2017 T@B CSS water intrusion while parked

RedBaron · July 10

I have removed the vinyl and plywood underlayment because it was very wet. Since I removed the floor the trailer has been through a couple of rain storms and I noticed the floor getting wet ar the rear of the wheel well on the passenger side. Does anyone have suggestions as to where the rain water is getting in? I removed the fender and caulked everywhere I thought could be leaking but it still seeps in.

Thank you for your help.
Steve

Sharon_is_SAM · July 11

Did you see this?
https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/2895/attention-special-factory-maintenance-notice/p1?new=1

RedBaron · July 11

Thank you for your response. I did see the factory bulletin and took the fenders off and caulked everywhere I could see that needed caulk. What puzzles me is the fact that I caulked the recommended area and still have a wet floor about 2” behind the inside wheel cover.

Sharon_is_SAM · July 11

Have you taken off the corrugated cover under the TaB?

Bayliss · July 11

@RedBaron, since you have caulked the areas around the wheel well, consider replacing the seal around the passenger side rear storage compartment access door.

I had water intrusion at that location, so nüCamp replaced the seal. When they replaced it, they moved the location where the ends of the rubber seal meet (area marked with the red arrow in the first photo below.) That point had previously been located at the lower center of the door opening and there was a gap between the two ends. Therefore, water was getting through (second photo.) The third photo depicts evidence of interior water damage/penetration below that point. You can easily check for leaks to that area by spraying all around the opening with a water hose.

Another potential source of water intrusion I found is around the passenger rear GFCI electrical outlet (fourth photo.) I noticed outside light visible around the outer edges of that electrical box (third photo), so I sprayed some foam sealant around the upper edge of the box on the interior, and resealed the exterior edges with clear sealant (fifth photo.)

The last three photos show clear evidence of water damage to the rear compartment flooring. When I purchased my 2019 T@B 320 S in December 2018, I photographed the entire trailer, inside and out. Good thing I did (and I recommend anyone buying a new trailer do the same thing), because evidence of water damage in the passenger rear compartment was already present, but not readily apparent. The sixth photo shows that location (yellow arrow labeled "12/16/2018".) I did not notice it at the time.

It was not until late 2022, while cleaning out that compartment, that I discovered more "obvious" water damage that was beginning to spread, as evidenced by the brown stained areas (photographs 7 and 8.) Other T@B owners have posted photos of similar water damage in that area. I discovered that the area of the original damage, where it appeared water had been pooling, was soft and spongy. Although I initially suspected the electrical box as the source of the water intrusion, I believe it was caused by the improper installation of the storage compartment door seal.

Regardless of the actual source, water ultimately made its way all the way to the front of the interior floor, causing extensive damage to the underlayment. Because I clearly documented that the damage had already begun prior to my purchase of the trailer, nüCamp agreed to replace the flooring and underlayment (in March 2023.) nüCamp also resealed the entire rear exterior of the trailer, including around the taillights, because that is a very common source of water leakage. However, there was no apparent water staining that would indicate that was a source of water entering the rear compartment.

Not sure if either location is contributing to your particular issue around the wheel well, but once water begins to leak inside a trailer (or house), it takes the path of least resistance and can travel far away from the source. Worth checking out. Good luck!