I am looking at a new van & have been told not to get one with a front window or boot. I have been told that when it rains & you are driving, the combined speed of the vehicle & the rain can force water under the seals of the window & boot. I can see how it could happen, but, does it happen in reality?
We have both an opening front window, and an opening front boot. Yes we have had water coming in both, the widow had a seal that had moved from its mounting, and the boot had a seal that was not properly fitted, fixing it is a job still in progress. The front window is fixed and has driven through driving rain with no problems, the boot is still to be reported on.
I note that on our van, the latest models do not have an opening front boot, and only a small tray accessed from the side for storage, and I do wonder if they are trying to reduce the possibility of putting weight in there and increasing the ball weight, bearing in mind they have two water tanks forward of the wheels and a grey water tank behind.
My front boot leaks too but it is lined with galv sheeting & has drain holes ... never a problem.
The front window however is another story & does weep in driving rain. Has after 20 years caused a little damage to the internal sheeting. Not a problem though.
If you are really pedantic then the van 'Bra' in Brickies post is a good idea.
Had a leak in front boot on Paramount Pop Top, main cause was a poorly fitted pop rivet, or was it two?. Torch behind them in the dark to spot. Also resealed above top 'hinge' seams to be ok now. A factory acrylic " traditional type" cover over front window seems to work so far.
2 caravans both with a front boot neither was water proof, really don't bother me except when a bit of water pools on the annex flooring and I wear the water.
I plan to have in my next caravan a tunnel boot, I want a longer bed and we can gain the extra there.
Now no1 caravan had a leak after 5years in the front window seal. I think the sealing job was done by the apprentice on a Friday afternoon of a long weekend.
No2 is real good but at the end of the year the caravan will be 7years old, I might just pay the friendly caravan man a visit and have window resealed for luck.
