Water in front locker

[ColinA]

the last twice we have towed our van in the rain we have found a lot of water in the gas locker. we have towed in rain many times before (we live in Scotland) but have never had water in the locker. The caravan is a series 5 bailey senator vermont. Has anyone else experienced anything like this.

Thanks Colin.

 

[Stevel]

Is the water all over the locker?

I have a Louisiana and notice that the louvres in the floor on both sides can let in water.

Hope it helps.

 

[ColinA]

Yes it is sprayed all over the locker.

Colin.

 

[Robert_374242026]

Have 2001 Coachman and it gets soaked inside locker, the reason on this one is that the seal does not go all round the locker. Am going to find out where i can get the correct seal as the normal suppiers of seals do not do Coachman type.

 

[GeorgeB]

Colin,

I have series 5 Indiana, it also gets wet in the gas locker when towed whilst its raining, i think its because of the design of the locker/front panel.

i you look at the inside front of the locker at the floor level you'll see that the front panel is not actually attached to the floor, it sort of floats if you get my drift, if your tow car is like mine, it tends to throw up a lot of spray in the wet, this is what i think is the cause of water in the front locker.

i've been assuredby Bailey's technical bods at the Feb NEC show that this is quite normal and is not detrimental to the integrity of the body, indeed i cannot find any water ingress ito the fron of the van, i've even taken out the front chest of drawers to see.

 

[Robert_374242026]

Colin,

I have series 5 Indiana, it also gets wet in the gas locker when towed whilst its raining, i think its because of the design of the locker/front panel.

i you look at the inside front of the locker at the floor level you'll see that the front panel is not actually attached to the floor, it sort of floats if you get my drift, if your tow car is like mine, it tends to throw up a lot of spray in the wet, this is what i think is the cause of water in the front locker.

i've been assuredby Bailey's technical bods at the Feb NEC show that this is quite normal and is not detrimental to the integrity of the body, indeed i cannot find any water ingress ito the fron of the van, i've even taken out the front chest of drawers to see.

Regardless what salesmen say our plywood floor started to delaminate so repaired it and recoated it.

 

[Billy_bear]

Colin,

I have series 5 Indiana, it also gets wet in the gas locker when towed whilst its raining, i think its because of the design of the locker/front panel.

i you look at the inside front of the locker at the floor level you'll see that the front panel is not actually attached to the floor, it sort of floats if you get my drift, if your tow car is like mine, it tends to throw up a lot of spray in the wet, this is what i think is the cause of water in the front locker.

i've been assuredby Bailey's technical bods at the Feb NEC show that this is quite normal and is not detrimental to the integrity of the body, indeed i cannot find any water ingress ito the fron of the van, i've even taken out the front chest of drawers to see.

picked up a new compass last week and on the handover it was pointed out that the front gas locker was not a water tight locker

bill

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hi Colin A and all,

As William states the gas bottle locker is not a designed to be a watertight container.

The regulations concerning the storage of gas bottles requires there to be free air circulation around the gas bottle. This is for two reasons.

Firstly the gas bottle needs to be exposed to the free air so it can absorb heat energy from the atmosphere to cause the liquefied gas inside the bottle to vaporise and create the gas pressure.

Secondly, in the event of leak from the bottle connection or pipe work, the escape of gas must be able to freely escape and dissipate. As the gas is heavier that air, holes in the bottom of the locker prevent a dangerous pool of gas collecting in the locker space.

So don't block the holes or gaps up.

 

[ColinA]

Hi john L. I realise the gas locker should not be airtight but I am not talking about a little water here. the whole locker was soaked with puddles on the base . If I had opened the locker and sprayed a hose in it for a couple of minutes that is the kind of wetness I am talking about. We have towed in torrential rain several times in the past and the locker has remained dry. It's just the last twice this has happened.

Colin

 

[lunar2000]

Colin, As far as I know it is normal to get water into the front locker, as stated by others on the forum.

What is not normal is for the water to hang around for any time. Do you see any holes low down under the gas bottles? These are at the lowest point and should, unless blocked, allow any water out asap,Hope this helps?

Best of luck

Pop

 

[ColinA]

I phoned the dealer I bouught the caravan from and they said this should not happen. I took it in and the guy looked at it and said the seal was not touching the bottom of the locker door. He undid the bottom of the metal braket in the middle of the locker from the base and the bottom of the front panel jumped forward about an inch and a half. He attached the bracket in the new position and the door now feels much tighter. It seems the front panel was distorted so not sealing all round the door. I'll let you all Kow if has worked the first time I tow in the rain.

Thanks for all your answers everybody.

Colin