Repairing Joint Cap Leak

[Hagar62]

My new MH (to me) has sprung a leak whilst on holiday. I got up on a ladder in the rain today and discovered a crack in the joint cap at the front.
So it looks like this is where the pooling water on the roof is going.
My question is, is this cap just sikaflexed on and how difficult will it be to remove and reseal.

Sikaflex is on order as I type as I dont want this to become more of a problem.

Picture attached.

 

[Jim]

Bump

 

[Jake Royd]

I would suggest putting a bit of tape or sealant over the crack first without removing the cap.
The idea being to check that it stops the leak.
If so leave it alone then till you get home.
Then maybe remove it when you have all your usual tools etc.
Who knows but it's probably stick on with sealant/adhesive.
Might be worth checking to see if there is a fixing under the reflector?

 

[BusyBuilder]

Duct tape it

 

[Larrynwin]

I always used Dicor self levelling sealant .

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[mackeellan]

If you try to remove it be very careful, slow and gentle. It looks quite old and possibly brittle.
If it were mine I would just clean and reseal and fill the crack with same sikaflex.
Best of luck

 

[Jev88]

Waterproof tape for now.
Dicor later.

 

[PeterCarole29]

On the photo the long strip across the van looks ok but the cover with the reflector on looks very suspect is the reflector original ? I doubt it looks like a cover up
What make or model is it
If Autotrail contact them in Grimsby
See if you can’t use a block to tip that corner up so it doesn’t pool in that corner
The corner cover is likely to be stuck on
The most important thing is to get the correct sikaflex as there are several sorts
Some just for bonding that are not very uv protected and others that are
And make sure surface is dry and clean you only have one chance at fixing it properly

 

[MisterB]

There's quite a good you tube video of someone repairing their caravan roof as they have a similar issue, albeit that theirs turned into a bigger crack over time and they discovered a lot of small cracks under the covering strip around the fixings where the roof covering had been screwed down. The basics are the same though I think they should have added additional material when they did their 'melt repair'

Just adding sikaflex might not be your best option, identifying and resolving where the water is getting in will make for a much longer solution., but is more likely to take a lot longer.

Putting new sealant over a sealant that has failed is not particularly a good idea. Not only is it likely to look bad, anyone viewing if you ever try to sell are likely to notice it and see immediately that that not only have you had water ingress but that it hasn't been repaired properly....

 

[Terry]

Forget Sikaflex and get a tube of white Stixall - that will stick and seal even if it’s damp- clean all excess dirt and sealer with a mastic scraper or metal (carefully) use Upvc frame cleaner and paper towel,then using a very fine nozzle or if not confident use masking tape. Smooth with a wet finger /pull masking tape if used. I would clean/seal all the way along that sealing strip

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[Mike800966]

As a belt and braces approach I applied a waterproofing tape from screwfix after a leak had been repaired by the company that built the van (the Z shaped plastic strip had split)This stopped any chance of a further leak but after a year or so the aluminium top layer would delaminate (uv & wind) the makers said it was designed for buildings not vehicles!.
Since applied a wide white butyl based tape, Canopus from Amazon and no further problem.
My suggestion is to try to remove the strip and reseal it and apply 75mm wide Canopus over the top.Take care with the cleaning prep.and use a wallpaper type hard roller to ensure it makes good contact.
Mike

 

[Hagar62]

On the photo the long strip across the van looks ok but the cover with the reflector on looks very suspect is the reflector original ? I doubt it looks like a cover up
What make or model is it
If Autotrail contact them in Grimsby
See if you can’t use a block to tip that corner up so it doesn’t pool in that corner
The corner cover is likely to be stuck on
The most important thing is to get the correct sikaflex as there are several sorts
Some just for bonding that are not very uv protected and others that are
And make sure surface is dry and clean you only have one chance at fixing it properly

It's a Pilote Galaxy and it possibly cracked when my mirror hit a toll booth protector on the Peage when on holiday.

 

[Hagar62]

If you try to remove it be very careful, slow and gentle. It looks quite old and possibly brittle.
If it were mine I would just clean and reseal and fill the crack with same sikaflex.
Best of luck

That's what I plan to do on the first dry day I get. Probably on Friday.
In the meantime I will use some clear duct tape and have put a ramp under the front LHS wheel to tilt the roof away from where the leak is and the pooling water will run the other way.

 

[Terry]

That's what I plan to do on the first dry day I get. Probably on Friday.
In the meantime I will use some clear duct tape and have put a ramp under the front LHS wheel to tilt the roof away from where the leak is and the pooling water will run the other way.

Maybe teaching you how to suck eggs but have a careful look at all your roof it may not be leaking from where it’s showing inside

 

[BobilG600]

I agree with PeterCarole29 questioning that reflector. Our 2018 model Galaxy doesn’t have reflectors there, and what would be the purpose of a reflector up there?
Our Galaxy leaked from that cap on the drivers side from new. The dealer tried sealing it a couple of times but that didn’t help. We had to push the dealer to get the thing fixed properly, as it was still under warranty. They contacted Pilote who supplied a new cap and gave them instructions of how to fit it. It hasn’t leaked since.
Based on our experience, I would strongly recommend you take it to a Pilote dealer and get the cap replaced.

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[stuartholmes]

Might not work on big gaps but thought I'd add a word for Captain Tolley's Creeping Crack Cure...

Never like to be far from my supply & never had to reapply to an area where it's been applied & stopped a leak. Maybe I've just been lucky..e

 

[simsy56]

I also use Dicor self levelling sealant.

Craig