German vans don’t leak? (1 Viewer)

[Googlebot]

Had torrential rain on the way home today.

Went to empty the water and noticed a trickle where there shouldn’t be water. Traced it back and there appeared to be a leak coming from the rear wheel arch. Once I had dismantled some cabinets.

Shoved a hose up the arch and water positively flowed inside.

Worked out how to get the arch outer off and found the very obvious failed sealant.

Off to get some sikaflex tomorrow and seal it so much it will never come apart.

Thankful that it’s at a place that’s east to get at, even if it has sprung a leak.

 

[EuroTrotters]

our Frankia was like a tea bag

 

[Googlebot]

our frank was like a tea bag

Ours seems okay thankfully so far.

Proof they all leak I suppose.

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[Larrynwin]

Any van can potentially leak being mass produced and method of applying sealant always open to risk and of course sealant dries and cracks with age , a favourite being around roof lights.

btw mine hasn’t leaked yet after five years but I recently checked roof seals when cleaning and found a loose roof cable gland that needed re sealing.

 

[gus-lopez]

Do the other side as well. Been posted on here before about that letting in water.

 

[Googlebot]

Do the other side as well. Been posted on here before about that letting in water.

I have looked at the inside, it’s as dry as a bone as far as I can see.

I will take a look though, you’re right that it’s probably both sides affected.

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[Madcaravanner]

I would make the mastic flexible or even non setting to ensure it STAYS sealed

 

[Googlebot]

I would make the mastic flexible or even non setting to ensure it STAYS sealed

I did think of that but it appears to be a polyurethane based adhesive such as sikaflex that has been used originally.

Will it stick to itself? I have no idea?

 

[Basildog]

A German quality product

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[Basildog]

Junk pile

 

[Googlebot]

Ouch!

 

[Coolcats]

PVC’s possibly leak less although it’s always good to check windows and roof lights.

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[frogijock]

My Burstner which I had from new, had it’s own built in swimming pool along with a floating floor ( no pun ) in the lounge area

 

[CamperManLez]

It must be very depressing when people find these leak issues on high cost MH’s, these days there is to much focus on churn them out fast for high profits and quality is just a word in a brochure. Repairs just leave a bad taste in my opinion.

 

[Guigsy]

It must be very depressing when people find these leak issues on high cost MH’s, these days there is to much focus on churn them out fast for high profits and quality is just a word in a brochure. Repairs just leave a bad taste in my opinion.

I used to do work for Land Rover. Their leak tests for the modern cars were pretty thorough. The old Defender line had some 'different' levels of required quality though. The joke was that if the driver went through the leak test, they were still dry above the shins, it was a pass. And immediately after the water test, there was an inclined hand brake holding test. The Defenders had to pause for longer to let the water drain out.

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[Lofty1]

While German vans may leak, but they cross boarders easly, lol

 

[Coolcats]

My Burstner which I had from new, had it’s own built in swimming pool along with a floating floor ( no pun ) in the lounge area

One of my Lotus's was like that but the factory kindly fixed it on another car (Lotus 7) I hit standing water and my wife just saw a waterfall appear just by my door (made of of cardboard or similar) I could not have been wetter if I had capsized a Kayak and had 2" of water in my foot well...so its not just Motorhomes..........

 

[Googlebot]

I can’t grumble, had two British made caravans brand new in the past.

Both leaked from day one. At least this one has lasted 7 years.

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[peterc10]

Both leaked from day one. At least this one has lasted 7 years.

That's worrying as my B678 is coming up for 6 years now. Best tell me how you got the wheel arch trim off so I can be prepared

 

[Googlebot]

Wasn’t difficult and obvious once you look, two small washer fasteners low down each side which prise off and a Philips screw under the wheel arch.

It won’t be coming off again! ;-)

 

[pagey]

just back from my 4th year damp test all ok so well pleased with that

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[Googlebot]

All sealed up.

Bizarre but also found a massive gap where it was almost like they just ended the sealant too early so filled that to the max too.

Black sikaflex is vile get everywhere stuff!

 

[Pekepal]

In the past we had leaks through garage doors. The pictures show our solution and there have been no leaks since adding these strips. The rubber strips are readily available from the edging of interlocking rubber mats.
<Broken link removed>

497708[/ATTACH]
The only requirement is a good memory to put them in when needed but we have travelled with them in situ.

cheap and cheerful and certainly works.<Broken link removed>

 

[Spriddler]

Poor sealing isn't a new problem.
Back in the early 50's my dad had a 1936 Morris 8 with wooden floorboards. Hitting a puddle would send a spurt of water up the trouser leg. The 'sunshine' roof leaked so badly on a 100 mile trip back from my sister's in Northamptonshire that my mother spent the whole 4 hour journey with a copy of the Sunday Express on her head.
I had a 1960's Mini that leaked so badly I fitted a sink waste and plug in the driver's footwell floor.

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[Roger20]

Had torrential rain on the way home today.

Went to empty the water and noticed a trickle where there shouldn’t be water. Traced it back and there appeared to be a leak coming from the rear wheel arch. Once I had dismantled some cabinets.

Shoved a hose up the arch and water positively flowed inside.

Worked out how to get the arch outer off and found the very obvious failed sealant.

Off to get some sikaflex tomorrow and seal it so much it will never come apart.

Thankful that it’s at a place that’s east to get at, even if it has sprung a leak.

View attachment 497497

What make and just how did you get the wheel arch off?

 

[Googlebot]

It’s an Exsis I 578.

Wheel arch liner comes off by prising off two washer tabs on the lower inside edges that attach to small bolts. Then undo the Philips screw underneath the arch at the top and bend the flexible tab straight so it points down.

Pull the lower bolts out the holes and gently lift the entire trim up until the clips disengage.

 

[Lenny HB]

A few people have had problems with rear wheel arches on Dynamic lines, mines OK.

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[Googlebot]

A few people have had problems with rear wheel arches on Dynamic lines, mines OK.

I would have expected that both would have been the same but the other side appears fine with no ingress and the sealant extends all the way round unlike the side leaking.

 

[Al n Val]

my mates Hymer is like a collander at the back end, water in the garage 5-6 times, 3 new bedroom windows and waiting for a 4th.

It’s all being done under warranty even though it’s now out of warranty, it all started whilst it was still in.

He’s gutted to say the least but the dealer and Hymer are still trying to get it dry for him, 2 Autotrails before he says which were perfectly dry and fingers crossed so is mine

 

[Roger20]

my mates Hymer is like a collander at the back end, water in the garage 5-6 times, 3 new bedroom windows and waiting for a 4th.

It’s all being done under warranty even though it’s now out of warranty, it all started whilst it was still in.

He’s gutted to say the least but the dealer and Hymer are still trying to get it dry for him, 2 Autotrails before he says which were perfectly dry and fingers crossed so is mine

Interested in a bit more detail - which model and how old? Lenny HB - any reason to think the Dynamic Line construction is any different from the Exsis-I pictures above.

It does sound as though this area of Hymer construction needs to be kept monitored. It's all a bit of a lottery. We came to Hymer from an Autotrail which had endless problems in the first 3 years when (in 2007/8) they had greatly increased production at the expense of quality.

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