. And that's not a good thing. They miay or may not be rver's and some of them will be good - and some of them will be terrible - and if you are a total newbie to this - how do you really know the difference?

Speaking of quality v non - I bought one of those particle board desks for my computer many, many years ago. When I went full-time, I sold it for the same I paid for it. A cheap computer desk. I loved that desk. Could have spent hundreds more - that was made with dove-tailing, etc - but that cheap desk was one of my favorite pieces of furniture. Now, cheap and badly made, 2 different things. If my rig can travel down the road for all the miles it has - on lots and lots of gravel and poor roads in both Alaska and Mexico and all points in between - I'm so impressed, I could cry. Mine is one of the less expensive rigs that I could afford in order to have this lifestyle. Now, if that gas station hadn't caused damage to my roof edge, I'd be one very happy camper. Some day I'll be able to keep that from leaking - cuz I'm not giving this thing up!!!!

And think about this - when the one you look at on the sales floor isn't what you want and is the "low end" model as in your other thread - that doesn't mean they don't make models as good as the ones you like from another brand. So, I'm glad you aren't badmouthing them by brand name.

[Colliemom]

I don't take it as an argument. You make good points. But, yes I do know the difference in what these guys are saying. I've been around. Not so much in RV's although we did own a popup once, but in other thngs, boats, cars, snowmobiles, you name it, been there done that, they all try to tell you that this is better than that etc. But just cause I turned off a cheaper brand doesn't mean it was cause of what he said. I didn't like the workmanship either. For instance, yesterday when I entered one, I noticed that the trim around the door was coming loose, on a brand new trailer just sitting there. If thats happenng already, then what else is going to start. And today, when I lifted the mattress to check under a bed, it had cheaper 1/4 inch plywood under and it was already starting to warp. Those are the things I watch for. But one of the things that also turned me off one brand was the fact that in the bathroom, the shower had a neat glass enclosure which I really liked except the sink was in between the wall and the glass, so you bang you elbow on the shower enclosure every tme you move. OUCH! But that was a design flaw.
I was talking to my insurance agent today when I went to get some rought insurance quotes on some of these models I am looking at and she said that she and her family have had and still do have TT's. They had one of the cheaper ones I was looking at to start and said the same thing I did, that after a couple two or three years, the upholstery started to wear, the cushions were too soft etc. and other thngs started wearing down. So I'm not staying away from the Ultra Lights, just being careful.

[Colliemom]

Actually "cheaper" really isnt the right word to use. I'm really refering to cheaper materials, not the price of the rigs themselves. It boils down to how a manufactuer makes their particular brand. Some pay more attention to detail than others. Some use a bit better quality stuff than others for the same price. Goes to the old saying "you get what you pay for". As was the case today, the one brand I looked at that had the cheaper cushions and coverings, had a really nice amout of storage and I thought to myself that I could easilly get those cushions reupholstered if I wanted to. For the price of the rig I cana see where thngs could be easily remedied. It had other good points. And I know that it's not uncommon for people to put extra padding on the mattresses or toss them altogether and go get a regular bed mattress. Sometimes one has to compromise, actually in RV's one has to compromise a lot and I'm a "jill of all trades" as is anyway.

[Bethers]

One brand I'd look at if I was looking at the smaller tt or 5th wheels would be the Scamp. Saw a Scamp 5th wheel for the first time last winter and the people loved it. Have seen a few others since. No idea on workmanship - but they are adorable. And the little Scamps can be pulled by SMALL trucks - the tt could probably be pulled easily by the Escape. I didn't look at workmanship.

Edited to add these 2 links:
Scamp tt: http://www.scamptrailers.com/
Scamp 5th wheel: http://www.scamptrailers.com/Showroom/1 ... ilers.aspx

These might be smaller than what you're looking at - but oh, I love how cute that 5th wheel is.

As to trim- I was in a very, very expensive house with all the outlets crooked (a sign to me of shoddy workmanship) and in a log cabin home in the millions range, where they forgot to put the ductwork into the logs for the 2nd level. How do you forget these things?

There's plywood in my rig - not unusual in even the more expensive rigs, unfortunately. But if you can get something you feel is better made for less. And all those little things found in the new units (someone told me once they had a list of almost 100 repairs to take their rig back to the dealer for after having the new one home a week) - those are the things that the first owner had to deal with when you buy used

I almost bought a Class A two years ago at an rv show. They made me an offer I almost couldn't refuse. It was one of the really good manufacturers - and I found a bunch of little things like loose trim, etc - that they would have fixed for me. I finally stopped myself - even though I could have sold that rig now for more than I would have paid for it - cuz I really didn't WANT it. I love what I have. Course, if I won the lottery (would help if I played it) I'd be adding all kinds of perks.

[Colliemom]

How can athey forget those things. Easy, there wasn't women around! Yeah, if I played the lottto too......
Actually , here's a newbie question for MH owners. Just how old can a MH be before It' sconsidered old. I mean is anythng over 10 years running the risk of maybe not being able to get parts etc..? I know with most motor vehicles, after 10 years they quit making parts. Just in case I see a good buy someplace.

[Excel]

Just wanted to add my 2 cents....I bought my 'used' class C from a private party off the internet. Had to travel to Oklahoma to get it. Never drove a RV before. Bought it for the reputation of the Mfgr. Loved the lay out. Never been sorry. It is now 11 yrs. old & I still love it.
Things to remember....if you see poor workmanship visibly when you 'inspect'....or poor quality of materials when you visibly 'inspect'...remind yourself, that what about the things hidden that you can't visibly see, in the construction of same. Chances are if they skimp on quality where you can see it, they'll most certainly skimp on quality in the hidden areas.

Lastly, Just remember that going down the road for an RV is often times like an earthquake in your stick house...so things are going to move, slip, come undone, etc.,etc. That doesn't necessarily mean it's poor construction...So the key is....Maintenance, maintenance, maintenance!!

Just MHO....