4Star Trailers-anyone have issues with windows leaking?

[Jersey_Fresh]

I am hoping someone may an solution we have not thought of. My 2015 4Star has had an issue with the windows leaking since I bought it. I purchased it used from a friend of a friend last year. She did not mention the window issue, but I am also not sure they get as much rain as we do, and it sat for a while while she was in college/had sold her horses.

I contacted 4Star and they were great-they offered even though it was no longer under warranty to cover any parts if we covered labor. We took it to the local 4Star dealer and the said all of the windows need to be replaced (cited that they thought the trailer had been acid washed at too strong of a concentration, which I don’t think I believe). Replacing them fixed the leak in all but two windows. When I called and told them it was still leaking they told me I was welcome to bring it back and they would try again at the cost of their hourly labor rate but that windows were not guaranteed to not leak and that this was normal for 4Star. I find that hard to believe as my old trailer was 20 years old and never leaked, and 4Star is so popular I cant see how people would continue to buy trailers that had leaky windows. Not to mention, 4Star saw this as a concern and replaced the windows.

Its not a small amount of water getting in and on top of that, with our heat and humidity, if I leave bedding in the trailer, it gets wet and then I have black mold. The other windows are fine.

Has anyone had this issue? If so, what did you do to finally resolve it?I love everything else about this trailer, but I am at the point where if we cant resolve it, we are going to sell it and go with a different brand.

[TB2trk]

So it’s the windows leaking into the horse compartment not the dressing room or LQ? My Sundowner leaked into the nose of the d-room and I just recaulked the windows and the problem was solved. If it’s leaking into the horse area, then I would think the rubber seal isn’t fitting right? I’m with you, it shouldn’t leak at all. I’ve owned Sundowner, Exiss, Cimarron and Kiefer with no problems. Even during our monsoon season. Can you have an independent trailer repair person take a look? Depending on what he/she says, might be time to sell and move on to another brand. Sorry you are going through this!

[clanter]

we have a 13 year old steel CM, an inexpensive trailer… No Leaks whatsoever … zero. It is so tight that I need to open windows in the summer to let the heat out

[NaturallyHappy]

Gosh-this doesn’t make sense to me. I’ve had 3 over a period of 30 years w nary a repair problem. I do not have an answer for you. Are you able to assess exactly where the water is coming in around the window?

[NaturallyHappy]

Just chiming in to add I talked to a big truck mechanic who told me acid wash can be misused and damage material. He was in a hurry so I didn’t ask more but perhaps that is an avenue to pursue to figure out how to fix it.

[poltroon]

Acid washing removes a thin layer of material. I don’t know if this is possible but I wonder if maybe what they are seeing is that there is not enough metal thickness to seat and seal the windows properly.

I never had this problem with my 4-Star, though that was some years ago.

[Jersey_Fresh]

Thanks, if could have been the acid wash originally. But I can’t see how in 3 years of minimum use they would wash it enough to times to make the metal thin enough to cause a perm leak. I will also say that the owner never mentioned doing this-the dealer said this is their guess. All of the windows were replaced by a 4Star dealer about 2 months ago. Two are still leaking.

Its two windows in the horse area. All others are fine. I had my independent guy look at it, he rechaulked it and it didn’t help. 4Star has given us no other things to try.

I guess I’m grabbing at straws trying to see if I’m missing something obvious before we opt to sell and try again-this wasn’t a cheap purchase for us as it’s a 2+1 with all the bells and whistles. it’s been frustrating and disappointing.

[cutter99]

Any chance you can take it back to 4Star or one of their dealers?

[Jersey_Fresh]

@cutter99

Any chance you can take it back to 4Star or one of their dealers?

4star no, it’s too far for us to make it to OK right now. We had their dealer install the windows and I won’t go back. They were the ones who told me it was normal for them to leak and I could send it back, Pay the labor but that likely won’t fix it. They also broke into my tack room by removing the lock and wanted to charge me to fix it (they had the key so Im not sure why they did that). Im not sure of any other 4Star dealers in KY.

[NaturallyHappy]

I would call 4 Star in OK. I’ve called them directly before and have found them to be stellar. I bet they’d be LIVID to hear one of their dealers a) said the windows leak (which is patently untrue) and b)broke into your tack room. I wonder if the place you took it to did a poor job of installing the windows. Don’t give up- they are great trailers!
i bought a “quiet ride” trailer when they first came out. I hadn’t seen one in person and it sounded like a great idea. I’m fairly short-and not big enough to operate that system. They took that trailer back and replaced it w the drop pin method at no charge to me. (They’ve since adjusted the quiet ride to work for small women.). Jeff Altmeier in PA is a great 4 Star dealer. I think he also has a place in Ohio. Custom Cabs in Jeffersonsville OH is an authorized 4 Star repair shop. Hope this helps you.

[Chall]

How does it leak?
is it always after rain?

I would cover the outside of the window thoroughly with plastic and waterproof duct tape before the next rain. Cover the entire window.
Im wondering if the water might be coming through the roof and running internally between outer and inner wall and then draining out through the window.

is there a vent in the roof for the horses?

If it’s hot and humid where you live condensation might also be a cause, I’d look for water traveling up from the floor etc for that.

I googled for leaks in RVs, because there are more RVs than horse trailers.

Heres one link
https://rv-roadtrips.thefuntimesguide.com/rv_water_leak/

[Jersey_Fresh]

@NaturallyHappy

I would call 4 Star in OK. I’ve called them directly before and have found them to be stellar. I bet they’d be LIVID to hear one of their dealers a) said the windows leak (which is patently untrue) and b)broke into your tack room. I wonder if the place you took it to did a poor job of installing the windows. Don’t give up- they are great trailers!
i bought a “quiet ride” trailer when they first came out. I hadn’t seen one in person and it sounded like a great idea. I’m fairly short-and not big enough to operate that system. They took that trailer back and replaced it w the drop pin method at no charge to me. (They’ve since adjusted the quiet ride to work for small women.). Jeff Altmeier in PA is a great 4 Star dealer. I think he also has a place in Ohio. Custom Cabs in Jeffersonsville OH is an authorized 4 Star repair shop. Hope this helps you.

I am hoping its just an installation issue since the rest of them do not leak after the replacement. I am going to try to call them again and see if they have any other ideas.

[Jersey_Fresh]

@Chall

How does it leak?
is it always after rain?

I would cover the outside of the window thoroughly with plastic and waterproof duct tape before the next rain. Cover the entire window.
Im wondering if the water might be coming through the roof and running internally between outer and inner wall and then draining out through the window.

is there a vent in the roof for the horses?

If it’s hot and humid where you live condensation might also be a cause, I’d look for water traveling up from the floor etc for that.

I wondered that as well, but supposedly the dealer resealed the roof when they did the windows. After figuring out that they removed my tack room lock I am not 100% sure what I believe anymore.

Vents on the roof are closed.

Its way more than condensation. If I leave the trailer bedded, it get soaked with any measurable amount of rainfall and you can see the streaks of water running down the side from the windows. I will see if we can cover it next rain.

[NaturallyHappy]

@Jersey Fresh

I am hoping its just an installation issue since the rest of them do not leak after the replacement. I am going to try to call them again and see if they have any other ideas.

Hi there! I’m a bit daft but I can’t tell if you are calling the dealer near you, or the corporate folks in Oklahoma. I think they might help you w your dealer. I lent my first 4 Star to someone years ago (and do not lend my trailer at all anymore). It came back minus two hubcaps. I called the folks in OK and they were very helpful. The dealer thought those hubcaps were no longer available but they rummaged around and found me some.

[caevent]

Mine leaks in tack room and horse compartment too. I had my trailer guy reseal the roof of the tack room but it still leaks. Mine is used though so I haven’t stressed about it too much

[Jersey_Fresh]

@NaturallyHappy

Hi there! I’m a bit daft but I can’t tell if you are calling the dealer near you, or the corporate folks in Oklahoma. I think they might help you w your dealer. I lent my first 4 Star to someone years ago (and do not lend my trailer at all anymore). It came back minus two hubcaps. I called the folks in OK and they were very helpful. The dealer thought those hubcaps were no longer available but they rummaged around and found me some.

We’ve been working with corporate. They were very nice, and I reached out again yesterday to see if they had any other ideas to try before we sold it and tried another brand. I will not work with that dealer ever again after our issues, the way they treated us and the list of others who have had problems with them (including another friend who also had their tack room lock removed/broken while it was there).

[NaturallyHappy]

@Jersey Fresh

We’ve been working with corporate. They were very nice, and I reached out again yesterday to see if they had any other ideas to try before we sold it and tried another brand. I will not work with that dealer ever again after our issues, the way they treated us and the list of others who have had problems with them (including another friend who also had their tack room lock removed/broken while it was there).

Good luck! I hope they are able to help you. I’m sorry you’ve had so many problems.

[grinanride]

About trailer windows -
there are only a few trailer window manufacturers… they supply trailer builders or assemblers…

You should see a very small logo or initials on your windows to let you know who the actual maker was, if all fails you might contact them to see if they have suggestions

If you read trailer warranties on almost any brand it will state warranty from the manufacturer does not apply to anything they did not manufacture, this includes windows…many brands post decals in new trailers stating there is no guarantee that a trailer will not leak

Most window companies will have a 1 year warranty against DEFECTS in material and labor, they will not warrant against leaking or incorrect installation

I hope most manufactures will help buyers regardless, I am not aware of any manufactures actually testing for window leaks when trailers are built, it sounds like you have been getting some assistance

Possible remedy or cause

make sure the “weep holes” are on the bottom of the window ( either a small hole or grain of rice looking hole outside on the bottom ) there should be NO weep holes on top OR they should be sealed

bad or missing weather strip between window and outside wall, window installed on a seam with gap on top - clear silicone all the way across each window

window not pushed all the way closed into rubber gasket, when closing make sure the stile is completely vertical and give it an extra push to make sure it is fully seated

rubber trim on window frame not completely pushed down to side of sliding portion

check inside trim ring screws to make sure they are snug

maybe some more things but enough for today! I would neatly clear silicone around the entire top and radius

( right - acid wash makes no sense and if the trailer is white upper would be a big no no )

Risa
HappyTrailsTrailers.com
BalancedRideTrailers.com
Have a great day and Grin and Ride!

[NaturallyHappy]

@grinanride

About trailer windows -
there are only a few trailer window manufacturers… they supply trailer builders or assemblers…

You should see a very small logo or initials on your windows to let you know who the actual maker was, if all fails you might contact them to see if they have suggestions

If you read trailer warranties on almost any brand it will state warranty from the manufacturer does not apply to anything they did not manufacture, this includes windows…many brands post decals in new trailers stating there is no guarantee that a trailer will not leak

Most window companies will have a 1 year warranty against DEFECTS in material and labor, they will not warrant against leaking or incorrect installation

I hope most manufactures will help buyers regardless, I am not aware of any manufactures actually testing for window leaks when trailers are built, it sounds like you have been getting some assistance

Possible remedy or cause

make sure the “weep holes” are on the bottom of the window ( either a small hole or grain of rice looking hole outside on the bottom ) there should be NO weep holes on top OR they should be sealed

bad or missing weather strip between window and outside wall, window installed on a seam with gap on top - clear silicone all the way across each window

window not pushed all the way closed into rubber gasket, when closing make sure the stile is completely vertical and give it an extra push to make sure it is fully seated

rubber trim on window frame not completely pushed down to side of sliding portion

check inside trim ring screws to make sure they are snug

maybe some more things but enough for today! I would neatly clear silicone around the entire top and radius

( right - acid wash makes no sense and if the trailer is white upper would be a big no no )

Risa
HappyTrailsTrailers.com
BalancedRideTrailers.com
Have a great day and Grin and Ride!

Thank you for this. I learned something😀

[Hinderella]

My 4 Star is a 1996, and I have no problems with the windows. I do have a little bit of leakage around the upper doors above the ramp, but after nearly 30 years the rubber gaskets around the windows are dry and cracking a bit, so at some point I’ll have that replaced. Your trailer is much too new to have that problem. But I do wonder if acid washing could damage the gasket material.