RE: Wet storage box compartment

MattH · Sep 28, 2003, 07:05 PM

Well we couldn t help ourselves. We went camping this weekend. Seemed like a good chance to test some major applainces like the furnace and HWH. Spent the day Saturday in Harpers Ferry for what turned out to be a beautiful day. The snow (ugh) held off until Sunday am.

My question is about the storage box. The roads were wet with interrmitent rain on our 25 minute ride to Harpers Ferry. When we got there we had water in the storage compartment. Not a lot but it was wet inside. Was I naive to think that this should be water tight? The water could go under the door and into the rest of the PU. Any helpful ideas?

On a separate note. We took down the PU in the snow. Plenty of slush and water still in there. The next dry warm day will be Tuesday and we will leave the PU open to dry the roof et al. Any suggestions and helpful tips towards drying? (besides staying out of the snow : )

whitestar505 · Mar 31, 2003, 10:06 AM

MattHMattH,

You might want to adjust the top lockdowns. Some adjustments may keep that from happening again. You can check the seal witha sheet of paper. Place the paper around the area you think is leaking and lock the top down. You should not be able to pull the paper out. Good Luck

Any suggestions and helpful tips towards drying? I you are refurring about the inside. Just close the top and lock it down. Air will flow into it according to Coleman and keep it dry.

wynot · Mar 31, 2003, 11:11 AM

MattH

QuoteMy question is about the storage box. The roads were wet with interrmitent rain on our 25 minute ride to Harpers Ferry. When we got there we had water in the storage compartment. Not a lot but it was wet inside. Was I naive to think that this should be water tight? The water could go under the door and into the rest of the PU. Any helpful ideas?

Where are you all from (we re Hagerstown)?

I ve had water get into the storage trunk before on our Utah, but ours came around the cracked ABS. As was mentioned, check your close down latches. I would also check your water heater lines. I and a number of other people, make sure that nothing can hit them. It s possible that water leaked from them as well, and you just found the water later after driving with it in the rain...

MattH · Mar 31, 2003, 12:24 PM

MattHWe re in Frederick. Not far at all. I ll try tightening my latches since the hoses are fine. It could be that one of them didn t get buckled (doubt it) but we ll try again.

Thanks for the answers

wynot · Mar 31, 2003, 01:58 PM

MattHGee, Frederick, that s too close.[

]

Red neff Barchetta · Mar 31, 2003, 03:22 PM

MattHMattH -
Dumb thoughts, but here they are;
If the water heater doesn t have a leak, then did you have anything in the trunk with water in it like a fresh water gerry can, grey water tote, cooler, wet gear from the Sunday morning snow, etc...? If you are like me, I hate when I have a problem that I can t find the source to. It drives me crazy when there are too many variables involved such as these possible scenario s.
I looked at my front storage compartment this morning and at least on mine, I don t see how water could get in even if a latch or 2 were undone. Same for the side compartment door even if the thumb screw were undone. I also looked under the compartment and didn t see anywhere that water could get in from splashes. The only thing I can think of would be along the comaprtment lid hinge and even then, on mine there is a raised ABS ridge between the hinge and the lid.
Just some thoughts. Hope you locate the water problem.
Side note if you hate having to use your keys all w/e when wanting to access the side compartment door; I m guessing that your 03 has a thumb latch as well as the locking latch ( 01 s and earlier only have the locking latch). Here s what I did and am very happy that I did. I got this easy mod. from Y-Guy who used to have a Niagara and now has a Hybrid. All you need is a screw driver, file, and 30 seconds.
Well apparently, Y-Guy s site is down or you would now be looking at a link to it, lol. Here s a link to Surfin Sarah s site. She also did this mod., but doesn t explain what she did. In her second picture, you ll see a little nub that you need to file away so the lock can turn 180 degrees and you can remove your keys in the unlocked position. Don t worry, the lock will stay locked when you return it to the locked position;
http://community.webshots.com/album/57637801WMcwsR

wynot · Mar 31, 2003, 03:33 PM

MattHWater has a couple of ways of even getting in around the seal on the Utah. My black strip on top tends to retain water, then dump it as you raise the lid. It also can come in around the screws on the ABS panels.

I still bet on the water heater, a grey water hose, or a fresh water hose for putting water in the storage compartment.

MattH · Mar 31, 2003, 04:42 PM

MattHRed,

Coleman must have heard everyone s plea because on our 2003 1/2 you can indeed remove the key from the storage locker door in the unlocked position.

I m still stumped on the water but I ll just have to check it all. I think a sunny day and a hose may answer my question.

That s what I get for going out when I know the weather isn t going to cooperate. It was the kids first trip though. I think they were itching to go as much as we were.

Thanks

tlhdoc · Mar 31, 2003, 05:21 PM

MattHMatt they changed the lock in 2002.

whippetwrun · Apr 09, 2003, 09:52 AM

tlhdoc

QuoteORIGINAL: tlhdoc

Matt they changed the lock in 2002.

Tracy - when in 2002? My key stays stuck in the lock unless I turn it back into locked position. Of course, it wouldn t surprise me if I was doing something wrong! [8D]

wynot · Apr 09, 2003, 11:34 AM

whippetwrunLooks like you need to make the mod...

gash · Apr 10, 2003, 09:34 PM

MattHWe just purchased a 2003 Coleman Bayside. We had to turn down the first two units due to water damage in the trunk area! On the newer models with the two latches ( one keyed and one that is just a latch ), the purpose of the non locking latch is to be able to have access to the trunk area with out having to unlock it every time. If the lockable latch is not locked the seal around the door does not seal properly allowing water to leak in!

On one of the units, you coukd clearly see where the water had ran down the inside left side of the door.

Hope this helps!

Gash

fcroom · Apr 14, 2003, 07:33 PM

MattHI have recently purchased a 2000 Coleman Cheyenne. There has apparently been a water problem in the storage box with this camper because the siding, ( inside) underneath the access door is warped and the access door itself has turned yellow. When we questioned the salesman about this all I got was a pained expression and he said it was a plastic door and had yellowed with exposure to sunlight. He was not a Coleman dealer. It has stayed dry so far but we plan on replacing the weatherstripping around the door. Hope this works.

jeffsxyl · Apr 15, 2003, 02:06 PM

MattHThis winter was tough on eastern popups that live outside! I noticed the cargo area near the access door was wet when I pawed around in there to get the tool box out after we set up. I like to keep rags in there too and fortunately an old t-shirt on the floor helped soak up a lot of the water, but I could see residue on the hi-pressure stove cover where the water had run down from above. The corner of the stove that sat in the wet delaminated and swelled. It looks like it has a goiter! I?m almost sure our problem was from a skewed latch. The clamp that has the lock hasp never really sits square in the receiving track and I?m thinking that allowed water to get inside. My DH observed that it was not probably engineered to be water tight under three feet of snow, either!

It s not much help, but you re not alone.[&:]

Chris

wahoonc · Apr 16, 2003, 01:21 PM

MattHJust as a general note, Coleman has had problems with the side storage compartment doors warping . [&:] Gee what else have they had problems with...ABS tops? Anyway this is one of the reasons for the dual latching doors. Our camper is not under any warranty[

] So finding that my door is warped and mounted off center, my intended repair is to pop rivet a couple of pieces of 1/8" thick 3/4x3/4 aluminum angle to the inside of the door to stiffen it. The elderly Colemans with the storage trunks had a standard type rv storage door on it. Seems to me the " improvement" wasn t much of one.

Aaron[

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