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How We Fixed A Leaky Slide-Out On Our RV/Travel Trailer

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How-We-Fixed-A-Leaky-Slide-Out-On-Our-RV-Travel-Trailer-the-camping-nerd2

How To Seal An RV Slide Out To Keep Water Out

It has been a rainy spring in Idaho. We have had several weeks of rain pouring down.

I was sitting working at my desk with my feet on the carpet when I suddenly felt that my feet were wet.

Related Product: Dicor Butyl RV Seal Tape (click to view on Amazon)

At first, I thought my wife had spilled something, but when I took a closer look, I felt the water all along the side of my slide out. The carpet was soaked!

It was still raining cats and dogs, but I had to go out and check how the water was getting in, and I quickly found the issue.

See Also: 6 Best Exterior RV Caulks For Camper Window, Molding & Trim

The seal where the slide-out wall meets the floor had cracks in it.

The sealant hadn’t been replaced and reapplied since the trailer was manufactured back in 2013.

This is where the water got in:

Cracks in a leaky RV slide out
Water often runs down the side of an RV slide out and gets into the floor through cracks in the sealant.

 

Cracks in the caulk of an RV slide out that is letting water inside.
The caulk along the sides of RV slide outs often wears out quickly and needs to be replaced.

With cracks in the sealant, water was able to go in behind the strip and into the screw holes.

Of course, we should have looked at this and noticed the big crack and realized that it would cause issues, but at least we have learned our lesson!

We’re hoping that by posting this, others will check their slides and prevent leaks before they happen.

Resealing the slide-out strip

What we did to fix the leak was to remove the strip. It was about six screws that had to come out. Then we cleaned the strip, the wall and let them both dry off.

Putting it back on is as easy as taking it off, and we did so after putting non-leveling lap sealant (click to view on Amazon) throughout the whole back of the strip and screwing it back on.

We finished it off with sealant on both the top and the bottom of the strip to create a completely watertight seal.

Maintaining a Watertight Seal

Now, to maintain the watertight seal you need to check this seal every month to make sure the sealant hasn’t cracked or fallen off.

Of course, it’s also a good idea to go over your whole trailer and check every seal there is.

See Also: Best RV Steps & Stairs For Campers & Trailers Reviews

There are a lot of places on your RV where sealant keeps the water out of your RV, and each of these places needs to be maintained and resealed if damaged.

If you have found water leaks in your RV, or have something to add to this post, please leave a comment down below.

by Jesse
Jesse has always had an interest in camping, technology, and the outdoors. Who knew that growing up in a small town in Sweden with endless forests and lakes would do that to you?

2 thoughts on “How We Fixed A Leaky Slide-Out On Our RV/Travel Trailer”

  1. I found a puddle of water on my window ledge in the slide out. Then i noticed the carpet really wet under the couch below the window. Not sure what to do?

    Reply

    • Hi Marilyn,

      It sounds like there may be water coming in through either the window seal or the slide out roof.

      First, check the caulk around the outside of the window you found water on. If it has gaps and chips in it you should remove it and recaulk it.

      If the window caulk job seemed watertight the problem is probably on the roof or sides of the slide out. You will need to inspect around the areas where there’s caulk to see where the water is getting in and then repair it.

      Hopefully, you find the source of the leak. Water inside an RV is never fun and it can take a few tries before finding the exact spot that’s leaking.

      Reply

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