Drip strip?

[Phantom]

The effect is much worse when stood as rain water and the accumulated muck off the roof gets washed down over the windscreen accelerating the bit above the screen to rust, despite sanding it back and repainting twice so far, but it is a difficult bit to get at and do.
I was wondering if fitting a small stick on drip strip to the front angled bit could be beneficial? I doubt that it would have any noticeable effect when driving. What do you reckon?

 

[SquirrellCook]

That's an impressive affect. What ever you try to stop it, make sure you can remove it if it doesn't work.

 

[wildebus]

The effect is much worse when stood as rain water and the accumulated muck off the roof gets washed down over the windscreen accelerating the bit above the screen to rust, despite sanding it back and repainting twice so far, but it is a difficult bit to get at and do.
I was wondering if fitting a small stick on drip strip to the front angled bit could be beneficial? I doubt that it would have any noticeable effect when driving. What do you reckon?

I saw this video a while back from Brian (RV with Tito) and while it seem a bit strange it seems to work ... maybe could work for you?

 

[Phantom]

I saw this video a while back from Brian (RV with Tito) and while it seem a bit strange it seems to work ... maybe could work for you?

That is a great idea but it wouldn't help here. Water collects in a slight dip just behind where the fibreglass bubble joins the main roof, it then overflows over the front only. Fortunately the two are well sealed, I guess it has been like this from new.

 

[Phantom]

That's an impressive affect. What ever you try to stop it, make sure you can remove it if it doesn't work.

I was thinking something like a draught excluder tape or suchlike. Something discrete and minimal, I'll see what might do it.

 

[Nabsim]

Mine is exactly the same except it’s dirtier than your. Yes I think your idea is worth a go

 

[wildebus]

Looking at this and thinking of the various forces in place, would a strip to stop the water running underneath make much difference compared to the effect of water hitting that join when driving? Thinking very good sealing at the join is the key?

to Stop the water running along, something you could try is a REALLY good clean of the front - and I am talking about 'claying' the surface. I don't know if you have used a claybar on paintwork but the way it stops water staying on the surface is amazing. I think the water would not stay on the overhand and run along the underneath but literally drop off as it will not be able to cling on?
I have a much larger overhang and I am constantly surprised how water drips onto the windscreen so close to the top of the windscreen where logically it is undercover.

 

[Phantom]

Looking at this and thinking of the various forces in place, would a strip to stop the water running underneath make much difference compared to the effect of water hitting that join when driving? Thinking very good sealing at the join is the key?

to Stop the water running along, something you could try is a REALLY good clean of the front - and I am talking about 'claying' the surface. I don't know if you have used a claybar on paintwork but the way it stops water staying on the surface is amazing. I think the water would not stay on the overhand and run along the underneath but literally drop off as it will not be able to cling on?
I have a much larger overhang and I am constantly surprised how water drips onto the windscreen so close to the top of the windscreen where logically it is undercover.

Though I have prepped and repainted the bit above the windscreen a couple of times when rust has shown, as you say it really wants sealing. So next time I'll carefully apply some discreet sealant between the paint and windscreen seal to stop any water ingress causing further rust. The black streaks only appear when MH is parked up for a time.
I do have a claybar though have not used it on the front pod bit. So yet another job for a warm spring day!

 

[Phantom]

Mine is exactly the same except it’s dirtier than your. Yes I think your idea is worth a go

I last cleaned our roof in summer. I guess there are three potential things. Can't really do much about the puddle on the roof. The black streaks are just cosmetic though better if can be avoided. The main thing is to stop any rust, just that 1" strip above the windscreen that is troublesome but will properly seal it next time. Though it can't help when parked up if the water off the roof flows over it.

 

[wildebus]

Is it a Mercedes base? Wondering as the Sprinters are renowned for rusting at the windscreen tops on the panel vans. Could it what your are seeing is nothing to do with the overhang per se, but just a Mercedes 'thing'? My VW LT (Sprinter in all but name) wasn't too bad at all in this area, but I did have some rusting there and the amount of wet muck that would get under the windscreen rubber was horrible.
Not much help really . Thinking of possible things that might need looking at.

 

[Phantom]

Is it a Mercedes base? Wondering as the Sprinters are renowned for rusting at the windscreen tops on the panel vans. Could it what your are seeing is nothing to do with the overhang per se, but just a Mercedes 'thing'? My VW LT (Sprinter in all but name) wasn't too bad at all in this area, but I did have some rusting there and the amount of wet muck that would get under the windscreen rubber was horrible.
Not much help really . Thinking of possible things that might need looking at.

Yep, a Sprinter. I'll get a bit of sealant behind the windscreen top seal next time. I have already resealed the fibreglass pod to the body.

 

[Millie Master]

Why not fit a Fiamma Drip Stop, they are self adhesive and can be formed so that, in your case, they could be shaped so that both outer drain points were lower than the central most point.

 

[Phantom]

Why not fit a Fiamma Drip Stop, they are self adhesive and can be formed so that, in your case, they could be shaped so that both outer drain points were lower than the central most point.

That seems like a good idea. Quite a bit of water runs off the front of the roof so maybe some would spill over the gutter? Though different makes are maybe different sizes? It's hard to find the dimensions of some but still likely the way to go.

 

[Millie Master]

That seems like a good idea. Quite a bit of water runs off the front of the roof so maybe some would spill over the gutter? Though different makes are maybe different sizes? It's hard to find the dimensions of some but still likely the way to go.

The cross section of the moulding are all the same, just choose your length. The actual depth/capacity of the channel should be enough for the amount of water you are likely to expect, unless in an absolute deluge.

 

[Nabsim]

Been having a look at mine this morning, it’s very dirty but I don’t appear to have any rust problem at top of the windscreen. You mention a rubber seal on yours, is this around the windscreen or between the top moulding and the van steel? Reason I ask is mine has a bonded windscreen and just one of those plastic cover things they put on rather than a seal or is that what you mean?
Mine was registered 2007 but chassis cab was June 2005 build T1n, same 316 Sprinter bas as your I think except maybe mine having auto box.

 

[Phantom]

Been having a look at mine this morning, it’s very dirty but I don’t appear to have any rust problem at top of the windscreen. You mention a rubber seal on yours, is this around the windscreen or between the top moulding and the van steel? Reason I ask is mine has a bonded windscreen and just one of those plastic cover things they put on rather than a seal or is that what you mean?
Mine was registered 2007 but chassis cab was June 2005 build T1n, same 316 Sprinter bas as your I think except maybe mine having auto box.

Mine is T1n with auto too. My windscreen is also likely bonded then, is the edge cover removable? I'll give it a clean and take a closer pic.

 

[Phantom]

I've just watched a couple of vid clips and it looks like the windscreen edge cover strip can be removed to help sorting out the rust spots? I think a gutter strip would work fine all along the pointy edge of the pod.

 

[wildebus]

From memory, I think there are meant to be some drain points in the strip but they get blocked. the last time I cleaned mine, I spend around 2 hours with an plastic knife under the strips and sliding it along to push out all the crap underneath.
(I had a panel van though and access to the top of the screen looks like it would be a lot easier than with yours )