telesave
Toronto, Canada
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I have read many postings about avoiding the purchase of an rv with water leaks (very expensive and difficult to fix, etc)
I have a hypothetical question..
What is so bad about buying an rv with a water leak (assuming it can be purchased at a bargain price because of the leak) and not fixing the leak.
Most of the time the rv can be stored with a cover.
On trips when it rains, you'll get some water inside - but its not that bad.
Is it a mold issue?
Is it that the rv will fall apart (literally) on the road because of the water damage?
Maybe it's worthwile to buy the bargain, drive it for 3-4 yrs and then junk it...
Any comments that would give me more information about the above suggestion would be appreciated.
thanks,
mark
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chadly
Racine, MN
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it's a rot issue. you don't know how long the leak had been there. I have a spot in my bunk area where i cannot find a hard enough place to rescrew in the blind track. If i had known, i wouldn't have bought it.
Water is one of the worst parisitic things out there when it comes to damamge...
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MDeeGee
Upstate NY
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I guess it is all about perspective. I think most folks warn about the undetected issues. As long as you know what you are in for, "you buys your ticket, you takes your chances!"
But seriously, it is more about health and safety issues rather than cosmetic or convenience. We had a very small leak in our previous rig (one of the cab clearance lights) that caused a major mold problem and probably contributed to the beginnings of delamination. More severe leaks can cause rot, thereby weakening the wall structure, etc. Read up on some of the stories and you'll get the picture.
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79powerwagon
S.E. Wisconsin
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Joined: 06/30/2007
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Well, my junker I just bought has a bad deiling from leakimng. I'm simply going to replace the two bad panels and be done with it. Re-sealing the roof cost me about 3 hours of work and $50.00 worth of material.
What's the big deal with that? I paid $600.00 for my RV and most everything works in her.
Do I have slickest, most elegant rig out there? Heck no!
Do I care? Nope! 
She ain't purdy, but at least she's slow!
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tonyandkaren
pennsylvania
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The major damage is delamination of the side panels and rotting of the floor. One problem with water leaks is that a lot of the time you aren't aware that there is a leak so water can be getting in for a long time causing all kinds of damage.
Finding where the water is getting in is also pretty hard and if there's an obvious leak there are probably more that you can't see. Just be prepared for some surprises.
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hemlox
Western Illinois
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Joined: 05/21/2007
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telesave wrote:I have read many postings about avoiding the purchase of an rv with water leaks (very expensive and difficult to fix, etc)
I have a hypothetical question..
What is so bad about buying an rv with a water leak (assuming it can be purchased at a bargain price because of the leak) and not fixing the leak.
Most of the time the rv can be stored with a cover.
On trips when it rains, you'll get some water inside - but its not that bad.
Is it a mold issue?
Is it that the rv will fall apart (literally) on the road because of the water damage?
Maybe it's worthwile to buy the bargain, drive it for 3-4 yrs and then junk it...
Any comments that would give me more information about the above suggestion would be appreciated.
thanks,
mark
At first I thought this was a joke.
* This post was
edited 09/06/07 12:06pm by hemlox *
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map40
MI
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Strctural issues: screw heads braking, sides or parts getting loose, steel rusting, etc.
Woodroot: wood soft or gone.
If you can verify that the structure is OK, and no mold, it should be not much more of an issue. Just be aware, a friend of mine got one, he thought it was OK, until a cabinet came down.
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MI Director
Michigan
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Would you live in a house that leaks water every time it rains. RV's are homes on wheels they also have an electrical system like a house that Dose Not Mix Well with Water. The other problem is I do not want to be behind you as parts start to come off your rig on the interstate because the water rot has destroyed the material. A Band-Aid repair is asking for more problems if you can't do it yourself right be prepared to pay a professional.
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2manytoyz
Central FL
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Go to Tioga George's website, check his archive, and read about the headaches of dealing with his leaking Class C. It's rarely a single spot of rot, and water can travel further than you have access to! Get one area fixed, find another. Lack of maintenance, or poor design, can be a lot of headaches.
Even if it were free, I'd pass it up. You'll spend your days working on it, rather than enjoying it. Life's too short!
Robert
Cocoa, FL
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T18skyguy
Eugene, OR
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A leaker is a time bomb really. We were camping in the Rockies(in a borrowed rig) and in the middle of the night came a huge storm and water poured in on my wifes face in the overhead bunk. Really made for a bad trip. Then my friend dumped it on consignment and the new buyer discovered $7000 worth of damage and threatened a lawsuit. A leak really ruins your fun, which is why you bought in the first place.
Retired Anesthetist. Pilot with mechanic/inspection ratings.1996 Jayco C 22 foot with 460/Banks Powerpak/Bilsteins.Wife and daughter. Two cats which control my life. 1975 Ford F-250, 84 Coupe Deville, Thorp T18, tons of tools and tons of junk.
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