Nautilus P3 compartment not necessarily watertight

Binghi

Watch out for allowing water to accumulate in the base of the Nautilus compartment. I accidentally left a slow drip on my city water connection and rather than going down the compartment’s drain hole, the water slipped through the Nautilus base somewhere and leaked onto the floor of the trailer at the rear. Under the bed, into the outside storage compartment. The Nautilus compartment sits on top of the floor, so leaks spread. I’m going to add caulk along the base of the compartment, and make darn sure from now on that my connections are drip-free.

ChrisFix

@Binghi
Good to know. I haven't had that problem (yet) but will be careful to inspect that area for potential leaks.
Are you certain you don't have a leak in one of the connections behind the Nautilus panel - visible by lifting the bed platform and exposing the Alde system area?

Binghi

No, I lifted the bed panel and checked the interior connections. They were all dry. Thank goodness. Good point. The Nautilus compartment caulk job along the base must have a leak. It would help if the compartment drain hole didn’t have that piece surrounding it. That hinders drainage from the compartment to the outside.

Binghi

It’s really on me. I had used a 6 inch “cheater” extension to hook my fresh water hose into the trailer. Just to make it easier to screw onto the Nautilis connection. Turns out the threads on the male end of that piece weren’t the highest quality; like a cheap garden hose. Hence the drip drip. When I use my fresh water hose directly, it tightens up good and leak-free.

manyman297

I’ve noticed that water will leak down around the low point drains as well and serve as a drainage point. At first I thought this was going to be an issue but it looks like they’ve sleeved those drains in tubing so that water can’t find its way to the subfloor…hopefully. 

ChrisFix

This post inspired me to go look carefully at the Nautilus compartment in my 400...and my take away was why isn't the compartment one molded piece? Seems a great oversight to have caulked seams that can leak into the passenger compartment. We all know a caulked seam is a matter of when, not if, it will leak.

Basil48192

Mine did the same thing.  The hot and cold water drain lines penetrate the back of the panel too close to the bottom.  I packed white silicon caulk around the bottom of the pipes and it did the trick.

Snoblett

Hi all-  yes, the Nautilus compartment definitely has leak spots where water can drain into the cabin of the camper.  I have caulked everywhere I can and have eliminated the problem.

Problem Statement:  water can leak into the cabin of the camper via the nautilus compartment in at least two places, (1) the low point drains, and (2) the gap between the nautilus housing and the camper outer wall.

This problem occurs whenever water collects in the pan of the nautilus compartment and can be replicated by simply pouring a cup of water at either of the locations listed in the problem statement.

Solution: Caulk everything surrounding the low point drains.  Caulk the gap between the housing and camper exterior. Let sit for 24
hours before water testing.

MarkAl

My 2021 320S (built in 5/2020) leaks very badly. I understand why the new 2022's have the low point drain valves outside the Nautilus box! I have not successfully sealed these areas yet. Fortunately I know the problem and do not let water collect in the box.

Because of other minor leaks in the water pipes I have found, I check everything during each trip with the system pressurized with water. The plastic Pex joints should be brass! In addition to the Nautilus leak I've found 3 other area with (very) minor leaks at the couplings.

manyman297

While I need to confirm I’m pretty sure those openings around the low point drains are meant to be open to allow any water to drain through them. If I remember correctly you can see those sleeves on the drains go all of the way through to the underside of the trailer floor. Again, I’ll need to visually confirm this.

manyman297

Just went outside and took a peak and yes, those sleeves run through the entire floor. I’ve noticed water leaking around those before and that’s what prompted me to find out that they were sleeves. 

In this pic you can see the low point drain spouts inside the sleeves from underneath: 

Denny16

The Nautilus bottom part should also drain out the hose opening in the bottom.
I would not seal around the low point drains where they go through the bottom part either, let the water out, so it does not leak into the TaB.
 Cheers