Need advice for unusual repair

T@Balong

I have a 2015 T@B 320S that has been much loved and well used......72,000 miles worth.  After returning home from a recent six week trip and washing mud from under the T@B, I noticed a cover hanging down.   It is located in front of the driver's side tire, and appears to protect the p-trap and some wires there.  It has been held in place by several screws, which let loose, as well as some black caulk adhesive.   

Has anyone had this problem?   What kind of caulk adhesive was originally used by the factory?   Any advice would be appreciated.

Sharon_is_SAM

Verna had a plumbing leak and described that area here:  https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/6090/teaser-alert-what-does-it-look-like-under-your-shower-repair-completed

T@Balong

Thanks, that is exactly the area, fortunately for me, no plumbing problems, just need to re-attach the cover.   Any idea what kind of adhesive caulk  to use?

pthomas745

Could you show us a photo?  The "coroplast" plastic cover may be held to the bottom of the trailer with metal strips and screws that hold it against the bottom of the trailer.  A photo would really help.

Sharon_is_SAM

Did the 2015 model year have a corroplast cover?  For some reason, I think it was added later.

Sharon_is_SAM

@T@Balong - I would think any exterior, silicone caulk would work.  I would pose the question to Tech@nucamprv.com.

ScottG

My 2015 (built Dec 2014) does not have the coroplast cover. I think the cover in question is the same one shown in Verna's 2017 post that Sharon referenced above.

rfuss928

I would be sure I understood what failed to cause the cover to fall off before I reinstalled it. 
Is the compartment above wet?  Does the cover look like it had water in it?  Could it have been hit by something?  Why did the cover come off?
Then I would use butyl tape or a bead of marine silicone sealant on the flange the screws pass through.  You may need to repair the screw holes or get larger diameter screws if the old ones just pulled.

T@Balong

I have my suspicions about the cause.  One possibility is the high number of miles we have driven.  The other is that the day before I made this discovery I had the brakes done (new hubs, drums, etc) at a local utility trailer company where I have the wheels packed.  The fellow who usually did the brakes had retired and someone trained by him did the work.   I called the company after I discovered the cover hanging down to see if anything "unusual" had happened during installation of the brakes that might have caused the failure of the cover underneath the shower.  The supervisor, who I know personally, went to talk with the installer and reported back that nothing unusual happened.  They have assured me they would be able to fix the problem if I choose to go that route.  

The area above the cover is not wet, and the shower has not been used in over a year.   But it is sort of a mystery why the cover came off.   

otr_320

NuCamp used black, neoprene-like, ~1/4" thick foam to seal the black plastic cover underneath the shower drain on our '23 320. 

cid69

Do not caulk! If you have a plumbing leak you want it to leak here so you know there's a leak. If you waterproof it and have a leak water will build up under the floor.

ScottG

On the other hand, you don't want road spray or other external water working its way into that cover and filling it like a bowl!

otr_320

The black cover (underneath the shower drain) on our '23 320 has a small hole in the bottom.  I assume NuCamp placed it there for drainage purposes . . . or we have something in our garage with an appetite for plastic.

ScottG

I've never inspected mine very closely, but a drain hole at the bottom makes sense.

T@Balong

I heard back from Creed at nuCamp and he says the sealant which should be used for this repair is:  Geocell Proflex or Geocell MHRV 2300.   Looks like it is available on Amazon and other places.   Thanks for all the advice with this repair.