2016 Autocruise Forte that I've owned for close on 4 years. Feeling a soft spot inside the sliding door underfoot I decided to investigate. There is water ingress happening but from where. I've owned the van too long for it to be a spill from a previous owner. My dog did pee in the area a few weeks ago but I dried it up immediately(never never ever dip your finger in some liquid on the camper floor and go "I wonder what that is"!!!). Other than that no spills in the area. It's too far from any internal source of water and the softness in the floor is only at the entrance. I did have a water leak at the toilet cassette found soon after purchase and rectified immediately. Underneath is perfect, I had it over a pit only two weeks ago doing an inspection and there is no major rust, esp in the area and I have also fitted front mudflaps so there is very little water thrown up while driving. I have cut into the flooring further inside the van where it is not visible and all is perfect so I believe this is isolated near the sliding door. I don't think there is any issue after 30cm from the entrance at the most as I can't feel any difference beyond that. Also the wood at the start and end of the door opening is perfect for the first inch or so.
I have a van carpet and took it out a year ago. My gut feeling is this is the small amount of rain coming in when opening/closing the sliding door and sitting on the floor. This is then making it's way in under the aluminium sill and causing the rot. Removing the carpet may have been part of the issue perhaps
I'd be interested in what people might think of in terms of my diagnosis, stopping further ingress and repair. I don't think it warrants dismantling the entire front of the van. Can it be dried out sufficiently. Rather than cutting out the wood is there some type of compound that could be worked into the area to solidify the softspot. Finally does anyone use rain deflectors about the sliding door and are they effective?
Sorry for the long post. This is my pride and joy and while the damp is not bad I don't want it to turn into something worse!!
I have a van carpet and took it out a year ago. My gut feeling is this is the small amount of rain coming in when opening/closing the sliding door and sitting on the floor. This is then making it's way in under the aluminium sill and causing the rot. Removing the carpet may have been part of the issue perhaps
I'd be interested in what people might think of in terms of my diagnosis, stopping further ingress and repair. I don't think it warrants dismantling the entire front of the van. Can it be dried out sufficiently. Rather than cutting out the wood is there some type of compound that could be worked into the area to solidify the softspot. Finally does anyone use rain deflectors about the sliding door and are they effective?
Sorry for the long post. This is my pride and joy and while the damp is not bad I don't want it to turn into something worse!!