Leaky side windows

[harvey]

I have a 1994 SMB-Dodge Ram that has sprung a leak. I finally located the source...the sliding rear windows. I'm at a loss as to which type of sealant to use to seal the breach without removing/resetting the windows. Will standard silicon caulk work or should I be looking at a marine caulk or other type of sealant. The caulk will be exterior, between the window frame and truck body...metal to metal. Any thoughts on how to do this?

[larrie]

Butyl rubber caulk would be one option windshield caulk would be another. Do not recommend silicone.

[harvey]

Thanks for the info. This helps.

Wonder why you don't think silicone? Just curious...

[larrie]

As I understand it, once you use silicone it is not possible to remove it all without using acetone. Acetone is nasty to work with. Someone else may have better information.

[arctictraveller]

Originally Posted by harvey

Thanks for the info. This helps.

Wonder why you don't think silicone? Just curious...

Yup, Silicone sucks. First off, it's impossible to totally remove with out heavy sanding or grinding. Even Acetone won't take it all off. Then, it molds, changes color, it doesn't stick that well and will come loose eventually. Buytl rubber is a great choice of sealer, but it's not a glue. I use it all the time in the marine environment. Here's a link explaining why it's such a good sealer. If you don't want to read the whole thing, skip to page 3. It's a boat related site though, but there is also a lot of additional info that applies to our RV's, like charging systems, fresh water systems, shore power cords etc.

Re-Bedding Deck Hardware With Bed-It Butyl Tape Photo Gallery by Compass Marine How To at pbase.com

[harvey]

Many thanks. Butyl seems the way to go. Having an older vehicle has its challenges, but I'm sure learning a lot. Appreciate your help.