In a message dated 10/24/99 7:16:14 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
berky@WIN.BRIGHT.NET writes:

<< I'm wondering if there could be a connection here between our camper
 water system, internal leaks, and that lower seam rust above the rocker
 panel........
  >>

yes, yes, and yes.
seen many westy's rust there at the exterior fill outlets, some even rotting
thru completely, and it lets water down into the lower rocker. this is why
you see the lower seam rust there, which then leads to holes in the rockers..
when the shells of westys-to-be arrive at weidenbruck, westfalia-werke just
takes a hole saw, and jig saw and cuts the holes in the side of the van,
which has already been painted its final color before leaving the Hannover
factory.  often times these raw cut metal edges are not touched up, and they
start to rust.
if i were you, i'd pull all the faces off the outlets, repair all rust,
prime, and apply a bead of silicone caulk around the perimeter before
reinstalling.  also replace leaky washers in the city water fittings too.
should be a regular garden hose washer.

chris