When we got out to the campervan this weekend, we had a nasty surprise - we had a water leak in the campervan roof! The floor was wet, the roof was dripping and the new blankets and pillows were soaking wet. Not a pleasant surprise!
Table of contents
Water leak in motorhome roof
We went out to the campervan at the weekend to collect boxes of leaflets that we were going to put on the... the camping cruise (we had nowhere else to store them). When I started lifting the boxes, I realised that some of them were wet ...
We looked around and saw a big wet spot on the floor. Then we realised that the new quilts were soaked... and there was dripping from the ceiling. Oh no!
Why do we have a water leak in the motorhome roof?
The motorhome has never leaked from the roof before, and we don't know what happened. Perhaps there is some moulding around a skylight that has dried up? One thing that has added to the problem is that a week or so ago we had to turn the motorhome around in the car park. It has stood the same way for five years, but a new and zealous car park attendant got the idea that we were not allowed to stand as we were and started giving us fines.
In fact, we were previously standing with the tyres just outside the white line, but we were less in the way that way, and so all the other parking attendants have left it alone. Now we have turned the car around (so all the tyres are inside the white line) and suddenly the car is tilted so all the rainwater collected in a big pile right where we apparently have a leak.
Should we still take and re-park the campervan somehow? No, we have returned the driver's seat for changing, so we can't drive the car...!
Backlash
We stood in the rain and watched the misery. A water leak in the roof of the motorhome was a... really boring surprise, and perhaps it felt extra hopeless right now when we are investing time and money to get the motorhome in order again. Just when you think you are well on your way, you get a setback ...
Tarpaulin
To at least stop further damage, we went and bought a small tarpaulin at Bauhaus. This we then attached over the front part of the roof, where the leak is. The wet blankets and pillows we took into the houseboat to wash and dry.
Of course, we have to check the leak properly and seal it somehow, but in the best case scenario we will be able to do it indoors. We have been told about a place where we can have FREEDOM indoors this winter. It is a good distance from Stockholm, so it will be a trip by train back. Now we just need to get there before the winter weather sets in. We can't leave until we have the driver's seat back ...
Ruth in Virginia says:
Condolences galore! Very sad.
I hope you will soon get your chairs to sit on, so you can get the
your nice motorhome under the roof. -
Train journeys can be nice, you know.
13 November 2019 - 6:11
Mosquitoes says:
Sorry about the water leak ?
13 November 2019 - 19:22
Helena says:
Thank you very much! Yes, if we can get the driver's seat before the winter weather sets in, we'll try to get FREEDOM under the roof!
14 November 2019 - 7:36
Eva says:
PS: block the front wheels so you get a better angle on the car. It should be possible to jockey without a driver's seat (otherwise you can probably hoist up using that thing you have at the punk).
13 November 2019 - 7:42
Helena says:
Thanks for the tip Eva! Let's see what we can organise! 😉
14 November 2019 - 7:41
Emma, sun like sun? says:
But isn't that typical! We've had it like that all year now, thing after thing after thing. One kneels a little lightly from time to time. Getting water in where it shouldn't be, it's really not fun.
I'm glad you got wind of another site for the winter. It is probably good if you can set up a "dry ball" as you have really got moisture in. Read about people buying (road/thaw?) salt in bulk/large bags, pouring it in a sieve over a 10 litre bucket. Cheaper than buying a bunch of small ... Oh, you probably already know about that.
I giggled a bit when I saw the road sign in the last picture. You've really tried to get as far into the window as you could. The sign leans a little suspiciously ...
13 November 2019 - 7:48
Helena says:
A dry ball or similar might be good! And no, I hadn't heard of that other solution, thank you.
14 November 2019 - 7:40
Solan says:
? Oh no, enough with the motorhome problems!
Smart tip with level blocks, but then the zealous car park attendant might go mad...
Hope you can keep your car under cover for the winter.
13 November 2019 - 8:40
Helena says:
Right? And thanks for the tips! 🙂
14 November 2019 - 7:41
Ama de casa says:
But fyyy how boring! In itself, I usually complain about poorly parked cars down here in Spain, but to just have your "feet" a little outside the line and you also stand less in the way? Talk about a zealous parker.
Hope you get your driver's seat back soon so you can store your motorhome indoors for the winter.
13 November 2019 - 9:34
Helena says:
Yes, we used to have the overhang of the motorhome over "nature" and then a whole car had room to park next to us. Now we stick out so far that no one comes in next to us .... but the wheels are inside the line.
14 November 2019 - 7:43
Husis blog says:
I'm sorry to hear that you are feeling despondent. Hope you can get FREEDOM into the warmth over the winter so the water can dry up. Might be worth a train journey to know that FREEDOM is in good shape with a roof over its head.
Good luck and I hope you will soon find the strength to continue your work with FREEDOM!
13 November 2019 - 9:39
Helena says:
Yes, it felt quite heavy actually... Thank you very much, we will try to find strength and take care of FREEDOM!
14 November 2019 - 7:44
Across the board says:
It sounds like a leak in some joint, probably around the skylight. You should try to get a block under a tyre so the car is tilted. Can you insert a pallet and carefully drive up on the block until the driver's seat is in place? It sounds nice if Freedom can come in under a roof this winter. Good luck and don't lose heart!
13 November 2019 - 10:12
Helena says:
Yes, it could be something like that! Thank you, I will try to find that power and energy again! Surely it was heavy to meet all the water ...
14 November 2019 - 7:45
Veiken says:
Damn, what a sour surprise. Very boring for you. I really hope that it will be resolved in a reasonably smooth way! Keep your fingers crossed!
13 November 2019 - 10:39
Helena says:
Thank you very much!
14 November 2019 - 7:45
Henny says:
No but ugh, so hard! I agree with other commentators that wintering under a roof would be nice for both the motorhome and you. Hope you find the leak and that it is easy to fix. You have had enough trouble with your dear Freedom. Good luck in the future. Hugs to you both.
13 November 2019 - 11:44
Helena says:
Thank you very much Henny! Yes, FREEDOM will be happy if it stays indoors this winter!
14 November 2019 - 7:49
Ditte says:
Very sad! But it's nice if you can have Freedom indoors during the winter - then it's a problem to get rid of the moisture too... Hope you find the leak. But it can be tricky in itself. Keep your fingers crossed.
13 November 2019 - 13:23
Helena says:
Thank you Ditte!
14 November 2019 - 7:49
Mr Nils-Åke Hansson says:
Got water collection on our displaced motorhome which was like yours. I drove the car up on the blocks and got the car tilted. Hope now you get the car in and can dry and seal. Freedom probably feels better to sow inside!
13 November 2019 - 13:51
Helena says:
You're probably right, think FREEDOM would thrive indoors this winter!
14 November 2019 - 8:09
Marianne - Glimpses of the world says:
How sad! I hope you can figure it out and fix the leak without it being too expensive.
In fact, my parents have also just discovered a small roof leak on their motorhome, which they have only had for a few months.
13 November 2019 - 18:21
Helena says:
Thank you very much! And how sad about your parents' new motorhome!
14 November 2019 - 8:09
BP says:
How very sad! Still, it's good that you discovered the leak quite quickly. Imagine if Freedom had been outside all winter without you noticing anything. Yes, yes, I try to think positively, but I understand your frustration.
Hopefully Freedom will soon be able to get into the warmth with a roof over his "head".
13 November 2019 - 20:21
Helena says:
Yes, but you are right! We discovered it quite early in the rain because we were going to pick up some boxes, and it was lucky we went there after all!
14 November 2019 - 8:10
Majk @ mecamping.se says:
Sorry to hear that, an alternative would be to move the passenger seat to the driver's seat so you can drive the motorhome.
If you would like help to re-seal it, please let me know.
Good luck to you.
13 November 2019 - 20:32
Mr Lars Permelin says:
Roof leaks are definitely not a fun situation. Could be as simple as the sealant around a roof valve has dried up. Hope it can be solved and that the motorhome will be under roof this winter.
13 November 2019 - 23:28
Lena - good for the soul says:
No, damn, how boring! Such a thing is so damn useless! Hope there will not be too much damage!
Hug Lena
14 November 2019 - 6:00
Anna / boihusbil.se says:
But no! Hope you get under cover and get it resolved as soon as possible. And that rain stays away until then. Fingers crossed that the chair is in place soon.
14 November 2019 - 8:33
The Dream Team says:
Hoppla hoppla not fun at all, hope you get the car under roof quickly so you can fix it over the winter. Hugs on you anyway in all the misery ❤️Ni fights on and will see good results you will see.
14 November 2019 - 11:17
Elisabeth says:
What a shame about the water leak! Hope you get Freedom in a good place, so the car will be dry.
15 November 2019 - 12:45