coleman storage boxes

[campinfool]

hey guys, i have a 2003 coleman mesa, which has one of the integrated storage boxes, but not the abs roof! anyway my question is like the abs roof those stoage boxes are prone to damage as well. they all seem to leak a little bit around the side door and from the top. Does anybody else have this problem and if so what have you done to keep them from leaking? Also where all do you have problems from them leaking? Thanks for any help

-fool

[rccs]

My 95 Coleman Avalon has the storage trunk with access from inside the camper. I had problems with water getting in several years ago and what I found was that I was packing things into the trunk to tightly against the side doors thus pushing them open a crack. What I did was to first of all remove the latch plate from the back of the lock and bend it slightly to tighten the door against the gasket a little more (to make up for the outward bend I had put in it from packing to tightly to the door).  I then cut a piece of 1/4" plywood slightly larger than the opening of the door inside the trunk which I put against the opening when I pack up to keep from pushing against the door. I remove this plywood when I am setting up camp so I can have access from the side doors when camping. So far I have not had any water leaking into the trunk again and it must be at least 5 years ago that I started doing this.

[waterdoctor]

hey guys, i have a 2003 coleman mesa, which has one of the integrated storage boxes, but not the abs roof! anyway my question is like the abs roof those stoage boxes are prone to damage as well. they all seem to leak a little bit around the side door and from the top. Does anybody else have this problem and if so what have you done to keep them from leaking? Also where all do you have problems from them leaking? Thanks for any help

-fool

I have a 2000 Coleman Mesa and had very much the same problem with water leaking in around the side access door gasket.  I discovered the door, itself, had warped a bit and didn't seal at the top where the locking mechanism was.  I found a length of 2" wide by 1/8" thick aluminum and bolted it to the inside on the top of the access door just below the lock to pull the warped door back to square.  I made sure to use washers that had a rubber gasket material on one side (available at my local car parts supplier), then, as insurance, used a small amount silicone sealer under the washers to insure water tightness.  So far, no leaks.  I hope this helps.  BTW- this fix only took me about 30min to do.

Waterdoctor