1970 Explorer Class A on a 1969 Dodge M300 chassis with 318 cu. in. (split year)
1972 Executive Class A on a Dodge M375 chassis with 413 cu. in.
1973 Explorer Class A on a Dodge RM350 (R4) chassis with 318 engine & tranny from 1970 Explorer Class A
Griff in Fairbanks wrote:
P.S. Water will travel uphill so think about where you want it channeled to ...
P.S. Water will travel uphill so think about where you want it channeled to ...
Water only goes up hill in the RV universe.
Its complicated--I should have explained in more detail.
First, the problem is not the cowl vent. I had previously renovated it completely (cleaned, de-rusted and painted) and it has two drains of it's own that are working.
See the first picture below. Items marked "1" show where the water is leaking into the engine compartment onto the battery. Item "2" shows the hood hinge which complicates things, since you cannot use any kind of weatherstripping because of it.
![[image]](http://i.imgur.com/QpouEbS.jpg)
In the next picture the arrows show where the water flows onto the battery (and a bunch of other wires). Normally, on other vehicles, there is a gutter under the hood edge that funnels the water away from the engine. But here there is the hinge that prevents adding a gutter. Also, there are wires along the outer edge that are attached to the edge (granted, these could be moved). One more issue is that the hood actually has a molded bottom (not visible in the picture) that extends down below the lip again preventing the addition of a gutter. The design engineers obviously didn't think this through.
![[image]](http://i.imgur.com/NtsNCEf.jpg)
So, it seems that some kind of battery cover is one solution, but it is going to require a lot of rewiring.
I'll bet if you go out and look at yours, you'll find a similar problem.
Any more ideas? Maybe this was solved in newer models?
toedtoes wrote:
Here are some photos of my clipper.
The outside:
![[image]](http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y177/toedtoes/Swannie/swandive_zpsaafec583.jpg)
Looking forward from the kitchen:
![[image]](http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y177/toedtoes/Swannie/IMG-20140309-00272_zpsfd7374f9.jpg)
Looking back from the cab:
![[image]](http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y177/toedtoes/Swannie/IMG-20140309-00274_zpsfda1677a.jpg)
Looking at the house door from the bathroom (kitchen is to the right, front of RV to the left):
![[image]](http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y177/toedtoes/Swannie/IMG-20140309-00278_zpsd7ced1f7.jpg)
Close up of door porthole window:
![[image]](http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y177/toedtoes/Swannie/IMG-20140309-00277_zpsff56cdc3.jpg)
That is crazy nice.
Here are some photos of my clipper.
The outside:
Looking forward from the kitchen:
Looking back from the cab:
Looking at the house door from the bathroom (kitchen is to the right, front of RV to the left):
Close up of door porthole window:
See Picture In My Profile
I have a 1989 Dodge XPLORER RV Class B - Purchased 10/15/10 IN CASH
Fiance' purchased a Class C 2002 Dynamax Carri-go on 5/1/15 IN CASH
We've got the best of both worlds
PoorGary wrote:
Seems to me there should be a rubber seal going around the hood closure and I dont see one in pic.
Seems to me there should be a rubber seal going around the hood closure and I dont see one in pic.
With the hinge design it is not really possible to have a gasket there unless it skips the hinge area, in which case it would still leak onto the battery. Nevertheless, I suppose it would be better than nothing and would at least cut down the amount of water leaking.
TreeSeeker wrote:
With the hinge design it is not really possible to have a gasket there unless it skips the hinge area, in which case it would still leak onto the battery. Nevertheless, I suppose it would be better than nothing and would at least cut down the amount of water leaking.
PoorGary wrote:
Seems to me there should be a rubber seal going around the hood closure and I dont see one in pic.
Seems to me there should be a rubber seal going around the hood closure and I dont see one in pic.
With the hinge design it is not really possible to have a gasket there unless it skips the hinge area, in which case it would still leak onto the battery. Nevertheless, I suppose it would be better than nothing and would at least cut down the amount of water leaking.
Ok I just opened my hood & there is no rubber seal like I thought there would be. Odd...its all wide open for water.
Then when it rains the water has no choice but to run onto the battery.
I dont see any concerns about this tho.
You could rig some sort of plastic cover on top of your battery allowing for the water to drip down the side away from the top.
Good luck.
goreds2 wrote:
That is crazy nice.
That is crazy nice.
Thanks! I love it.
1975 American Clipper RV with Dodge 360 (photo in profile)
1998 American Clipper Fold n Roll Folding Trailer
Both born in Morgan Hill, CA to Irv Perch (Daddy of the Aristocrat trailers)
The body is exatly what you would expect with 2 horizontal stripes that are raised as part of the molded fiberglass.
Is it pretty safe to walk around up on the roof?
It makes creaking sounds when I am up there but I know the fiberglass resin is very old. I don't SEE any cracks though.
I can't answer your question about the Chinook roof, but someone will be along shortly who can.
'73 Concord 20' Class A w/Dodge 440 - see profile for photo