Jayco 19H Water coming thru bunk ends while traveling

campitout · 12-04-2014, 12:11 PM

I have a 2006 19H and have had problems with water coming in thru the front end while driving in rain. I have read several other comments on this site about similar problems so decided to write Jayco and tell them my story. I am enclosing the following correspondence that took place in the last couple of months between Jayco and myself. I love my unit but the response I received from Jayco didn't seem to add up. Should I pursue this past customer service? I will let you decide.

1st mail to Jayco Customer Service 9/2014
I have a Jayco 19H EXP Ultra Light and when I am driving in rain the bunk ends leak and they leak quite a bit. It leaked so bad on one of our trips that the covering on the inside of the bunk platform bubbled. I make sure the there is no material blocking the seal and also make sure there is no material binding in the hinge. The seals seem good and they are compressed when the ends are closed but it still leaks. This is our first Jayco and other than the bunk ends leaking we love it but it sure has been a problem that seems to haunt other Jayco owners also. What can be done to alleviate the leak problem? Thank you Jay Miller

Reply 9/2014 from CS 2014
Hello Jay,

What is probably going on is that the water is driving through the door hinges. We have a new style door which was used on later models that resolved this issue. The doors simply can be ordered through your dealer as a replacement the part # is 0202795 for the front door. I believe that the rear door just would need to have the gasket replaced.

Thank You

Joe Charles
Jayco Customer Service Specialist
Jayco, Inc

Reply to Jayco 11/2014
I realize that this unit is past the warranty period but if this was a design flaw which allowed water to get through the hinges should this not be a free replacement? I would be happy to do the replacement myself if you would supply the parts to do it. I checked on the cost of the door only and it was over 1,000.00 from a dealer. I would only ask for the front bed door not the rear as you said the gasket would probably fix the rear door.

Reply from Jayco 11/2014
Hello Jay,

It was not a design flaw the door worked as designed, as we do in many cases we made the choice to because of cost and how the new door fit the current product at the time.

Thank You

Joe Charles
Jayco Customer Service Specialist
Jayco, Inc

Reply to Jayco 11/2014
Joe, sorry but I don't buy that. You said in your first response that " We have a new style door which was used on later models that resolved this issue" That tells me that the design was not working and you made a new door that resolved the problem. I guess that I am beating a dead horse but your response tells me that it WAS a flaw and if it worked as designed than the design was to allow water to flow thru the hinges. I sure wish you would reconsider your decision to resolve this issue.

Thanks Jay Miller

Final reply from Jayco 12/2014
Hello Jay,

As stated before the door worked as designed. Jayco stands behind its decision not to participate in replacing the door.

Thank You

Joe Charles
Jayco Customer Service Specialist
Jayco, Inc

Jeff61 · 12-04-2014, 12:39 PM

I had exactly the same problems with '07 19H. After the 3x of having the mdfb panels both front and rear replaced in 2 years, we got rid of it. Once you have mildew going on, games over. We took a heavy beating on it from the dealer >5000. Traded it against a 24 RKS at end of season pricing. No more hybrids period.

ddrueckh · 12-04-2014, 12:47 PM

As a last resort, I would try to get ahold of someone else at Jayco who might be more willing to help. Sounds like to person you are talking to has his mind made up...

Maybe find out who Joe's supervisor is or who is in charge of the production line for that unit and contact them. You have been very polite. Keep that up and maybe they will send out a door. Worth a try.

**Snake Plissken** · 12-04-2014, 05:44 PM

I have a 19H and I have to say unless it has leaked from day 1 I don't see how they would admit fault. It's an 8-year old door that is just now starting to leak.

Camping Couple · 12-04-2014, 07:15 PM

We had a 2007 17C Export...Same as the 19H. our front door leaked as well after the warranty through the hinges. I knew it was going to be a battle getting a replacement door. I just created some covers to put over the hinges with velcro. it worked until we sold it.

The trailer is 8 years old like mentioned above. Jayco isn't going to budge on this but you sure can try.

campitout · 12-04-2014, 08:36 PM

It has leaked from the day we bought it although used it is kept inside and it is not always raining when we travel so not always a problem but noticed a number of people on this forum had the same problem so I thought I would give it a shot

bucko · 12-05-2014, 08:40 AM

Hmmm....this wording from Jayco:

"Reply 9/2014 from CS 2014
Hello Jay,

What is probably going on is that the water is driving through the door hinges. We have a new style door which was used on later models that resolved this issue."

You may want to run this by lawyer, as having this in print may buy you some leverage in getting this repaired at their (Jayco's) cost.

Tunce the traveler · 12-05-2014, 08:52 AM

Can you just order a new style hinge and be done with it? That's what I would do if I had the old style hinge. Ask them if the new one is a retro fit, if it saves your trailer just go for it.

BigJohnD · 12-05-2014, 08:58 AM

Guess Jayco really is like everybody else, manufacturer wise. One person praises with excellent results, the other gets the shaft and cold shoulder. Ticks me off, but we're used to it. If I gotta fight with a manf for a fix, then they get axed.

BigJohnD · 12-05-2014, 09:00 AM

Better yet, knowing me, I'd be face to face with them in Indiana. We've done that twice with previous rigs, meeting the very person we talked to, and getting what we wanted.

kvangil · 12-05-2014, 09:14 AM

I have a 10-year-old 23B that has never leaked through the front bunk in a driving rain, so I would guess it's hit or miss. As others have said, it's an 8-year-old camper that has leaked since you've owned it, but do you know if it has ALWAYS leaked? You'd know if there was extensive water damage at the bunk. I doubt you'd get any further with Jayco, especially considering you're not the original owner. I know that Jayco will sometimes cover damage beyond the warranty period for the original owner of a trailer, but I've not heard of them doing so for a 2nd owner or beyond...

To resolve your issue, I saw a post on a website once where someone used clear flexible plastic and double-sided velcro to create a "water guard" over the hinge. It's simple, cheap, and would likely do the job. You basically create a flexible seal that runs the length of the hinge...

**EDIT** Here's the link to the mod I was referring to. Page 3 has the hinge cover.
http://s105.photobucket.com/albums/m.../Camper%20Fix/

clayusnr · 08-25-2015, 07:21 PM

My front bunk leaked when it was new in my 2009 19H. It was replaced under warranty and now I have found moisture damage in that bunk. These bunks should last longer than they do. Does anyone have a process to repair a bunk?

MNWild · 09-07-2015, 01:25 PM

We have a 2011 19H no problem at all and have been in some bad weather camping and pulling it. But I would run it by a lawyer also as they did state a flaw in the design.
Good luck

clayusnr · 09-07-2015, 08:09 PM

On both bunks, the caulk was cracked and I feel that this is where the leak was. I removed all of the caulk and re caulked with 100% silicone. The perimeter of the bunk is of poor design, since it can allow water to leak in. Basic construction, A surface should overlap as they go down so that water flows down with no way to enter the surface.
I also found other areas where caulk was inferior. I think the Jayco caulk was not 100% silicone.

campitout · 11-21-2015, 02:52 PM

I wanted to update you on this issue I have with my Jayco 19H. I decided to go direct to the source and wrote a letter to Mr Derald L Bontrager CEO. Jayco Inc. I enclosed all the correspondence I had with the tech. and said this, Mr Bontrager
I am enclosing correspondence from a Jayco customer service specialist that I had written to concerning my Jayco camper that has a leak problem when towing in the rain. As you can see by the exchanges between myself and the employee I am still under the assumption that this was a design flaw. I tried to explain this to him but was not satisfied with the final decision that was made. I started out with a Coleman Pop-up and recently purchased the Jayco because of the number of positive reviews and the construction quality of Jayco. I always keep our unit in an enclosed building when we are not using it and have always taken great care of the unit. I am asking you to consider my request for the front bunk end replacement with the redesigned hinges to alleviate the leaking problem when towing in the rain.
Thank you for your consideration to this issue
Sincerely
Mailed September 21, 2015 and to date have not received a response. I guess in a way I am surprised that I have heard nothing but maybe shouldn't be as customer service now does not seem to be a priority with big companies. Will let you know if I receive anything but not holding my breath.

RoyBraddy · 11-21-2015, 03:36 PM

When I look at those large foot-print doors I can imagine that the slightest warping of them might cause water leakage around the seals... To me a door that drops down from the top would be the Worst-Case Scenario for keeping water tight...

Not ever owning something like this I don't know if you can determine where the leakage is occurring or not....

If the weather seals around the door slot is bad those can easily be replaced I would think...

It is hard for me to think a bad hinge is responsible for this unless it losses it tightness and allows the door to get out of alignment with the weather seals...

I would inspect the seals and make sure they are still formed and flexible and not pressed together is certain tight areas...

I'm guessing you can see water coming in around door sealed areas when in hard rain...

Roy Ken

clayusnr · 11-21-2015, 08:07 PM

I have found that much of the caulk used on the bunks was applied incorrectly or the caulk is inferior quality. My bunks were leaking because the frame of the bunk had bad caulk which allowed water in. I replaced the caulk with 100% silicone. It has not leaked since.

**Crabman** · 11-21-2015, 08:22 PM

I`m thinking no manufacturer out there would repair a now 10 model year old unit on their dime, regardless if it was their fault initially or not. I realize that is no consolation but it is reality. If it was a safety recall that would be different...

campitout · 12-09-2015, 04:37 PM

Recent update on the response from Jayco on the bunk end door. I received an email today 12/9/15 from Joe (Customer service specialist) at Jayco and they ARE replacing the bunk end at no cost and that includes labor for having it done and also the shipping charges. To say the least I am extremely happy with Jayco's response and customer service. They have surly restored my view of customer service satisfaction. My hats off to Jayco and will go to Jayco for my next purchase when the time comes.

clayusnr · 12-09-2015, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by campitout

Recent update on the response from Jayco on the bunk end door. I received an email today 12/9/15 from Joe (Customer service specialist) at Jayco and they ARE replacing the bunk end at no cost and that includes labor for having it done and also the shipping charges. To say the least I am extremely happy with Jayco's response and customer service. They have surly restored my view of customer service satisfaction. My hats off to Jayco and will go to Jayco for my next purchase when the time comes.

Is there a point of contact that I can call about mine?

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