Window leak Northern lite Sportsman

[Christopher Heatherton]

Hello all,

Just getting started on the forum but have been following Mike since I started thinking about a Truck camper

2016 Northern lite SPortsman
2017 Chevy Silverado HD 3500

What do you all think of a window leak on 2016, well cared for camper? I had assumed this was covered under Northern lite warranty but its not. I cant find the actual leak, only happens during sig. rain storm or when raining and traveling at high speed. Anyone with an idea is welcome. Thanks for the help.

Chris

[ardvark]

Christopher Heatherton wrote:

Hello all,
Just getting started on the forum but have been following Mike since I started thinking about a Truck camper
2016 Northern lite SPortsman
2017 Chevy Silverado HD 3500
What do you all think of a window leak on 2016, well cared for camper? I had assumed this was covered under Northern lite warranty but its not. I cant find the actual leak, only happens during sig. rain storm or when raining and traveling at high speed. Anyone with an idea is welcome. Thanks for the help.
Chris

Chris,

I haven’t worked on a NL, but suspect the windows are installed like those on other RVs. On the inside of the camper is there what is call a “beauty ring” that can be unscrewed? If so I always found that trying to simply caulk around the outside is a lost cause so I normally popped the window out and clean the side of the camper and used tacky tape or butyl tape and put the window back in. I am not sure how NL seals them from the factory so someone here may be able to provide more info.

And yeah, factories hold owners responsible claiming a lack of maintenance for what is normally a subpar install from the git-go. Normally a window seal is good for many years if the window is installed correctly. 🙁

Steve and Andra
2012 F350 6.2 gasser SRW LB
Fab Fours front and rear in case we run into a rhino
2019 Northstar Laredo SC

[Christopher Heatherton]

Steve, thanks for that. I am trying to determine if the window is the leak or possible in the seam of the fiberglass shells? I appreciate the help. I can’t tell you how disappointed I am. I just had to tear out the lining of my cabinet 2nd to water damage.
Again thanks

Chris

[ardvark]

Chris,

If you have a ceiling fan that blows in as well as out, shut everything in the camper and turn the fan on high blowing in. Then take a spray water bottle with a mixture of water and dish detergent and spray it in the area that is leaking and see if it blows bubbles.

No guarantee, but it works sometimes.

Steve and Andra
2012 F350 6.2 gasser SRW LB
Fab Fours front and rear in case we run into a rhino
2019 Northstar Laredo SC

[Christopher Heatherton]

I will try that. thanks

[Mello Mike]

What kind of windows came with your camper?

[Christopher Heatherton]

Hi Mike,

They are Dometic Thermal windows. NOt sure if the window or the seam is the issue, currently waiting to for rain to stop to run some testing.

Thanks again, your page and forum have been invaluable.

Chris

[Mello Mike]

Ha! The large Dometic Seitz window in my 2016 Northstar Laredo does that same exact thing during severe rain storms. It might be a flaw with the pull-out design. The window was sealed twice by Northstar because of a side fiberglass replacement in 2017 and it still leaks during downpours.

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