Rice Horse Box - How to make it weatherproof?

[Dyfman31]

Hi all,

I appreciate this might not be horse related, but I was wondering if I could get some guidance/advice on how best to weatherproof a horse trailer. As per the title, I am doing up a 12 year old Rice Foxhunter horse trailer and making it into a camping box for myself and my partner. However, whenever it has rained, the inside has become wet and water gathers at the bottom in a few areas (one area near the middle and another by the side door).

I've got a few ideas on how to resolve this (sealant and weatherproof tape - flashbanding) for the metal beams and skirting areas, but I was wondering if anyone else had any solutions for this? I can't see any obvious holes or damage, so I can only assume that it's coming through a crack in the metal beams above.

Many thanks!

 

[Red-1]

Quite often it is condensation rather than a leak. I would have a good look when it is raining to see if there is a leak, before shelling out a lot of money.

Condensation can only be cured with insulation.

 

[Dyfman31]

Quite often it is condensation rather than a leak. I would have a good look when it is raining to see if there is a leak, before shelling out a lot of money.

Condensation can only be cured with insulation.

Thanks! Yes i've bought some insultation online to do the roof so hopefully that will work. The insulation I bought doesn't absorb water either so that might solve it. The only thing I was thinking was why it gathered in a certain area on the floor and not in others if it was condensation?

 

[Red-1]

Thanks! Yes i've bought some insultation online to do the roof so hopefully that will work. The insulation I bought doesn't absorb water either so that might solve it. The only thing I was thinking was why it gathered in a certain area on the floor and not in others if it was condensation?

Condensation will run down the roof to a low place to drop off, could that be it?

It may leak, best way to tell is to go inside in a rainstorm.

 

[Dyfman31]

Condensation will run down the roof to a low place to drop off, could that be it?

It may leak, best way to tell is to go inside in a rainstorm.

I think you're definitely right about the condensation as the roof is wet to the touch in the morning: hopefully the insulation/sealing will do the trick! I imagine either one of the other will work. I may invest in some weather resistant paint and do the inside if that works

 

[holeymoley]

Sorry no help whatsoever but when I had the old Bahill(similiar to Rice) it definitely held a lot of condensation. Although if it's gathered on the floor then that would make me think more of a leak. Perhaps the wind has driven the rain through one of the joins? Or it could be sat at more of an angle than you think and pooling.

 

[cauda equina]

My old Rice definitely leaked between the roof and the top of the front door
I never did solve it, maybe someone who converts them into coffee bars etc might be able to advise you

 

[Dyfman31]

Sorry no help whatsoever but when I had the old Bahill(similiar to Rice) it definitely held a lot of condensation. Although if it's gathered on the floor then that would make me think more of a leak. Perhaps the wind has driven the rain through one of the joins? Or it could be sat at more of an angle than you think and pooling.

Interesting - how did you manage the condensation on yours? There is one particular area which is damp which is by the side door, so I am thinking a possible ingress through the door or something.

 

[Dyfman31]

My old Rice definitely leaked between the roof and the top of the front door
I never did solve it, maybe someone who converts them into coffee bars etc might be able to advise you

Yes I feel as though it's definitely a fixable problem: we're thinking a temporary solution of tarpaulin when it's idle, strapped around the roof to keep the water at bay, just while we figure out the issue. Either that, or a costlier Horse box waterproof cover (which are about cheapest £70)

 

[Northern Hare]

Hi, insulation will help with any condensation, but I think you'll also need to allow some ventilation / air circulation as well.

If it's a leak, have a search online for motorhome / caravan roof repairs and you'll find a huge selection of specialist paints and other fixes that can be done as a DIY project. Good luck! ?

 

[holeymoley]

Interesting - how did you manage the condensation on yours? There is one particular area which is damp which is by the side door, so I am thinking a possible ingress through the door or something.

We didn’t unfortunately. It was a do-er-upper and we ended up selling it. If it is the wind driving the rain in, something simple such as a rubber seal may work as I know ours didn’t have anything like that.

 

[Northern Hare]

Hi, insulation will help with any condensation, but I think you'll also need to allow some ventilation / air circulation as well.

If it's a leak, have a search online for motorhome / caravan roof repairs and you'll find a huge selection of specialist paints and other fixes that can be done as a DIY project. Good luck! ?

Just to add, there's a thread on the motorhome forum that we follow, ref a motorhome with a leaking roof. The Recommendations from other forum members are to use either of the products Sikaflex 522 or Soudal RV 61.

 

[phizz4]

Get some food dye, dissolve in a watering can and spray different parts of the roof to trace the leak. You then need to use non-setting sealants as suggested above, as they need to flex with the body. You could paint the roof with stonechip (used on cars) as it has a rubbery content, or use the rubber sealant that builders use for flat roofs.