Underfloor Storage Box Water

[patrick51]

I was surprised to find water in the little used underfloor storage area. I found the less than one year old pot metal table base and column in deplorable corroded condition. Note that the compartment is not fully welded at the seams! I am in the process of drying everything, and will be on the way to Lowes for the best silicone sealant. We access the storage area rarely, so if you have items there you may want to check them.

[EMrider]

Originally Posted by patrick51

I was surprised to find water in the little used underfloor storage area. I found the less than one year old pot metal table base and column in deplorable corroded condition. Note that the compartment is not fully welded at the seams! I am in the process of drying everything, and will be on the way to Lowes for the best silicone sealant. We access the storage area rarely, so if you have items there you may want to check them.

Good tip. Any water that accumulates on the lower deck can easily seep into that storage compartment because the lid is not sealed tightly. Mine has a drain plug at the bottom for that reason. I access the storage box area very often (keep all my tools in there) and have had to drain it once or twice.
Rob

[patrick51]

After a tip from a SMB guru, I looked further into the water seepage problem and found out that the box had been improperly installed at the factory. One side was bolted up tight against the bottom of the van and the other side down a good 3/8 of an inch.
This did not allow the sealing gasket to tighten thus allowing outside water and splash to enter around the top fo the box. Also their black sealant was not completely installed around the perimeter. It appears the box was installed in a half #^*'d way. My only choice, short of dropping the entire box down, and starting over was to use silicon sealant, around the entire inside perimeter , and outside on the driver side. This was no easy task working upside down in the box. The problem was so bad and the gaps so large that it took 2 complete caulking tubes of sealant!
Others with this box may want to check their installation, as it will not only be water but also dust seepage to the interior.

[Cali Native]

Interesting and timely post I just found. Yesterday I noticed my storage box was soaked fortunately not doing much damage to the stuff in there. This must have happened in the last couple of weeks because I was fishing out some tie down straps I just bought for the trail bike I'll hopefully be attaching to the front receiver tonight. I've only washed the van lately and I don't think it got wet during the epic drive to Seattle in the pouring rain, sleet and snow so I'm thinking a/c condenser run off. I'll run the a/c hard this afternoon and see if I can tell more about the cause. This and a squeaking seat are so far my only 2 complaints.