Cracks above storage lid on Coleman

[Camping Coxes]

We have a 1998 Coleman Sunridge (replaced by Mesa, closest to the current Valor model). We had water in our front storage trunk after a very heavy rainstorm. Determined the lid wasn't sealing well and found one of the pieces toward the back underside of the lid was detached, letting the lid warp. We fixed that. Still had water in the trunk after washing it. Thought it was the water heater since that's the area where the water seemed to be -- tore that out to check all fittings. It was fine.
 
We finally discovered two hairline cracks on the piece that is at a 45 degree angle just above the hinge for the storage trunk. It's the top cap above the storage lid that the storage lid attaches to.  Water was running along the edge of the lid and dropping down at the water heater.  Fortunately it didn't make it's way into the trailer itself.
 
1. Does anyone know of a place to find salvaged parts for Colemans?
 
2. Does anyone have a suggestion of how to fix it? (Tried caulking it, didn't work, but it was probably still a little wet).
 
One dealer we called wanted almost $600 for the piece, and suggested we just sell it and not tell the new owners!!!! Can you believe that one???  We don't work that way -- makes me sad to think some people do.
 
Any and all help is greatly appreciated.

[mthill25]

We just purchased a 2002 Coleman Westlake with a good sized crack on the angled bezel piece just above the hinge for the lid. The old owner let it sit outside all of the time and he said it just slowly appeared. I tried to caulk it but was unsuccessful. The crack extends below the gasket material making it neerly impossible to acheive a good seal. I ordered one (still waiting for it) from my local dealer for $700. It comes with the lid, the bezel, and hinges. I feel I can replace it myself in one weekend. While it is apart, I need to replace the water damaged wood in the strage area. I will post my experience with this venture as soon as it is coplete.

[bearsden]

We just purchased a 2002 Coleman Westlake with a good sized crack on the angled bezel piece just above the hinge for the lid. The old owner let it sit outside all of the time and he said it just slowly appeared. I tried to caulk it but was unsuccessful. The crack extends below the gasket material making it neerly impossible to acheive a good seal. I ordered one (still waiting for it) from my local dealer for $700. It comes with the lid, the bezel, and hinges. I feel I can replace it myself in one weekend. While it is apart, I need to replace the water damaged wood in the strage area. I will post my experience with this venture as soon as it is coplete.

I will be looking for your reply.  We have a 2000 Mesa... we noticed water in the front storage bin when we first picked it up... never realized it was leaking until a few years later.  (We keep our camper in a portable garage out of the weather.)
 
Our dealer put black tar sealant around the rubber seal - what a mess they made and the water would have to be 2" deep before it could get up that high... and to top it all off, it was no longer under warranty by a few months the bill was over $170 for a mess.
 
  We now have a little warping around the storage door.  I have caulked all areas I could find possible.... it seems to still get in somewhere.  We keep it covered as much as possible and will keep searching for the source.

[wynot]

1. Does anyone know of a place to find salvaged parts for Colemans?
 
2. Does anyone have a suggestion of how to fix it? (Tried caulking it, didn't work, but it was probably still a little wet).
 

Any salvaged parts will have the same problem, Coleman/Fleetwood, and ABS just seem to develop cracks.  For a material that seems to be extremely flexible, it doesn't seem to have much structural (lateral) strength, especially with temperature changes.
 
If I were fixing cracks, I would be out there with a fiberglass repair kit - but that is because I have worked in fiberglass in boat repairs.  I read recently on here that someone talked about another marine repair material, perhaps they'll post.

[sandcsantacruz]

Hey everyone,

Just a reminder...as I have posted on my thread about this, keep all your old hardware handy.   It took coleman 7weeks to send my lid assy. ($750) and it only has the hinge for the lid.  I am still waiting for my local dealer to get the latches to hold the lid down in stock.  
Because my lid blew off, I was using a board to cover it up when storing or camping with it.  But when it was down the deck got pretty cracked up from the lid blowing off so what I did was use an ungodly amount of black permatex gasket maker (autozone)  on both sides of the cracks making sure it was dry before  applying it.  It was ugly, but kept the water out.

[wynot]

I will be looking for your reply. We have a 2000 Mesa... we noticed water in the front storage bin when we first picked it up... never realized it was leaking until a few years later. (We keep our camper in a portable garage out of the weather.)
 
Our dealer put black tar sealant around the rubber seal - what a mess they made and the water would have to be 2" deep before it could get up that high... and to top it all off, it was no longer under warranty by a few months the bill was over $170 for a mess.
 
We now have a little warping around the storage door. I have caulked all areas I could find possible.... it seems to still get in somewhere. We keep it covered as much as possible and will keep searching for the source.

You might want to look higher, I'e had water come in UNDER that long aluminum strip that sits under the front bunk screwed down to the ABS, especially driving in heavy rain.  My official fix (and no water since!!)?  I put duct tape across it.

[Camping Coxes]

, I'e had water come in UNDER that long aluminum strip that sits under the front bunk screwed down to the ABS, especially driving in heavy rain.

That metal strip was the conduit for the water.  It was coming in at almost middle and running along that strip, then dropping off near enough to the water heater that we thought we had a leak in the WH.
 
I've advised my DH on the advise and I did look up old posts in the archives.  I seem to be leaning towards the fiberglass repair kit.

[Fleetwoody]

I have the same problem with my '04 Laramie. I've done some research, and have locted a couple of ABS adhesives. As soon as I know which one works best, I leave a post.

FW