Front locker leaking fix - suggestions welcome!

[Dubious]

Hi all,

We’ve just been out for the first time in our new (second hand) Swift Challenger X 880.

Loads of things learnt and fun was had however on the second night it rained - not a lot - and when I’ve come to pack up this morning the front locker (gas locker) had quite a lot of water in it.

I’ve researched fixes/solutions for this but nothing is really coming up other than putting a horrid piece of pipe lagging on that shows ont he outside of the caravan.

Can anyone suggest a solution for me please?

I’m wondering if it’s as simple as some silaflex around the rubber seal to help deflect the water down the sides (where is should go in the first place.

Thanks all!

 

[Jcloughie]

Hi Dubious and welcome.

The door should have a simple seal on it which is easily replaced. Example.

But the floor should have plenty of vents in it to vent any gas. So water should never collect.

John

 

[Hutch]

Front lockers are renowned for leakages, they are not really water right just water repellent. Just don't store dry items in there.

 

[Beachball]

Hi Dubious Welcome to the forum if you brought it from a dealer take it back for it should be under warranty good luck

 

[toad a caravan]

I don't know if more modern caravans are the same but mine has two profiles on the front locker,one has the piping on top of of the "U" section the other has it at 90° to the "U" section

 

[IanB1485]

If the dealer cant/wont help , then one test is to open the locker door and gently pour water down the front of the caravan , even without the door pressing on the seal it should deflect water around the seal if not then the seal is faulty, reseating may help and applying soudal fix all or sikaflex 522 ( black)adhesive/sealant to where the seal fits on the lip of the locker. I've seen a few locker door fall off when you open the door and a little adhesive helps keep it in position. Some posters have also suggested applying water seal to the base to prevent water ingress rotting the plywood ( some later ones have GRP )

 

[toad a caravan]

Or wait until it's dark and put a bright light inside the locker and observe if there is any sign of light escaping

 

[IanB1485]

or climb in !!!

 

[Buckman]

This works a treat across the top of the locker door and does not look very unsightly. See https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00BFCA6TW?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1

 

[toad a caravan]

Ian some older caravans have GRP front locker floors too

 

[Buckman]

Ian some older caravans have GRP front locker floors too

Apologies I should have said that you would fit the insulation pipe across the top of the door to prevent water entering.

 

[birdman101]

The main problem is the design shape. The seal lip it is fixed to is not straight but bowed down to the centre. Therefore water lays behind it before running out at the two ends. This seal is only a push on fit. Take it off and seal on with silkaflex. You will still get some water lay behind the seal which can drip in when locker opened. If you want to completely cure bond a strip of 25 mm plastic angle the whole width across behind the seal, so it eliminates the dip for water to accumulate, after running down off front windows. Water then does not even reach the seal

 

[toad a caravan]

Hi,Buckman In my post #10 I was referring to #6, sorry for any confusion 👍..Gary...Summer didn't last long,back to grey sky and rain up here (S Lancashire)

 

[Dubious]

Thanks for the suggestions all.
I’ve done various tests (I’ve not climbed in but have put my phone inside) and it seems like the seal is getting overwhelmed with water and the water then drips in at the points where it’s overwhelmed - it didn’t take much water to overwhelm it. I’m going to try the lagging approach suggested by Buckman first to see how that goes.

 

[IanB1485]

@Dubious , so the seal isn't being compressed against the lid? On most seals there is a 'bulb'- see photo- and a small lip , this should be compressed against the locker lid , on this one it's sort of round in shape , some have a more square profile.Fitting some Armaflex ( other makes are available ) sounds like a good idea , if you do it, post some pictures.

 

[Jcloughie]

@Dubious , so the seal isn't being compressed against the lid? On most seals there is a 'bulb'- see photo- and a small lip , this should be compressed against the locker lid , on this one it's sort of round in shape , some have a more square profile.Fitting some Armaflex ( other makes are available ) sounds like a good idea , if you do it, post some pictures.

Agree, bit like I said in #2

John

 

[birdman101]

The problem is the shape of the locker. If you lay a straight edge across behind the seal you will see the centre of the panel is at least 25 mm lower than the ends, therefore water lays behind it and cannot escape. Therefore my method of plastic angle in my previous post cures this.

 

[toad a caravan]

Have a look on COH Brains web site,on there you should find the seal(s) you need or another place is seals direc

 

[Dubious]

I got some Armaflex delivered and fitted that today - it's due to pour down tonight so it'll be a good test.
Hopefully this will go some way to resolving the issue. If it does not then I'll report back.

The top of the locker design needs a simple upside down 'u' shape to allow water to run off properly. It would have been easy to do given that the door would have still fitted.

 

[Jcloughie]

The hinge in your picture seems to be adjustable. This would bring the top of the door into the seal.

Loosen the screws and push it in, then retighten. Keeping the fingers crossed.



John

 

[Buckman]

I got some Armaflex delivered and fitted that today - it's due to pour down tonight so it'll be a good test.
Hopefully this will go some way to resolving the issue. If it does not then I'll report back.

The top of the locker design needs a simple upside down 'u' shape to allow water to run off properly. It would have been easy to do given that the door would have still fitted.

View attachment 8688

We put the Armaflex across the top of the locker lid and not the interior.

 

[birdman101]

The hinge in your picture seems to be adjustable. This would bring the top of the door into the seal.

Loosen the screws and push it in, then retighten. Keeping the fingers crossed.

View attachment 8691

John

All that adjustment does is higher or lower the position of the locker door when in closed position. It does nothing to add closed pressure on the seal.