Fremebe
Advanced Member
- Joined
- Mar 17, 2015
- Posts
- 72
Been having issues with my wet bath since first picking up. Had back to Sportsmobile several times and all they did was caulk. Been trying to fix myself. Decided it must be the drain so started to take apart to get access. I am still trying to recover from what I found. In spite of having documentation of this repeated problem Sportsmobile west/field van nor Sportsmobile Texas is willing to do anything to repair under a warranty. I even offered to pay for the rebuilt if they would cover the cost to remove the affected areas. You can see the response below.
Reason for post--shout out to anyone else that may have a leak to inspect so you do not have my experience. The leaks were very minor--I now know why. It was all being contained within the shower structure.
I suspect the compression fitting was never put on or never tightened. I have yet to find it but have not yet taken the remaining pipe out of the floor. As I said to Cody at Sportsmobile West this is NOT normal wear and tear for a 9 year old van. Especially since I did not shower in it all the time. It is obvious that this was leaking from the beginning. My first complain (of which I still have the email) was only months after picking up the van.
I want to Express extreme disappointment in the quality and support of my build as I have has SO MANY problems that I have had to resolve over the years.
I have decided to do the repairs myself and in doing so pull out the cabinetry and put in new.
Question--has anyone pulled out the cabinets and walls? The cabinets seem simple and the systems are not affected since they are in a box in the back. Other than water pipes and maybe a few electrical outlets it seems like mostly wood builds.
Will have many questions as I begin this project. The forum has been such a great help to me over the years. Will be sending pictures and questions as I start to dismantle.
To say in simple--I am just devastated. But also empowered to fix it and like everything else I repaired do it right. I welcome any thoughts or advice
Letter to Brian and Peter at Sportsmobile West/ Field van
Since I first picked up the van I have had problems with a leaky shower. This had allegedly been addressed but it kept returning. It would leak in different areas depending on how the van leaned. At one point they believed it was not properly caulked in various places. I have tried repeatedly over the last several years to try to find the issue. I completely replaced the faucets but that was not it. I replaced the toilet 3 times and even put plumbers putty under the flange but that did not resolve it. In 2022 I wrote to Peter and did not hear back.
There has been a strange odor in the van so recently I contacted Sportsmobile in Texas about it. I thought perhaps it was the drain. I knew it was not a water pipe since it only leaked when I was taking a shower.
As I opened the panel on the side above the pipes I saw the wood was completely rotten. I had been afraid of this. I consulted Cody at Texas as to how to remove the shower pan. I finally was able to do so and it is a horrific site. The smell has caused us to move out of the van. The wood was completely rotten and I question if the wooded floor is also rotten.
I noticed that a white pipe was attached to the drain but not solid. I was then placed in a p trap but not glued. These were two exposed areas where water was obviously leaking since day 1. The water always went down the drain so there was no sign of a clog. If there was it would just flow out of these areas.
Obviously this is warranty work. I am also having problems with the new top that was installed in 2019. It is wet again in the same corner where the wood buckled causing the replacement. Obviously this is not secured to the van causing water to leak onto the wood of the top.
I am including correspondence with Cody in Texas and pictures. I also can send videos.
I can have the van in the shop as long as needed. It will need to be shipped as the smell is so bad it would be unhealthy for me to drive it anywhere.
I want to make sure all wood is repaired even if that means ripping out the cabinet and flooring. I will have the van completely cleaned off all possessions to allow this work to taker place.
Please let me know the process to get this repaired properly so it is not a future health concern.
Email to Cody at Sportsmobile Texas
This was an email sent in 2022 to Peter who never responded. I also have emails and visit records to show this has been a complaint since I picked up the van. It is obvious this was happening for a very ;long time. I have had warped boards in the back as well.
It is beyond just the bathroom. One of the things that has been happening for a long time was an unpleasant odor in the van. I can now see why. Given concerns about mold the flooring may need to be replaced and therefore the cabinets.
Sportsmobile West installed a new top under warranty due to a board raising in the front on the drivers side. It had rotted and warped. Peter said it was unusual and given the problems I had with it and the zipper they would replace it. Now that I have inspected everything for water I can see where it is wet there again. This is where the electrical outlets exist to lower the top. Obviously this was not secured so the new top will experience the exact same issue.
I plan to write top Peter as well but I am starting with you. Obviously the van needs to be shipped to one of the locations and have major work performed. I would rather it be in the shop for an extended period of time for proper repairs than rushed through without inspection as it had in the past.
Please advice as to my steps to get this repaired properly.
Update for Case C11189 - "Shower"
Hi Lori,
This is Tim with Field Vans service department. I'm sorry your having problems with your shower. Not sure why you never received a response back in ‘22, I apologize for that, I’m unsure of why that happened there.
I am more than happy to have a look at the van and discuss repair. I will need the van here to be able to diagnose the issues and come up with a solution to fix the van. However, since the van is a 2015, that puts you roughly 5 years outside of warranty on all issues. We are more than willing to help correct the issue and repair what is needed. I am happy to discuss possible options for repair and setup a date for you to drop the van off with us for repair.
Tim D
Reason for post--shout out to anyone else that may have a leak to inspect so you do not have my experience. The leaks were very minor--I now know why. It was all being contained within the shower structure.
I suspect the compression fitting was never put on or never tightened. I have yet to find it but have not yet taken the remaining pipe out of the floor. As I said to Cody at Sportsmobile West this is NOT normal wear and tear for a 9 year old van. Especially since I did not shower in it all the time. It is obvious that this was leaking from the beginning. My first complain (of which I still have the email) was only months after picking up the van.
I want to Express extreme disappointment in the quality and support of my build as I have has SO MANY problems that I have had to resolve over the years.
I have decided to do the repairs myself and in doing so pull out the cabinetry and put in new.
Question--has anyone pulled out the cabinets and walls? The cabinets seem simple and the systems are not affected since they are in a box in the back. Other than water pipes and maybe a few electrical outlets it seems like mostly wood builds.
Will have many questions as I begin this project. The forum has been such a great help to me over the years. Will be sending pictures and questions as I start to dismantle.
To say in simple--I am just devastated. But also empowered to fix it and like everything else I repaired do it right. I welcome any thoughts or advice
Letter to Brian and Peter at Sportsmobile West/ Field van
Since I first picked up the van I have had problems with a leaky shower. This had allegedly been addressed but it kept returning. It would leak in different areas depending on how the van leaned. At one point they believed it was not properly caulked in various places. I have tried repeatedly over the last several years to try to find the issue. I completely replaced the faucets but that was not it. I replaced the toilet 3 times and even put plumbers putty under the flange but that did not resolve it. In 2022 I wrote to Peter and did not hear back.
There has been a strange odor in the van so recently I contacted Sportsmobile in Texas about it. I thought perhaps it was the drain. I knew it was not a water pipe since it only leaked when I was taking a shower.
As I opened the panel on the side above the pipes I saw the wood was completely rotten. I had been afraid of this. I consulted Cody at Texas as to how to remove the shower pan. I finally was able to do so and it is a horrific site. The smell has caused us to move out of the van. The wood was completely rotten and I question if the wooded floor is also rotten.
I noticed that a white pipe was attached to the drain but not solid. I was then placed in a p trap but not glued. These were two exposed areas where water was obviously leaking since day 1. The water always went down the drain so there was no sign of a clog. If there was it would just flow out of these areas.
Obviously this is warranty work. I am also having problems with the new top that was installed in 2019. It is wet again in the same corner where the wood buckled causing the replacement. Obviously this is not secured to the van causing water to leak onto the wood of the top.
I am including correspondence with Cody in Texas and pictures. I also can send videos.
I can have the van in the shop as long as needed. It will need to be shipped as the smell is so bad it would be unhealthy for me to drive it anywhere.
I want to make sure all wood is repaired even if that means ripping out the cabinet and flooring. I will have the van completely cleaned off all possessions to allow this work to taker place.
Please let me know the process to get this repaired properly so it is not a future health concern.
Email to Cody at Sportsmobile Texas
This was an email sent in 2022 to Peter who never responded. I also have emails and visit records to show this has been a complaint since I picked up the van. It is obvious this was happening for a very ;long time. I have had warped boards in the back as well.
It is beyond just the bathroom. One of the things that has been happening for a long time was an unpleasant odor in the van. I can now see why. Given concerns about mold the flooring may need to be replaced and therefore the cabinets.
Sportsmobile West installed a new top under warranty due to a board raising in the front on the drivers side. It had rotted and warped. Peter said it was unusual and given the problems I had with it and the zipper they would replace it. Now that I have inspected everything for water I can see where it is wet there again. This is where the electrical outlets exist to lower the top. Obviously this was not secured so the new top will experience the exact same issue.
I plan to write top Peter as well but I am starting with you. Obviously the van needs to be shipped to one of the locations and have major work performed. I would rather it be in the shop for an extended period of time for proper repairs than rushed through without inspection as it had in the past.
Please advice as to my steps to get this repaired properly.
Update for Case C11189 - "Shower"
Hi Lori,
This is Tim with Field Vans service department. I'm sorry your having problems with your shower. Not sure why you never received a response back in ‘22, I apologize for that, I’m unsure of why that happened there.
I am more than happy to have a look at the van and discuss repair. I will need the van here to be able to diagnose the issues and come up with a solution to fix the van. However, since the van is a 2015, that puts you roughly 5 years outside of warranty on all issues. We are more than willing to help correct the issue and repair what is needed. I am happy to discuss possible options for repair and setup a date for you to drop the van off with us for repair.
Tim D
