Waterproofing front storage box

[Jordan]

I read on here somewhere about someone adding weatherstripping to their front storage box to try to make it waterproof. I can't find the post, but does anyone have any ideas about that? IE: how to best attach the weatherstripping? Thanks!

[Iowa Dave]

Does your front storage box not have weatherstripping or is it present and letting water in? Our 2013 21ft Escape had original stripping on it when we got it. When I took it to Chilliwack to get solar installed, Reace changed out the weatherstripping on the box with an updated product. It does not let water in when it’s seated and latched down. The latches are adjustable and pretty tight when in place. Not sure this helps.
Iowa Dave

[Jordan]

Originally Posted by Iowa Dave

Does your front storage box not have weatherstripping or is it present and letting water in? Our 2013 21ft Escape had original stripping on it when we got it. When I took it to Chilliwack to get solar installed, Reace changed out the weatherstripping on the box with an updated product. It does not let water in when it’s seated and latched down. The latches are adjustable and pretty tight when in place. Not sure this helps.
Iowa Dave

Thanks Dave. It is a new E19 - it does have weather stripping, but the design of the box is such that only about 60% of the lid actually touches the weather stripping. Water only comes in when driving in the rain, as the airflow forces the water through the areas without the seal.

[cpaharley2008]

The box ix made to get wet as it has drain holes in the bottom. you will be putting in the box your water hoses that drip, your electrical cord that gets wet, your stabilizer blocks that get wet, it is a fiberglass compartment and does not rot. It would make for a great beer cooler filed with ice...

[Jordan]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

The box ix made to get wet as it has drain holes in the bottom. you will be putting in the box your water hoses that drip, your electrical cord that gets wet, your stabilizer blocks that get wet, it is a fiberglass compartment and does not rot. It would make for a great beer cooler filed with ice...

Good points Jim. I am also hoping to put camp chairs, possibly a small BBQ, and a few other odds and sods that I'd prefer were not soaked after driving through a rain storm. But you are right, waterproofing it might be more trouble than it is worth.

[cpaharley2008]

I doubt the chairs will fit, remember your batteries are located in the middle of the box, leaving only the 2 side wells and a limited space on top of the batteries.

[Iowa Dave]

One time I had a Chevy Malibu. The weatherstripping was damaged in a break-in attempt. I went to an auto parts store and I got a thick but soft and flexible replacement weatherstrip. I installed it and the door did not leak. I glued it in with a 3M product that was sticky and black. We used to use it to seal tail lights on boat trailers too. I try not to get water in the box. I put wet stuff in small buckets, hose ends I screw together. Not very much water gets in the box. I keep a roll of shop towels in the top of the box (Thanks for that idea AZ Jack). Maybe a thicker softer seal would work.
Iowa Dave

[cpaharley2008]

I believe the older style front boxes with the recessed lid did not have weather-stripping but the newer raised lid boxes do have some weather stripping. I'll check mine tomorrow.

[Jordan]

Originally Posted by Iowa Dave

One time I had a Chevy Malibu. The weatherstripping was damaged in a break-in attempt. I went to an auto parts store and I got a thick but soft and flexible replacement weatherstrip. I installed it and the door did not leak. I glued it in with a 3M product that was sticky and black. We used to use it to seal tail lights on boat trailers too. I try not to get water in the box. I put wet stuff in small buckets, hose ends I screw together. Not very much water gets in the box. I keep a roll of shop towels in the top of the box (Thanks for that idea AZ Jack). Maybe a thicker softer seal would work.
Iowa Dave

Good thought on both the larger auto weatherstripping (I was thinking stripping for a household door, but your idea is better), as well as that 3M product (I know the one you mean). Sorry to hear you owned a Malibu though....how did it tow your Escape?

[Iowa Dave]

Originally Posted by Jordan

Good thought on both the larger auto weatherstripping (I was thinking stripping for a household door, but your idea is better), as well as that 3M product (I know the one you mean). Sorry to hear you owned a Malibu though....how did it tow your Escape?

The Malibu I bought for my youngest daughter. I thought it would last through 3 years of high school, it did, then four years at Ohio State, then the first two years of her first job. Still looked
good but was pretty tired. She got $800 trade in on a new Nissan. Malibu Barbie was quite a ride and I’m sure had some tales to tell that I don’t want to hear even now.
Iowa Dave

[padlin]

Don't have a box on the 5.0TA so I can envision what your dealing with but...
Maybe something like one of these
https://www.mcmaster.com/bulb-seal-weatherstripping

When I used to attach such to cars I'd use 3m Weatherstrip adhesive like such
https://www.amazon.com/3M-08008-Blac.../dp/B00063X38M

[George Johnson]

I think of my box (older, on my first gen 19) as water resistant, not water proof. Things not harmed by water are simply placed in the box, things like cleaning rags are stored in appropriately sized garbage bags and remain dry.

Nothing really gets wet, water just runs down the sides and out the drain holes. Actually, I suspect the amount of water entering the box while in motion may be partially dependent on the aerodynamics of the TV in front of the box.

[Hollybee]

We have a category of stuff we plan to store in that box..and all of it has been mentioned here..seems easy and we will be glad to NOT have to store Hitchup and Setup stuff in the back of the pickup...for a chg.

[cpaharley2008]

I checked ny box this weekend when showing the trailer, there is a rubber weatherstrip attached to the aluminum trim that reinforces the bottom part of the box and it is compressed when you close the lid.

[cpaharley2008]

It can be seen in this picture, the black rubber strip along the aluminum...

[yardsale]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

I doubt the chairs will fit, remember your batteries are located in the middle of the box, leaving only the 2 side wells and a limited space on top of the batteries.

Really? Why aren't the batteries on the back bumper like on the 17?

[Donna D.]

Originally Posted by yardsale

Really? Why aren't the batteries on the back bumper like on the 17?

Battery placement:

17 = on rear bumper
19 = in storage box or on the tongue
21 = inside, either passenger side or along back wall (u-shape dinette)
5.0TA = inside, either passenger side or along back wall (u-shape dinette)

[cpaharley2008]

The battery placement is related to the WFCO converter placement, it is located in the rear on 17/21/5.0 and in the front on the 19 models. Thus the battery placement follows.

[Patandlinda]

And so glad the batteries are in the front ! Pat