Van Build Insight: Don’t Let a Drip Ruin the Trip

When we first started CAV, we spent a full week chasing a ghost leak in a Transit roof. We sealed everything—fans, panels, even the seams. But the drip kept showing up. Turns out, the culprits were the factory roof mount bolts. Straight from the lot. Barely visible, but just enough of a gap to make a mess of your sleep.

Now? We don’t let a Transit leave the shop without a fresh layer of Dicor Lap Sealant over everything that even might leak. Factory stampings, solar wire entries, vent flanges—if water can find it, so can we.

Here’s our go-to checklist of rooftop trouble spots:

✔️ Factory roof mount bolts (yes, even brand new)
✔️ Solar panel brackets and cable entries
✔️ Vent fans and skylights
✔️ Roof rails and crossbar anchors
✔️ Antennas or roof rack bolts
✔️ Any added accessories (AC units, camera domes, etc.)

Our tip? Keep a tube of Dicor Lap Sealant in your van. It’s cheap insurance, and it beats discovering a soggy mattress in the middle of nowhere.

Because van life is about chasing the rainbows, not the leaks. 🌧️➡️☀️