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Member
Posts: 29
Location: kansas | What is best way to repair a leaky window? I believe the water is coming in from the top of the window. I thought about putting a sealant around window but read online that might not be a good idea. Any suggestions appreciated. |
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Veteran
Posts: 203
Location: Lander WY | Are you referencing the gasket that holds the window in the frame ? Or around the outside of the window frame that seals the window to the skin of the trailer? |
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Member
Posts: 29
Location: kansas | I believe the water is coming in from outside of the window frame. But now that you ask it might be the gasket. Guess I need to investigate! Will check it out and get back with you. Thanks for taking time to respond. |
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Regular
Posts: 53
Location: Tomball, TX | I'm also having a leak problem from the top of the window. This is a 1994 4 Star with metal framed windows, not the nice black rubber outside seal of the newer windows. Saw a video on replacing the butyl tape on the fancy window...is that the same procedure for older windows? Also the black gasket has shrunk both on the top and bottom. Is that a DIY project? It was pulling away from the corner at the bottom and I was able to rubber-mallet bang it back into place, didn't stop the leak. Please help! |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 342
Location: MS | I am in process of putting in a weekender for a friend in a 4Star. It had some leaks that she couldn't find. Well, I did, and one of them was from that same shrunken gasket. She called 4Star, and they don't sell just the gasket. She had to buy the whole window! Fortunately, it isn't real expensive...$80 something per. I didn't research to see if there was any sort of DIY solution...which I would do if it were my trailer. But you can replace the window fairly cheaply. Just call 4Star. |
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Expert
Posts: 5870
 
Location: western PA | There are any number of marine sealants/adhesives that will seal a metal frame to any kind of metal or fiberglass material. Once the frame is removed and the surfaces cleaned, the sealant is generously applied and the frame is reinserted. If the sealant shows all around when the frame is pushed home, you can be assured there will be no future water infiltration. A polyurethane or polysulfide product would likely last a life time with this usage. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 342
Location: MS | Gard, the gasket I am talking about is the one around the actual glass, not the one on the outside frame...that would have been easy to fix. 4Star won't sell the black gasket that the glass sits in. Had to buy the whole window for a little piece of rubber. |
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Expert
Posts: 5870
Location: western PA | Sorry Linda, I was thinking of the wrong seal for the source of the leak. Our Sidekick had the same sliding glass to window frame seal problems. The UV damage caused the seals to harden and shrink on the slider windows. I was not able to procure any replacement parts or find a product that could be used as an alternative. We constantly used the windows for ventilation, so caulking them shut was not viable. I pulled the old seals out, which was very easy at that point. After coating the windows' edges with Vaseline to act as a release agent, I applied a two part epoxy sealant to the glass and frame. After letting it tack for a few minutes, I formed a tapered seal using a cut down plastic scraper to mimic the original seal's size and shape. Three of the windows were treated that way, and the new "seals" prevented any further water infiltration. I've forgotten the cost for the materials, but know it was a fraction of your quoted new window costs. If you have any additional leaks, you might consider this process. |
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Regular
Posts: 53
Location: Tomball, TX | Linda, that is exactly the problem I'm having. Gads, you mean no one out there in cyber land has gaskets for sale! Damn. Really didn't want to replace the whole window. Had a leak in my former 4 Star and it was a tiny space where a slim rubber gasket pulled away from the corner. I shoved some caulk in it, no more leak. This one isn't so easy to fix. |
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Regular
Posts: 53
Location: Tomball, TX | Gard, that is a great idea..but I'm not that handy with creating replacements. I need the real deal - if it is available. I may just seal off that window. I have two others for ventilation. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 342
Location: MS | The only other option we had was to seal off the window. The owner said in the entire time she has owned the trailer she has never used the window, but I was not comfortable sealing them off. I am handy enough to have fabricated the seal Gard did, but she opted for the replacements. |
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Regular
Posts: 66
Location: Western US | |
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Regular
Posts: 66
Location: Western US | I'm having terrible troubles with leaking in my '94 4 star, in the goose neck area. I suspect the windows also, but am still trouble shooting it. However....in all of my research so far, I believe I did find the window seal part several of you are referencing, it's called Glazing Bead. Here's a link to the page, and at least on my 4Star I'm pretty sure it's part # 009-057. http://www.interstatemetals.com/cat_windows2.htm |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 342
Location: MS | On the '94 4Star, get out your ladder and check the corners at the gooseneck on the roof. On this trailer, there are 'caps' for want of a better term, that are a heavier gauge aluminum than the rest, on the top corners of the gooseneck. On the top, it is caulked. There was a pretty good size hole under the caulk. It was leaking there on both corners. Pulling out the old caulk and putting in new has solved that leak issue. |
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Regular
Posts: 66
Location: Western US | Thank you Linda....I'll give that a try. Is there a particular type of caulking I should be using....one that is best for aluminum? Thanks! A |
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Expert
Posts: 5870
Location: western PA | Use a marine grade polyurethane or polysulfide caulking/sealant. Household silicones are not long lived when used on trailers. |
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leaky window
