Penthouse leaking like Niagara falls!

Pablo-SMB

New Member
Joined
Sep 16, 2023
Posts
7
My Sportsmobile / Field Van Penthouse conversion leaks like Niagara falls, when parked on a slight uphill slope. This issue was previously unknown to me for several years. Because the van has been garaged since I've owned it.
It's fine as long as i never park it slightly uphill / outdoors, drive in the rain, or pop the top. Otherwise, great job Field Van!
 
The first leak I found in my Pop top was caused by this.

65-albums111-picture6686.jpg


It is a little hard to tell but one of the front washer was never flat to the top. It is not centered in the ridge so, the washer is on the angled part. As in my crude drawing below.

65-albums111-picture6687.png


Depending on how I was parked would determine water would pool there or not.
 
Thanks, mine leaks because water is funneled in from over the cab. There's a large gap between the fiberglass top and steel roof. Looks to me like whatever had been supporting the cut made to install the top, has collapsed. Causing the entire roofline to dip toward the middle, creating the "perfect storm" in my van!
 
I followed TwoXentrix's advice and ordered some 3/8" thick foam from Amazon - cut to fit into the recessed channels on the van top - length long enough (about 6 inches) to just catch the PH top at very front edge - and disappear under the PH to point it butts up against PH mounting edge - so when parked uphill or driving - the rain can't get under that foam and work its way into/under the PH front edge. Thanks to TwoXentrix - he's a wealth of SMB knowledge !
 
I had the same issue due to half assed roof installation by SMB North. The roof cut went through the middle of the B pillar roof support and the steel support added for the pop top was not bedded down properly to allow for the ridges in the original roof.
 
I had the same issue due to half assed roof installation by SMB North. The roof cut went through the middle of the B pillar roof support and the steel support added for the pop top was not bedded down properly to allow for the ridges in the original roof.

It really is amazing that SMB is still around.
The insane prices folks are asking/getting for them!
Sure many are needing the entire pop-top replaced at this point.
I'd just go with a high-top replacement, if anyone out there made one.
 
Pablo - another thought - have you replaced the butyl tape around the roof bolts lately ? That's another area of leaks that can ruin/sag/soak the plywood of the roof ! Time for a fiberine ? - or CCV top ? Just had a PH to CCV top haircut ! Good luck with getting it under control !
 
I followed TwoXentrix's advice and ordered some 3/8" thick foam from Amazon - cut to fit into the recessed channels on the van top - length long enough (about 6 inches) to just catch the PH top at very front edge - and disappear under the PH to point it butts up against PH mounting edge - so when parked uphill or driving - the rain can't get under that foam and work its way into/under the PH front edge. Thanks to TwoXentrix - he's a wealth of SMB knowledge !

In my first several month associated with this Forum (and while I was looking to purchase a SM) I came across several accounts where members mentioned water leaks through the penthouse, so after I purchased my SM i took a good look at all the advise that was offered in those posts.
Quickly came to realize that the roof channels at the front of the pop-top had 'gaps' between the pop-top's gasket and the van roof - exactly where each channel was. I sealed this gap using 2 versions of soft Neoprene self-adhesive rubber.
(Links below from what I purchased)
FIRST: I cut the pieces to what I needed, then lowered the penthouse on top of the 6" wide neoprene foam rubber to draw the tops outline and identify where the tops rubber gasket actually met the roof.
SECOND: I used the 4x4 squares (first link) and cut them to fill the gap between the bottom of the channel & the top of the roof (1/2 neoprene accomplished this - but you need to cut the pieces so the outer edges follow the channel angle as it raises to the top - the ends need approximately a 45 degree angle outward).
THIRD: I cut the 6" wide soft neoprene sheet to the pop-tops outline: the front outer edge of the sheet is positioned about 1/2" in front of the pop-top gasket (allowing a little room since the pop-top moves forward & back a little), the 2 outer ends actually follow the curvature of the pop-top and extend back about 4" (that's why I used a 6" wide neoprene sheet). Even though the neoprene sheet was initially 6" wide, This 'gasket' is cut so it is about 2" wide along it's entire length (essentially it looks like a very wide "U" shape) - that's how it manages to follow the pop top edges (the corners) an additional 4" inches).
In step #1, I marked where the gasket pop-top gasket met the roof, this made it easy to first affixed the channel spacers, followed then by laying the 3/8" neoprene 'gaskets across the top of those - this keeps any water from being blown under while driving in rain, or drainage when van is stationary and the front elevated.

First set was in place from 2015 to 2023, just replaced them last year.
Before I put this on, I had noticed a lot of debris accumulate under the top, and now I have nothing...stays very clean & dry.

1/2" blocks I used for the channel filler:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09493P4L3/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I was unable to find 3/8"x6" wide, so I purchased 12" and cut it in half:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B089F2Y4MN/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Pretty confident Pablo this would solve your issue. The other 'simple' solution would be to back your van in the same spot so front roofline slopes downhill. :D
 
Last edited:
Thanks, mine leaks because water is funneled in from over the cab. There's a large gap between the fiberglass top and steel roof. Looks to me like whatever had been supporting the cut made to install the top, has collapsed. Causing the entire roofline to dip toward the middle, creating the "perfect storm" in my van!

Please post a picture.

:b5:
 
Another big water intrusion (on my 1992 Sportsmobile): the rear doors when the penthouse is up.

Water pours off the top onto the van's roof, overflowing the rain gutter. Capillary action pulls the water under the gutter, around the door seals, and into the van. We got soaked this summer.

I've got some ridged foam tape I'm hoping will break the water flow and create secondary drip lines.

Strangely, the penthouse in general seems water tight.
 
I once considered having Sportsmobile West install a pop top on my Chevy van. When I asked about the potential problems with leaks I read about and heard from other Sportsmobile owners, the salesman I spoke to said, “our tops don’t leak.”

When asked if I could supervise the installation I was told in not so nice of a tone: “If you don’t trust our installations process you shouldn’t buy one.”

Needless to say my factory roof remains uncut and has never leaked. :d3:
 
I have given up on the Penthouse and Sportsmobile West/Field Van.

The wood has completely rotted (twice). it is hard to detect unless you pull the upholstery up. This has made me wonder if everybody's is leaking and they just do not know it. The first time I realized it because the wood actually warped and the corner came up. It was first replaced under warranty in 2020 and now that it's happening again SM West (Field van) is refusing to repair.

But the great news is I ordered my new Fiberine top and it will be installed this month.!
 

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