We had a double problem on the last trip with both hatches with a minor leak in exactly the same corner. On the spot smothering with more sealant didn't totally cure it. Finally got around to it and have completed the back hatch but no definite spot found, just general sealant not bonding to surfaces.
The front hatch though was different. Scraped away all sealant I could manage and there's 3 issues. All of which can, or did, allow water entry.
1. Despite these hatches being marked as to where all the mounting screws are to be inserted just about all bar the front ones that also hold on the wind deflector are outside of the pads they should be through. This was the same on the back one as well. As well, why do they use sheet metal screws to go in to timber/plywood? Hope they don't use wood screws in to steel items. Funnily enough the screw heads are the only spots the factory sealant adhered to properly.
2. With some screws they have managed to distort the flanges by either over tightening or even cause the hatch flange and van surface to separate. Personally I would always drill the flange to almost screw size to ensure the flange gets clamped down, but also not over done.
3. With one front corner, exactly where the leak was underneath, they have cracked the flange creating a water entry point as the sealant there was useless.
I'm not going so far as to completely remove the hatches and start from scratch but have cleaned up all areas, washed clean the joint areas with acetone, roughened it all up with sandpaper, cleaned up again and using Sikaflex 221 to seal it all up. That sealant was chosen after a discussion with the local Agent up here and so far is sticking quite well. Time will tell but have to get moving as van has to come out from under cover to go and have some specialised awning work done when we have some sunny days.
The front hatch though was different. Scraped away all sealant I could manage and there's 3 issues. All of which can, or did, allow water entry.
1. Despite these hatches being marked as to where all the mounting screws are to be inserted just about all bar the front ones that also hold on the wind deflector are outside of the pads they should be through. This was the same on the back one as well. As well, why do they use sheet metal screws to go in to timber/plywood? Hope they don't use wood screws in to steel items. Funnily enough the screw heads are the only spots the factory sealant adhered to properly.
2. With some screws they have managed to distort the flanges by either over tightening or even cause the hatch flange and van surface to separate. Personally I would always drill the flange to almost screw size to ensure the flange gets clamped down, but also not over done.
3. With one front corner, exactly where the leak was underneath, they have cracked the flange creating a water entry point as the sealant there was useless.
I'm not going so far as to completely remove the hatches and start from scratch but have cleaned up all areas, washed clean the joint areas with acetone, roughened it all up with sandpaper, cleaned up again and using Sikaflex 221 to seal it all up. That sealant was chosen after a discussion with the local Agent up here and so far is sticking quite well. Time will tell but have to get moving as van has to come out from under cover to go and have some specialised awning work done when we have some sunny days.
