water ingress

[toshy816]

Hi everybody
we have a very small water ingress problem in our 2017 Burstner Ixeo. Only when it rains pretty solidly we get water marks on the inside of one of the top cupboards. Had it looked at at a local caravan storage yard who could find nothing wrong.
Mrs Mac believes it to be a problem with the Thule canopy and after getting up there it seems that the black sealant/rubber is very hard.

Should I just go ahead with silicone sealant over the top of it.

recommendations would be appreciated

Toshy

 

[irnbru]

Water ingress can be a right bugger to find as it can be running from anywhere. Try levelling your van a different way to help locate its point of entry. I would remove the old stuff before using silicone but the more knowledgeable folk will be along soon. Good luck

 

[PP Bear]

Tricky one indeed and silicone would be an easy solution, however with summer coming to and end and the winter weather approaching, I’d say remove it, clean away the hard rubber seal (can it be replaced ) and reassemble with seal and silicone.

Theres also some good seek and seal products on the market and for marine use, you could use that first to seek out any cracks.

Good luck and pictures please.

 

[repairer]

Putting sealer over sealer is not a good solution, it does sound like your canopy might be the issue.

I personally would unbolt the fixings and move the canopy away from the MH body ( or even remove completely) clean out the old sealant and reveal, maybe with sixaflex as opposed to silicon sealer.

I am assuming the water ingress is at one of the canopy fixing points.

 

[toshy816]

Thanks Repairer

Not even sure if the problem is at one of the canopy fixing points.
Is it much of a job to remove the canopy?

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[repairer]

Can you see any mounting bolts inside your van?

in my last van these were inside cupboards at ceiling height and covered with a rectangular plastic cover, when the cover was removed you could access the bolts, depending on length of awning there will be a number of these.
I was thinking you may be able to slacken these (if indeed your awning is mounted in this fashion) pull the awning away from the side of van but still leave in situ, clean old sealant, reseal and bolt back up.
I did a similar repair on a relatives van that had a leak from the mountings, unfortunately I cannot remember the make of awning.

 

[The Wino]

Whatever way it's done I wouldn't use silicon as its going to pull away and leak fairly soon I'd use a non setting mastic with more give.

 

[repairer]

I agree on non using silicon sealant, the issue I would have with a non setting mastic is it eventually dries out and cracks, I personally would use sixaflex 221
it has adhesives properties as well as a very good sealant.

 

[toshy816]

I can't see any fixing bolts and the length is about 4.5 mars. I don't think its a job I can do myself so might just have to get it booked in somewhere