Slide out question.

[Frankp877]

New to this group as well as new to Keystone products. Have had many campers over the years but this is the first Keystone.
My wife and I purchased a 2025 Cougar 25FKD last September and are very happy with the layout as well as the size. Our other campers had slide outs so we're not new to the operation, but I do want to know if Cougar in general does not add slide out skis to the slides?

We are seeing a slight bit of water on the floor of the left side of the large slide. When I first mentioned this to the dealer they said I probably did not close the slide all the way, and I disagreed but decided it could be a possibility. Upon opening the camper after this past winter we once again found a small amount of water on the floor.

I have looked at the ceiling and walls for any sign of leaks as well as the windows and have found nothing. When I lift the vinyl flooring of the slide out I find water a small amount of moisture in between the flooring and the floor. Seems the flooring is not glued down, just on the edges?

My thought is without the skis could the water be coming in from underneath?

Definitely going back to the dealer on Monday with this but just curious if anyone has had a similar issue.

Thanks for listening to my ramble.

Frank

 

[DutchmenSport]

Congrats on getting your new Cougar and I hope you can get your issues figured out. But, here's one bit of food for thought .... Water rolls down hill. Having skies under the camper should not cause water intrusion from "under" the floor upwards. Your water is coming in from the top down. Most likely, the rubber seals are not aligning correct, or one could be installed crooked, or one could even be torn or ripped.

Another observation? Does the water intrusion happen ONLY when it rains? Or do you experience water intrusion when it's dry outside?

Another question? If the weather IS dry, do you experience the water intrusion when the Air Conditioner is running, or do you have water intrusion even when the Air Conditioner is running and it's dry outside too? Your AC creates condensation too and that water will drip off the roof. If there is a leak somewhere on the roof, it's possible the water on your floor is working it's way inside the camper.

If dry outside, and no AC running, it's possible, the water is being caused by simple condensation collecting on the walls of the slide and pooling on the floor. So, to help solve your mystery, what's the weather conditions when this happens and the use of heat or AC inside the camper?

 

[Frankp877]

Thank you Dutchmen, appreciate the help.

Both times we have found water in the camper has been when we are taking it out of storage and getting ready for a trip. That eliminates the AC runoff as a culprit. Small amount of water, no more than a cup on the left side of the large dining slide out.

Funny part is it seems to be coming in from between the floor and the floor material. I can lift up the leading edge of the slide flooring and there is moisture along the edge of the floor itself.

I can't imagine that much condensation but I guess it is possible.

The most recent trip we encountered rain and saw no leaks anywhere which leaves me thinking it may be a seal issue when closed or the slide not closing completely. Either way it's going to be a dealer problem to solve since we're still on warranty.

 

[JRTJH]

What do you mean when you say, "We are seeing a slight bit of water on the floor of the left side of the large slide." Is that the "left side" when outside looking at the slide, or the "left side" when inside looking at the slide??? If you mean the "forward end of the slide" then I believe your city water connection, water heater and probably the water pump all located "in the cabinet next to that end of the slide. You could have some sealant leakage in one of those multiple "wall openings" or you could easily have a fitting leaking in that area. Also, condensation from cold water in an uninsulated PEX tube entering the trailer "could contribute" to water dripping in that area, although that shouldn't happen while the trailer is in storage.

Then, when you open the slide, along the bottom of each end wall is a metal "joiner strip" that has been an issue for a lot of owners. That joiner strip is about 3/8" thick and if any water sheds off the end wall, if the slide is not "leaning out" or is there is any "leaning in" that water can run along the top edge of that strip and into the trailer. The slide seals don't conform completely along that strip and that small gap can lead to water intrusion.

Also, looking at your model, the front end of the slide sits DIRECTLY under the cap/roof/sidewall joiner. There is a plastic "rain gutter spout" at that 3 way union, but there is also a tremendous amount of sealant on the roof in that area. It is possible that the rain gutter spout is blocked by sealant and any water running off the roof, if the trailer is "nose low" would run toward that gutter spout, but roll out of the gutter and down the sidewall rather than into the spout. That would put water running over the closed top flange of the slide and directed at the end flange of the slide.... If the "D-seal" on the top of that slide flange is leaking at the end corner, water could be running into the inside of the flange and down to the floor where that "joiner strip" is located, and then into the trailer....

So look inside that kitchen cabinet where all the plumbing is located, look at the joiner strip, look at the rain gutter spout and check the D-seals along the top and sides of the slide flange... It could be something as simple as the D-seal at the top doesn't cover the side D-seal but is "cut short" so the edge is on top rather than on the side of the rubber's corner...

 

[Frankp877]

Sorry for the confusion. I'm talking about the slide from "inside" the camper. The seating and dining area are on the larger slide out. When looking at the slide from inside, the water is on the left.

I can almost say with certainty that the water is between the flooring (vinyl) and the actual floor of the slide. Almost as if it is "wicking" in from the outside.

I checked the seams outside of the slide and all look to be intact.

 

[{Tpc}]

Look in the wheel well area, below the slide room. Its hard to tell from the photos I've seen but look for any open gaps in the flooring of the slide room that may be exposed to the wheel well. My slide room had a gap (I honestly still don't know why the gap even existed to this day) but it was large enough that when traveling if we encountered any rain, it would wick up into the carpet. The dealer fixed the issue, and no problems since, but it could be something like that happening.

At first I thought you mean the left side of the room while on the outside which would be near your water ports and HW tank, but I guess its the other side. There isn't a bathroom or kitchen near that area by chance? I've seen issues before where the lack of water pressure regulator would overcome a joint or union in the plumbing and create an issue not normally seen.

 

[Frankp877]

We had a wheel well issue on an older camper and that was one of my first areas I checked, all good.
As for a pressure regulator, we haven't used the city water hook up as yet, only running the on board pump.

We are in the middle of a two day rain right now so I'm anxious to check and see if I can locate an entry point.
Either way, it goes to the dealer next week.