Leaking front Window

Ron-D · Guru

Leaking front Window

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Try some wide tape ? I have seen many with smashed front window . Asked what happened .. Get a big pause .. Then say "I didn't lock it down" !! Lol . Seen about 10 like this . They all have tape or plastic board over the smashed window .. But there bugger all rain up here !! Yea water bed ..No fun .. Using Silicon you may regret it latter . If it's leaking through gaps ? There's better sealer which can be painted over .. It doesn't dry out hard like silastic . Keeps very flexable ..

-- Edited by Aus-Kiwi on Monday 13th of June 2016 06:23:16 PM

brickies · Guru

You can install a bib cover on the front of you caravan . They install a sail track above the front window and fit a vinyl cover which is held in place by toggle clips while you are traveling and roll it up or slide it off the sail track when you get to your destination

-- Edited by brickies on Monday 13th of June 2016 07:15:19 PM

patrol03 · Senior Member

unfortunately a large number of front windows in vans leak and as suggested a cover over the front of the van is one solution with the benefit of a reduction of stone damage to the front of the van from passing vehicles.In my current van I requested that front windows be not fitted.I did however fit a cover over the boot lid. Best thing I ever did. In answer to your question it is usually the water being forced around the seals of the window while the van is in tow.Surprisingly a fair amount of pressure is produced in this manner.Many people have had their whole window resealed but still suffer the problem.Some wipe vaseline around the rubbers and have success,some maintain it comes in the lever and winding mechanism.You could chase this problem for a long time and also spend a lot of money on it with no guarantees,for mine I would have a cover made to cover the window and the boot. In my opinion the cheapest and easiest solution.

Lakers · Member

Have a look for some 'Captain Tolley's Creeping Crack Cure'. This stuff is finer than water, and will go where water can't and then seal the leak. I got some from ebay for a job I just completed... but it will probably take 12 months to confirm it has worked in my application.

Cheers
Greg

Ron-D · Guru

Thanks for your comments A great site this much, appreciated advice ....

Regards Ron...

Treecrest14 · Senior Member

I had a leaky front window and found the slide catches were not holding the window hard in against the rubber surround. On a Coromal, the slide catch goes into the aluminium frame around the glass. So just bent the aluminium frame in a bit more to hold the window closer to the rubber and all good!

macka17 · Guru

There's only one way to seal leaks properly.
Remove window etc. clean round frame
apply new layer of sealant and screw window back on to it.

Next.
the one I normally do
Is loosen frame screws. prise frame away from van (as much as you can)
insert and scrape along seams with razor.narrow screwdriver etc.
Clean all crap out.
then apply fresh sealant and smooth off with wet finger.

Leave half an hr then tighten up frame screws.
will probably protrude the adhesive a bit. smooth off again with stanley kn if necessary..

Heyyyy non leaky window.

BUT. you have to loosen and dig out as much as you can, First
otherwise it's a very short term solution.

Also, some windows, where they swing up and down in moulding of frame.

The ends are open to weather.

I have had to put some silicon to ends of a couple over the yrs.

Just enuff to seal it.

-- Edited by macka17 on Tuesday 21st of June 2016 03:21:54 PM

brickies · Guru

I think some times it only leaks when towing in the rain , My problem was the boot got water in while towing in the rain , The flexing of the caravan allowed water to enter on the rubber seals , Since I have the bib no water enters while towing .

Hylife · Guru

Every couple of years you should replace the rubber seals on front windows.
They deform and go hard with age very quickly and then the wind whilst driving simply forces the water past them.

Just like your car that gets wind noise around the doors with age, the seals can easily be replaced.

Plugging up gaps with sealants and fillers isn't really addressing the real problem.

macka17 · Guru

Hylife.
All vans have gaskets round windows and doors. and all seams are sealed with silicon/SIkaflex. 3M etc.

Most leaks are from the joints/seams, where sealants dry and crack/shrink.
ALL vans with sectional cladding needs resealing regularly to keep wet out.

Replacing gaskets will rectify some but not all of the leaks..It has to be a combined effort.

You'd be surprised how many vans are written off as unrepairable through leaks in cladding alone.

Any repair yard will tell you. Reseal them regularly.
Repairers make good money just from that work alone. ask them.

I do mine every 3 yrs or so, max. When living full time in it. every yr. with roof and vertical corner seams.
MOST window leaks show first AROUND the perimeter of frame in the internal cladding.
Even Phoenix and the like do too. if they NOT maintained on regular basis.
Renewing rubbers only does a partial job.

Go into a van builders or repairers sometime.
see how they assembled. then you'll understand.