Hi, Dave,
My camper stays in a “semi-permanent” location near a small river. Recently, due to unusually heavy rainfall, the river flooded and the camper received about 5 inches of water inside. I was out of town at the time and unable to move the camper to higher ground. Thank goodness for fiberglass campers! The only significant damage was to the carpet, which I was in the process of replacing anyway. The water receded after about 18 hours. My question is this: What should I be aware of regarding the wheels/axles/hubs and any other underbelly issues? Thanks for your assistance. —Joe, 2013 17’ Casita Spirit Deluxe
Hi, Joe,
Wow, I think you have more work than just the bearings and some carpet! The first thing I would suggest is to pull the carpet and pad out and get an industrial dehumidifier. You should be able to rent one from a rental firm or someone like SERVPRO® that does flood restoration. This will pull all the moisture out of the paneling and insulation so it will reduce the possibility of mold later on.
Axles
Most likely the axles got moisture in them, so I would completely remove and replace the bearings and seals, making sure to clean and dry the spindle as well. Most of the undercarriage is steel tubing so I would do a thorough spray of CorrosionX on everything that is exposed, including the tongue and coupler. You can find it on Amazon here.
Wiring
My next concern would be the wiring—both 120-volt and 12-volt—that might have been submerged in the flood. All the wiring for the trailer lights and brakes starts at the front with a junction box under the tongue. It should be inspected for any rust and also sprayed with CorrosionX. Make sure you inspect and dry out all the connections.
House battery
I would also assume the house battery was submerged as it is located on the tongue of the trailer, just behind the LP tanks. Once again, inspect, dry, and clean all contacts and open wiring.
What else to check
From the photo you provided, it looks as though the water line is just below the shoreline cord entrance. However, if the carpet got wet, most likely the water level got into the distribution center as well. This would mean all the 120-volt wiring would also need to be inspected, dried, and cleaned. The same goes for other components such as the water heater, furnace, and the electric jack in the front. It doesn’t look like the actual motor of the jack was submerged; however, it would be a good idea to use CorrosionX on the shaft that telescopes up and down.
It also looks like the shoreline cord might have been plugged in, which would mean components could have shorted out. Hopefully, the campground pedestal circuit breakers tripped before any damage could occur.
Update from Joe
I sent a rough draft to Joe and got this response.
Dave,
Thanks for your timely and very informative response. I was remiss in not providing further details. The first action I took was, as soon as I had access, I placed an industrial dehumidifier inside and ran it until there was no more moisture being pulled out.
The battery is actually in a compartment on the street side at the rear. I removed it, cleaned and treated the terminals. I’ll be removing it soon to be tested. I am aware that damage caused by water (and lightning) can wait several weeks to manifest itself, but, after drying and testing the power distribution center, so far it is working normally.
I have treated every interior surface and all removed items with commercial germicide and every electrical contact I have access to with corrosion treatment. Also, I removed the carpet, which I was in the process of replacing anyway.
The shore power was plugged into a generator which was on a raised platform. The generator continues to run normally and the shore power is working OK, for now. I also use the tried and true “nose test.” No bad smells.
Again, sorry for not providing these details previously.
Your advice on the underside is exactly what I needed. I am sure you are aware that there are many “experts” out there. Thanks so much. I feel more comfortable now. I hope you are not planning on retiring any time soon! —Joe
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Thank you folks for having this conversation. I picked up some good best practices.
Thank you for the excellent answer, Dave! Based on the response of the questioner, you get full marks and extra credit. Still sad that the “RV Doctor” is no longer with us, but you seem far more than “serviceable.” 🙂 Have a great day and safe travels!