our jayco caravan has a water leak from the sealant running across the back of the van at the top. is this fixable? would it cost much? is it a common problem with jayco vans? would appreciate feedback. travel safe. shane.
-- Edited by shanem on Sunday 20th of November 2022 06:31:24 PM
-- Edited by shanem on Sunday 20th of November 2022 06:32:15 PM
-- Edited by shanem on Sunday 20th of November 2022 06:34:04 PM
Fixable at a cost by a caravan repairer. A ton of sikaflex might help
shanem said
07:02 PM Nov 20, 2022
thanks Southern Cruizer. it has leaked i to the van, with water marks down the wall, so i think it might need more than re-sealing at the leak spot. ah, well!
TimTim said
09:04 PM Nov 20, 2022
It may have leaked down the wall but that does not mean that significant damage has been done. I cant clearly see from the photo but I had a Jayco Hawk and had similar issues And they are very fixable. The issue is whether any damage has been done to the the timber frame. The first thing to do is put a tarp over the top and allow everything to dry out.
When dry, remove the plastic insert from the track.
Remove all the screws and dont be surprised if some are rusted.
Grind the heads off with a Dremmel or a small wheel in a drill any screws you are unable to undo.
The screws will give a good indication of how much water has entered and applying pressure on the timber frame with a small screw driver will give an indication of whether the timber frame has rotted.
Remove the old silicone using WD40, turps or whatever you find helps.
Then clean up with detergent and rinse thoroughly then wipe the base of the track and and the joint with alcohol.
Lay the track in place where it has to sit and temporary secure with say 2 screws.
Then either side of the track run a strip of the blue masking tape about 5mm from the track.
Remove the track and fill the joint up with Sikaflex and enough on top of the joint to bed the track.
Refix the track with new screws and new holes where screws had to be ground down.
Run a bead of Sikaflex either side of the track and then either using your finger or a silicon spreader apply enough pressure so that the Sikaflex just feathers out over the edge of the blue tape. Carefully remove blue tape.
Allow to dry and inset the plastic cover.
Hope this helps.
Do you have a any photos of the inside?
Tim
-- Edited by TimTim on Monday 21st of November 2022 10:12:09 AM
Possum3 said
09:32 PM Nov 20, 2022
Shane, unfortunately it is a common problem caused by design and material failure/s.
You didn't advise age of van. This would be important if you are going to claim warranty repairs.
You also need to determine basic structure of van, Stick and tin?, Aluminum framed?, Type of insulation?, Composite Paneled?
Water ingress can create some major problems if not detected "very" early.
I note from your Bio that you would not be as agile as a younger person - this could make working at height a risky choice of actions.
As Tim has indicated there is no rocket science in preventing leak, but it is best carried out by an experienced person. This may also require work on furniture inside van
Cover or garage your van to prevent any further damage occurring. Then obtain a moisture meter, borrow one or purchase (very cheap at big green shed), this is important as water may have already caused structural damage.
If you wish to repair yourself get expert advice from Colin Young at Caravan Council of Australia, 3 Margaret Street, Parkdale VIC 3195
T: 0409 865 399
F: 03 9587 1828
Once you have determined extent of damage, come back here to GN's and I'm sure you will get required advice and assistance.
Warren-Pat_01 said
01:00 AM Nov 21, 2022
Hi Shane,
All good advice above. All caravans will leak if the sealant has broken down due to the sun, age & the quality of the previous repairs.
You don't give the age or the model of your van. Later Jayco vans have an aluminium frame - there is wood in the roof of a poptop, camper. The moisture meter that Possum refers to costs $25 (Ozito).
I know men of our age aren't supposed to climb ladders but I still do my own repairs using a 6' or 8' ladder (I'm over 6' tall so that helps) - ensuring that it is secure first. If in doubt seek out a good repairer - often they work independent of dealers.
Southern Cruizer said
01:24 PM Nov 21, 2022
shanem wrote:
thanks Southern Cruizer. it has leaked i to the van, with water marks down the wall, so i think it might need more than re-sealing at the leak spot. ah, well!
Tell me about it. Our van has spent 10 1/2 months over the past 2 yrs at the dealer/repair shop. Water leak, inside back wall and wall behind toilet and also ensuite roof replaced and guess what, it happened again. Only just got it back, so see how long it lasts this time. 4 yrs old
woolman said
01:36 PM Nov 21, 2022
My advice is do yourself. Clean as much of old sealant as possible out of joint, clean with Shellie and use Sikaflex. Use the Shellie as it leaves no residue. If you clean properly it will not leak again.
Good luck
Neil
Dick0 said
03:01 PM Nov 21, 2022
Hi Shane, provide more pics with clarity.
Roof leaks are very fixable with either Sikaflex or gutter sealant.
The photo you provided appears damage to the current sealant.
shanem said
06:37 PM Nov 21, 2022
oh guys you're fabulous! thanks a ton for the info and advice. jayco have come to the party and authorised full repairs by guys we have known and trusted for years. i sadly do not have the skills etc myself and being on the old side too. the van is only two years young and we spent time across the nullarbor between the two lockdowns with no issues. so there you go. we will definitely keep an eye on the issue when it is returned fixed. have to wait until feb, but that's no problem as we were not going anywhere with the van since we have other family commitments coming up. i feel for you southern cruizer, and hope you have a better time of it now. afraid age has managed to weary me tho' mate - better than the alternative. hey, Warren, my old bod just can't make it up the ladder much and the good lady is always fretting when i put a foot on the first or second rung for a little job. will get a moisture meter from the green shed, Possum3, but is that your gun? oh, and yes, we are going to make adjustments to our carport if possible. again, most grateful for all your times and considerations guys. have a great xmas fellas.
TimTim said
09:27 PM Nov 21, 2022
Great news and hope that all goes well.
Brodie Allen said
07:10 AM Nov 22, 2022
Have had 5 years of chasing leaks - very careful of removal of old silicones, cleaning, masking and re-application of the best silicones.
Never managed to fix the leak.
Extensive use of a product called Captain Tolley's Creeping Crack cure. (Wonderfully efficient on fine cracks, splits etc and around window seal etc)(
I have no doubt that the inneffective application of insufficient sealant during manufacture is the problem - the coving that is extensively used in fibreglass vans is the culprit.
I finally bit the bullet and bought a roll of ETERNA TAPE available online and an identical product available at Bunnings badged Gorilla something and spent a morning applying the tape to the whole top of the van where coving adjoined the flat of the roof.
It's tacky vinyl sealant tape and you need to take care with your application procedure because once it touches a surface THERE IS NO REMOVING IT. Quite extraordinary stuff.
Looks good and BLOODY WORKS!
Additonally, I bought a little pronged moisture meter from Bunnings (about 20-30 bucks) and went on a sortie around the internals of the van and found two other leaks that were filling the walls internally with water. Had no idea what was happening.
pps: The Captain Tolleys was used to seal under the coving because some cracks will draw water uphill due to capillary action under the coving. See the interesting video on the webpage. Surprising.
Brodie
-- Edited by Brodie Allen on Tuesday 22nd of November 2022 07:18:32 AM
Bad design and silicon has plagued the caravan industry for the last 20+ years.
My 45-year-old stick and tin Viscount Supreme utilised butyl caulking still doesn't leak.
shanem said
06:10 PM Nov 22, 2022
hi Brodie, i will do the moisture meter trick and perhaps buy some gorilla or Butyl tape. but i'll get a younger fella to do the roof bit, after chatting to the guys doing the repair job as i trust them. i'm sure they'll take on board your and the other guys' advice. Possum3 is that your gun?
hi folks,
our jayco caravan has a water leak from the sealant running across the back of the van at the top. is this fixable? would it cost much? is it a common problem with jayco vans? would appreciate feedback. travel safe. shane.
-- Edited by shanem on Sunday 20th of November 2022 06:31:24 PM
-- Edited by shanem on Sunday 20th of November 2022 06:32:15 PM
-- Edited by shanem on Sunday 20th of November 2022 06:34:04 PM
It may have leaked down the wall but that does not mean that significant damage has been done. I cant clearly see from the photo but I had a Jayco Hawk and had similar issues And they are very fixable. The issue is whether any damage has been done to the the timber frame. The first thing to do is put a tarp over the top and allow everything to dry out.
When dry, remove the plastic insert from the track.
Remove all the screws and dont be surprised if some are rusted.
Grind the heads off with a Dremmel or a small wheel in a drill any screws you are unable to undo.
The screws will give a good indication of how much water has entered and applying pressure on the timber frame with a small screw driver will give an indication of whether the timber frame has rotted.
Remove the old silicone using WD40, turps or whatever you find helps.
Then clean up with detergent and rinse thoroughly then wipe the base of the track and and the joint with alcohol.
Lay the track in place where it has to sit and temporary secure with say 2 screws.
Then either side of the track run a strip of the blue masking tape about 5mm from the track.
Remove the track and fill the joint up with Sikaflex and enough on top of the joint to bed the track.
Refix the track with new screws and new holes where screws had to be ground down.
Run a bead of Sikaflex either side of the track and then either using your finger or a silicon spreader apply enough pressure so that the Sikaflex just feathers out over the edge of the blue tape. Carefully remove blue tape.
Allow to dry and inset the plastic cover.
Hope this helps.
Do you have a any photos of the inside?
Tim
-- Edited by TimTim on Monday 21st of November 2022 10:12:09 AM
You didn't advise age of van. This would be important if you are going to claim warranty repairs.
You also need to determine basic structure of van, Stick and tin?, Aluminum framed?, Type of insulation?, Composite Paneled?
Water ingress can create some major problems if not detected "very" early.
I note from your Bio that you would not be as agile as a younger person - this could make working at height a risky choice of actions.
As Tim has indicated there is no rocket science in preventing leak, but it is best carried out by an experienced person. This may also require work on furniture inside van
Cover or garage your van to prevent any further damage occurring. Then obtain a moisture meter, borrow one or purchase (very cheap at big green shed), this is important as water may have already caused structural damage.
If you wish to repair yourself get expert advice from Colin Young at Caravan Council of Australia, 3 Margaret Street, Parkdale VIC 3195
T: 0409 865 399
F: 03 9587 1828
caravancouncil@optusnet.com.au
Once you have determined extent of damage, come back here to GN's and I'm sure you will get required advice and assistance.
All good advice above. All caravans will leak if the sealant has broken down due to the sun, age & the quality of the previous repairs.
You don't give the age or the model of your van. Later Jayco vans have an aluminium frame - there is wood in the roof of a poptop, camper. The moisture meter that Possum refers to costs $25 (Ozito).
I know men of our age aren't supposed to climb ladders but I still do my own repairs using a 6' or 8' ladder (I'm over 6' tall so that helps) - ensuring that it is secure first. If in doubt seek out a good repairer - often they work independent of dealers.
Tell me about it. Our van has spent 10 1/2 months over the past 2 yrs at the dealer/repair shop. Water leak, inside back wall and wall behind toilet and also ensuite roof replaced and guess what, it happened again. Only just got it back, so see how long it lasts this time. 4 yrs old
My advice is do yourself. Clean as much of old sealant as possible out of joint, clean with Shellie and use Sikaflex. Use the Shellie as it leaves no residue. If you clean properly it will not leak again.
Good luck
Neil
Hi Shane, provide more pics with clarity.
Roof leaks are very fixable with either Sikaflex or gutter sealant.
The photo you provided appears damage to the current sealant.
Great news and hope that all goes well.
Have had 5 years of chasing leaks - very careful of removal of old silicones, cleaning, masking
and re-application of the best silicones.
Never managed to fix the leak.
Extensive use of a product called Captain Tolley's Creeping Crack cure. (Wonderfully efficient
on fine cracks, splits etc and around window seal etc)(
I have no doubt that the inneffective application of insufficient sealant during manufacture is
the problem - the coving that is extensively used in fibreglass vans is the culprit.
I finally bit the bullet and bought a roll of ETERNA TAPE available online and an identical
product available at Bunnings badged Gorilla something and spent a morning applying the
tape to the whole top of the van where coving adjoined the flat of the roof.
It's tacky vinyl sealant tape and you need to take care with your application procedure
because once it touches a surface THERE IS NO REMOVING IT. Quite extraordinary stuff.
Looks good and BLOODY WORKS!
Additonally, I bought a little pronged moisture meter from Bunnings (about 20-30 bucks) and went on a sortie
around the internals of the van and found two other leaks that were filling the walls internally
with water. Had no idea what was happening.
pps: The Captain Tolleys was used to seal under the coving because some cracks will draw
water uphill due to capillary action under the coving. See the interesting video on the webpage.
Surprising.
Brodie
-- Edited by Brodie Allen on Tuesday 22nd of November 2022 07:18:32 AM
Bad design and silicon has plagued the caravan industry for the last 20+ years.
My 45-year-old stick and tin Viscount Supreme utilised butyl caulking still doesn't leak.