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Hole in my Shower Pan

Gribley

Member
Hey All,
I bought a Delta Solo BH181 from Blue Compass in Longmont, CO. It has been a frustrating experience with a lot of the verbal promises with no follow through and all the typical dealership complaints. I’m at a pretty frustrating impasse at this point. On my initial walk through inspection, I noticed the shower pan had a cut in it that looked like it was done with a table saw. It’s right at the gap with the shower walls. Blue Compass was supposed to fix it. At my follow up walk through, I found they caulked part of it but only the portion that’s on the outside of the door. But the cut actually extends into the shower. Meaning the wet side of the door frame. I pointed it out and said I wanted it fixed. A service tech came out and looked at it for a few minutes. He was maybe the only person who seemed like he wanted to give me a straight answer rather than just hurry me out the door. He apologized and explained that caulk wouldn’t fix this. We’d be trying to caulk two plastic pieces together that will eventually vibrate loose and allow water into the walls. He explained they’d have to go through Alliance, take the whole shower apart and replace the shower pan. So I’ve spent the last few weeks doing the typical dealership communication game. Finally today they told me that Alliance had declined the warranty claim because they had already paid them 0.3 hours to caulk it. Now they’re saying it’s okay to caulk it because that’s what Alliance says to do. I’m not convinced Alliance said that. My hunch is Alliance is more sick of Blue Compass than I am and just wasn’t willing to pay twice on the same issue.
Does this look like something you would caulk? Where should I go from here?
And least importantly, why would someone be cutting there in the first place?
Thanks for your time,

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Gribley
 
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BryanValRox

Elite Member
Hey All,
I bought a Delta Solo BH181 from Blue Compass in Longmont, CO. It has been a frustrating experience with a lot of the verbal promises with no follow through and all the typical dealership complaints. I’m at a pretty frustrating impasse at this point. On my initial walk through inspection, I noticed the shower pan had a cut in it that looked like it was done with a table saw. It’s right at the gap with the shower walls. Blue Compass was supposed to fix it. At my follow up walk through, I found they caulked part of it but only the portion that’s on the outside of the door. But the cut actually extends into the shower. Meaning the wet side of the door frame. I pointed it out and said I wanted it fixed. A service tech came out and looked at it for a few minutes. He was maybe the only person who seemed like he wanted to give me a straight answer rather than just hurry me out the door. He apologized and explained that caulk wouldn’t fix this. We’d be trying to caulk two plastic pieces together that will eventually vibrate loose and allow water into the walls. He explained they’d have to go through Alliance, take the whole shower apart and replace the shower pan. So I’ve spent the last few weeks doing the typical dealership communication game. Finally today they told me that Alliance had declined the warranty claim because they had already paid them 0.3 hours to caulk it. Now they’re saying it’s okay to caulk it because that’s what Alliance says to do. I’m not convinced Alliance said that. My hunch is Alliance is more sick of Blue Compass than I am and just wasn’t willing to pay twice on the same issue.
Does this look like something you would caulk? Where should I go from here?
And least importantly, why would someone be cutting there in the first place?
Thanks for your time,
GribleyView attachment 5513
Well, you could call Alliance directly with your VIN and open a case.
There are professional methods other than caulk to fix fiberglass pans.
Or if it’s not to late, you could walk away.
 

Lantley

Prominent Member
In that gash or cut is all the way through the lip or ledge of the pan I feel the pain needs to be replaced.
I'm not sure it's caulkable at that point if it's all the way through the lip of the pan
 
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Gribley

Member
It’s all the way through.
And yes it’s too late to walk away. I had confidence the one guy would see it through. He said he’d make sure he was the one to work on it.
 

Gribley

Member
Can anyone recommend someone in Northern Colorado or Southern Wyoming for this type or repair? My understanding is that I’m not required to go through the original dealership, right?
 

Midnight Rider

Prominent Member
Can anyone recommend someone in Northern Colorado or Southern Wyoming for this type or repair? My understanding is that I’m not required to go through the original dealership, right?
Transwest does good warranty work in Longmont.

what about the place off the highway buy the breakfast truck stop with the great cinnamon rolls? There are tons of places?
 

Chaseweston

Well-known member
It is hard to tell from the photo exactly the situation but from what I can tell, if alliance is giving you problems, I'd document the refusal to properly fix it, noting that should there be future water damage as a result of an improperly corrected warranty repair Alliance will be responsible as they are refusing to correctly repair, and caulk it with Dymonic 100 or some other grossly adhesive poly sealant and enjoy using the rig for what it's for.

it looks like you still have somewhat of a dam in place, you just need to bridge the gap so any water on the wall or splashing will run over the caulked gap and down into the actual pan.

if you spend all your time waiting on repairs like this, you'll never actually use the unit.
 

Gribley

Member
That’s good advice. I am regretting buying new at this point. We were looking at a used Grand Design that was two thirds the price. There’s a lot we like about this camper though.
Are there any manufacturers that are employee owned? Not just independently owned but actually employee owned? I wonder if that’s the only real solution for a culture to “do the right thing”.
 

Chaseweston

Well-known member
Unfortunately until "demand" stops buying what they are supplying, no real changes will occur in the assembly line produced RV industry. Custom units can be had but the price is more than double anything off a line. Brinkley has the same issues, I'm sure Axiom will eventually too as the new guys on the block.
 

Oregon_Camper

Forum Admin
Staff member
Agree 100% that the cut should not be there.

Howver, I'd just fill it was some dicor (it is flexible and waterproof) and finish the area off nicely to make it look ok.

IMHO...Blue Compass is trying their best to be worse than Camping World.....and that is saying something!!
 

Gribley

Member
Got an email back from Alliance Warranty. They’re saying the cut is supposed to be there and caulking is the answer. I asked who would be paying if I have water damage down the road and it’s out of warranty. They said I would be as it’s a maintenance item that needs to be maintained. I’d been telling friends and family Alliance is holding the place in the market Grand Design had before they were bought out by Winnebago. Not so sure now. There’s an RV repair guy with a good reputation a couple hours away. I might check with him. Might even just pay him to fix what should be a warranty item and then not look back. But also not buy an Alliance again. This camper is supposed to be a source of joy for my family. I’m not gonna let corporate shenanigans get in the way.
 

RockDr896

Well-known member
I had to rebuild my 370FB shower. My project is on the forums, but here is what I found (see Picture). Basically they notch the floor pan, to allow for the glass shower doors. Without that 1 1/2" lip at the bottom, it is all about the silicone. When the silicone fails, then water begins leaking into the inside of the wall. Silicone also failed where the glass door tracks meet. That was my experience...hope that helps.
 

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BryanValRox

Elite Member
Got an email back from Alliance Warranty. They’re saying the cut is supposed to be there and caulking is the answer. I asked who would be paying if I have water damage down the road and it’s out of warranty. They said I would be as it’s a maintenance item that needs to be maintained. I’d been telling friends and family Alliance is holding the place in the market Grand Design had before they were bought out by Winnebago. Not so sure now. There’s an RV repair guy with a good reputation a couple hours away. I might check with him. Might even just pay him to fix what should be a warranty item and then not look back. But also not buy an Alliance again. This camper is supposed to be a source of joy for my family. I’m not gonna let corporate shenanigans get in the way.
Ok, I am confused here. What exactly is your complaint when referencing your original picture? Is it the large gap at the pan and vertical wall and shower track OR is it the crack that seems to be visible in the shower pan?

I can understand using silicone on the large gap, that make perfect sense to me and something I would consider normal and expect repair.

However if it is the hairline crack in the show pan, you need to have a person to person conversation with the Alliance Service department or even Bill Martin. The crack in the pan is definitely NOT supposed to be there and there is clearly a misunderstanding of you complaint on their end. My guess is they focused on the large wall gap and didn’t even see the pan crack .

Certainly, it isn’t supposed to be there and it isn’t maintenance, This is clearly a factory defect and needs to be covered under warranty. Have the conversation.
 

RockDr896

Well-known member
Ok, I am confused here. What exactly is your complaint when referencing your original picture? Is it the large gap at the pan and vertical wall and shower track OR is it the crack that seems to be visible in the shower pan?

I can understand using silicone on the large gap, that make perfect sense to me and something I would consider normal and expect repair.

However if it is the hairline crack in the show pan, you need to have a person to person conversation with the Alliance Service department or even Bill Martin. The crack in the pan is definitely NOT supposed to be there and there is clearly a misunderstanding of you complaint on their end. My guess is they focused on the large wall gap and didn’t even see the pan crack .

Certainly, it isn’t supposed to be there and it isn’t maintenance, This is clearly a factory defect and needs to be covered under warranty. Have the conversation.
I know you are not asking me......however, if they notched the pan (Behind the wall) like they did mine....there is no lip to force the water and back the silicone.......you are just squirting silicone into a void of framed space, within the wall.......I think the pan crack, is a hair.....
 

BryanValRox

Elite Member
I know you are not asking me......however, if they notched the pan (Behind the wall) like they did mine....there is no lip to force the water and back the silicone.......you are just squirting silicone into a void of framed space, within the wall.......I think the pan crack, is a hair.....
Sharing opinions is the purpose, I can’t make that assessment from one picture.

Personally, I am more concerned about the pan crack, it likely will grow as family members use the shower.
 

Gribley

Member
It’s not a crack. It’s an 1/8” cut from a saw. Maybe a table saw, maybe a skilsaw. And that cut is at the junction of the wall panel and the shower pan.
 
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