Chasing Adventure

We’ve had a few issues with our new rig, but when are their not growing pains with something new and untested. This is the first year of the rear-kitchen model and we have found that having the fridge on the very end makes securing it more challenging. So challenging that it broke within the first six days of us owning it. However, we got a newly designed fridge out of that mishap, and it is much better.

Maverick was about 3 months old when we went down to Florida to stay with family and “winter”, like proper snowbirds. About 3 weeks after we arrived, I heard dripping coming from under the camper. Checking under the camper, I noticed the underbelly looked like it was sagging and holding a lot of weight.

NOTHING should be dripping from under the camper.

So, I moved things around in the front compartment, undid the screw that held the ‘wall’ to the electrical area separated, and opened up the area the Camperland said I would never have to go into.

Water. Was. Everywhere.

White spots showed where water had been and dried. The wood (walls and exposed subfloor) showed the water damage. Climbing into the compartment with a flashlight, I found the water had dripped down into the underbelly and soaked through all the insulation, stretching out the underbelly lining. So much damage.

We shut off the water and called a local mobile tech, who could (Praise Jesus) come out the next day. Long story short, while being built the PEX pipes behind the shower wall had been cross threaded into the shower pipes. What started out as a tiny leak went undetected for 3+ months and was no longer a tiny leak. The mobile tech had to make a new opening in the cabinet behind the shower wall to fix the pipes, so at least that part was done.

Now to deal with the damage. I unscrewed the bolts holding the underbelly up so I could remove any wet insulation. It was all wet. As in, I had to wring out many pieces before I threw it away. A trip to Lowe’s later, and I had insulation to install before securing the underbelly (minus the 2 missing bolts) once more.

Maverick had his own swimming pool that we didn’t even know about and couldn’t even enjoy laying out beside! Not amused.

Needless to say, he is now in the shop to assess the damage that was done from that leak. He will definitely need new insulation and probably a new underbelly since that one got stretched out. In these moments, I am grateful it wasn’t worse than it was and that I know enough to help identify/fix the issue. Thankfully, this is all still under warranty. We eagerly anticipate the outcome!

~Katie