Leak in my Bayside trunk door

[jtprevatte]

The wife and I have upgraded from the Coleman Taos we bought last year to a Coleman Bayside.
 
The Bayside has a access door on the side of the front trunk that I have found to be leaking water. It has one lock in the middle of the door. I have noticed that some models have two which I assume is a fix by coleman to this problem. I am trying to figure out a way to seal up this leak. I have tried weatherstripping to make the door fit tighter and even caulking...which if I can't get it to stop I am going to caulk it closed, but I don't want to do that.
 
Can someone give me some suggestions on how to make this watertight again? I am trying to save my flooring in the trunk from any water damage...I sure don't want to have to replace that.
 
I have seen some pictures where some people have done repairs to this trailer for the leaks but that was mostly to replace the wood that was damaged....any help?
THANKS!
 
Here is a picture of the door I am talking about...ignore the for sale signs...took the picture when it was for sale.

[jtprevatte]

Wow!  29 views and not one reply....problem solved....door caulked shut until an alternative can be found....small rain shower today....leaked....caulked.

[rccs]

I have a 95 Coleman Avalon with the front storage trunk and had a similar problem with water leaking into the side doors on the trunk. What I found out after looking it over was that I was packing to much against the doors which caused them to push outward enough to let rain leak in which also bent the latch enough to make for a looser fit. What I did to solve the problem was to first of all take the flat metal piece off on the back of the latch, which is held on by a screw, and bend it slightly so it would hold the door shut tighter. Next I cut a piece of 1/4" plywood just a little bigger than the size of the opening of the door. I place the plywood on the inside of the storage trunk over the opening to keep from having items push against the door when packing up. When I get to the campsite, while I am unpacking items from the storage trunk before setting up, I remove the plywood from in front of the doors and set it aside.
I have not had any problem with water leaking in again since I started doing this.

[Norm Couture]

Our Coleman Utah had the same problem.

I fixed it by bending the bar on the lock. No leak yet.

With the door open, turn the lock with the key. That will expose the lock bar. That is the bar that pulls the door tight to the weather strip and camper.
If you take a pair of plyers and bend the bar about an 1/8 inch toward the outside of door. It will tighten the seal. It may take a try or two. but will work.

[kleiper]

JT,

Maybe you've already come across this but just in case, here are some pics from some guy that did a total rebuild.  Good luck.

http://sports.webshots.com/album/355971916XGpJWZ?track_pagetag=/page/photo/homegarden/hobbiesinterests&track_action=/DB/Album

[tknick]

have the same problem on our Bayside.  I believe the water is leaking from a crack in the front corner of the main part of the trailer and not the actual storage door.  since the door is MDF, it absorbs water like a sponge.  I am certain of my leak location because the water has also deformed the coutner top pieces on both sides of the PUP (one b/w the sink a the bed and the other b/w the dinette and the bed).  I haven't found a good permenant solution for my problem.  I've tried the ABS repair kits mentioned.  Cracks reappeared in less than a week.  I've tried caulks and that lasted longed, but the cracks still reappeared.  I just need to look a little harder.  I will need to rebuilt the counters and the door, but I don't have that kind of time right now.  sorry for taking so long to reply, but the same reason I haven't had time to fix the problem (three kids) is the same reason I haven't logged on in a while.

travis

[Scott Nelson]

Same problem on my 1997 bayside.  Thought the leak was the door, originally, but then realized that it is where the aluminum side and ABS fron overlap.  Water gets in the crack and the interior particle board soaks it up like a sponge.  I messed with the door and a hose and nver could make it leak.

Good Luck.

[jtprevatte]

Same problem on my 1997 bayside. Thought the leak was the door, originally, but then realized that it is where the aluminum side and ABS fron overlap. Water gets in the crack and the interior particle board soaks it up like a sponge. I messed with the door and a hose and nver could make it leak.
 
Good Luck.

Well I do know my door was leaking as it was a single lock and apparently as the wood inside swelled it caused the corners of the door to bow out and leak....but now I will caulk those cracks too!  It seems as though I am going to have to replace some wood in there...agggghhhh.  The previous owner should have noticed and fixed this problem before it got like this...just glad the panel with the access doors did not get damaged.