Water on the roof!

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Paul55

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Derby
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23,284
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autocruise
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We have recently bought our first motorhome - an autocriuse Star Spirit 2011.
Its fabulous but we are very concerned to find that any rain water collects on the roof. The raised seams around the edge of the roof seem to be stopping the water from draining off.
Is this normal or likely to be a problem?

Paul and Christy Ottewell
 
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it's normal and shouldnt present any problems providing all roof seales are in good shape....you'll soon know if they arent :Sad:.

the water will run off when driving and parking on a slope when stored will help it run off too.
 
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yes to both

some vans hold puddles on the roof others dont. it tends to shed as you move off

if left for months it water creeps into joints and then freezes doing damage.

move the van frequently in the winter
 
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Hi, I've got a starfire 2011 same problem, have tried parking on wedges it gets rid of most of water but not all. Bad design I think but most of Swifts (autocruise,sundance, Bessacar) have the same problem. Terry:Cool:
 
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Site the van on levellers, then the water will run off.:Wink:

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We had the same problem with our Rimor and Chausson MHs, we just used to put the front up on ramps to give a good run off and didn't have a problem.:Smile:
 
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Same issue here (CI Carioca 656), and a defective roof seal was actually the subject of a factory recall on the 2005 model of our MH, which caused us some bother early on. We recently had a satellite dish fitted and because of where we store other items on the roof it had to be sited in the puddle. There was a leakage problem to begin with but after a second visit by the fitter it appears to have been sorted. I have to admit the presence of a puddle with a satellite dish sitting in it and a once faulty roof seal causes me some worry.

I've considered a number of things - a waterproof roof cover costs a bit, might blow off in strong winds, and would stop the solar panel from keeping the batteries topped up over winter and this would weaken them. Cutting a hole in the roof cover so most of the solar panel will work would only allow water in so that's a non-starter. I don't want to park it up on chocks to avoid straining the handbrake during time in storage, and I don't want to put the chocks down one side to angle the roof because I can't see it helping the suspension. I've considered getting something like a couple of sawn off railway sleepers and driving the front wheels up onto them using the chocks so rainwater drains off the back of the MH. I'd then be wondering if any creosote in the sleepers would damage the tyres, or if having the batteries at an angle might damage their performance.

I asked the guy who services my camper each year and he reckoned it would cost £3-400 for him to fix a roof leak if one occurred, so in the end I'm just going to have it damp checked regularly and stump up the cash if it's ever needed - everything else seems like such a faff.
 
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Recently at the Camper UK Summer meet, I saw a MH with a couple of pieces of white conduit piping and elbow joints, protruding from each side of the MH roof. This was for the sole purpose of draining off any rain water, from within the roof hollow, Ingenious, but crude.

Cheers,

Jock.
 
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My drive is on a bit of a slope so all of the water runs off to one corner so I just keep an eye on that:thumb:

Nev
 
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A puddle on your roof won't make it any less waterproof, don't worry about it. You van is best stored as level as possible. I've seen vans with permanent stoops from being left for long periods on lateral, left to right, slopes.

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Hi
Great fun when the water runs off the front of our Autocruise Starblazer, I switch the wipers on and soak the wife:BigGrin:, she would win a wet t shirt competition anytime:thumb:. On a serious note, check that the front scuttle "drain off" and hose is free of any any leaves, etc, the volume of water from the roof can be considerable and overflow it.

Alan & Jenny
 
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many thanks for all your comments. Think we have decided to use the problem as the best excuse ever to get out lots during the winter. will let everyone know if we develop a leak. Will look out for this as something to avoid when buying our next MH.
Have fun,
Christy and Paul
 
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Not wishing to alarm you, just an anecdote of my experience of water pooling on the roof.
I've been chasing a water leak in the roof for over a year but it's an intermittent little b------d. I've had all the seams resealed, the skylights removed and resealed (they found a crack but fixing it didn't stop the problem). Thing is it only happens when the van is parked level; if it's the slightest bit nose down, no leak! We noted that water did collect under the solar panel when level so "my man", who wasn't happy with how the solar panel had been fixed (sikaflex and screws), put some more sealant around the "feet", even though that is the other side of the van to where the leak presents itself - but water will travel - ...................... RESULT, no more apparent leaks after four weeks in Ireland.
So it's now been booked in to have the solar panel removed and refixed properly, including the through-roof fixing which he also is suspicious about. At the same time he's going to remove and seal off the old satellite cable gland in case that is contributing. I've also decided to invest in some more solar power plus a decent MPPT controller/regulator while he's up there!
As it happens, my storage spot is a little nose-down although laterally level so fortunately the water hasn't up to yet caused any damage, just a perpetually damp area.
 
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Saw a recent MH with a length of sisal rope that ran across the MH behind his over cab hump. Wicks water away that sat at the bottom of the hump. Crude but cheap and worked!
 
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Park mine at home on ramps. I want the water off the roof as quick as possible.

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Mine is the opposite - if I level the van with the E&P at home water, dirt and everything else collects on the roof. If I don't level it runs off the front and the roof stays relatively clean.
 
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Paul55 said:
We have recently bought our first motorhome - an autocriuse Star Spirit 2011.
Its fabulous but we are very concerned to find that any rain water collects on the roof. The raised seams around the edge of the roof seem to be stopping the water from draining off.
Is this normal or likely to be a problem?

Paul and Christy Ottewell
Click to expand...
Had the same problem despite a distinct back to front slope - or rather because of it. The water pooled along the seam where the roof joins the cowl. After a few weeks it turned red and was really difficult to get off. No idea why but it happens in the house as well - something to do with living in farming country?
Anyway, the first solution was to park with the off-side wheels on a pair of 1/2 inch thick boards. Then it was just a matter of wiping the side of the van periodically to avoid black streaks.
The second solution was to fit self-levelling, select "stabilise" mode and then use "manual" to tip it slightly to the left. This also relieves some of the pressure on the tyres. Oh - and it's bonzer when you arrive on a site ::bigsmile:
 
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Think I'll start a new thread on resurrecting the oldest thread possible, here's your starter for ten (and it's been posted several times since) :LOL:

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