Business7

Oklahoma

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My friend was spending all his money every month on a 3 bedroom house for just him and gas money driving to work every morning. I helped him buy an older but seemingly well-kept 32" travel trailer for $2500, and it costs $400/mo all bills and cable paid to park it at a lot 2 miles from work. Enough back story?
This is the third rain we've had since he got the trailer, and he's seeing dampening in the walls. The trailer has a new single piece metal sheet roof put on it. The previous owner said he sealed it up, and we even saw the bucket of sealant he had working on it there with it. What would be the best way to seal it up? I was considering a trailer cover after reading some other posts on the forum. I assume it's possible to live in a travel trailer with most of it covered by a cover, perhaps zip off two of the panels to allow front door and rear AC vent access. He has a portable AC unit that has a hose that attaches to the window, not a unit that sticks out of the window.
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Oasisbob

Portland Oregon 97266

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Could the moisture be condensation? Covering a trailer while occupied is not a good idea. There are vents for sewer, range, basic ventanation that need to be able to breath. I would take the trailer to a shop that does pressure testing and find the leak if there is one. Best of luck.
Oasis Bob
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B.O. Plenty

Minnesota

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Why not just find and fix the leak? Probably cheaper than a cover that most likely won't solve the problem. Most of the covers I've seen are fabric and not that waterproof. You could always hang a nice new blue tarp over it..
B.O.
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sunkatcher

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Oasisbob wrote: Could the moisture be condensation? Covering a trailer while occupied is not a good idea. There are vents for sewer, range, basic ventanation that need to be able to breath. I would take the trailer to a shop that does pressure testing and find the leak if there is one. Best of luck.
Condensation would be my bet as well. When its rainny we have tendancy to close everything up and just us living, cooking,and such will generate a ton of water that will condence on the cooler outside walls and look like a leak.
Open your roof vents a crack even if it is raining and try to leave some cross ventalation from the windows when you can. If you are cooking be sure a fan is on someplace.
Ron
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skipnchar

Topeka or somewhere else

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Check with the park he's got the trailer in because MANY of them will not allow a tarped roof. Since metal is not likely to leak (unless it's rusted) the leak problem is more than likely a caulking issue. A one piece roof, be it rubber, metal or fiberglass still has to be caulked on edges and around thru roof openings like ventilation hatches, tank vents, air conditioner, TV antennae or anything else that's attached to the roof. the previous owner may have gone through the motions of caulking but that does NOT mean he did it correctly or with quality (since it's still leaking).
Good luck / Skip
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Business7

Oklahoma

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It has been raining for about three days. He doesn't use the shower. I don't think it is condensation. Is it worth it to pay someone to find the leak? A 5-gal bucket of the good stuff is like $50, could just coat every seal up top around the edges and fixtures?
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sunkatcher

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The next time it rains. When you get home from work wait until about 9:00pm after your car is cooled. Go out in the rain and take a nice cup of hot coffee with you sit is the car without it running and the windows up for about 25 minutes while you enjoy your coffe and the veiw out the windorws and you may see what we are talking about.
Could be a leak but it is easyier to make sure it is not Humidity.
Ron
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Business7

Oklahoma

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Wouldn't he see condensation on the windows before the walls? Either way, it shouldn't hurt to get up there and put some Leak Stopper over everything?
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