Exterior Damage Repair

taketimeforlife · June 13, 2015

The bed over cab on my 1992 class c has a lot of repairs needed that we'll be working on this weekend. I have no idea how extensive the damage is but it looks like it's going to take a lot of work to get it fixed! It's been open for about a week in 90+ temps and wind so I'm relatively confident its dry now,

I've posted a video of the damage...any suggestions are appreciated.

D&J · June 14, 2015

My only advice would be don't stop tearing it apart until you run out of water damage, that's also the point where the water was coming from, and it's always worse than you think after you get tearing it apart. I just got done fixing the front corner of our 5th wheel and there was 10 times more damage than I thought there was, the water wicked its way up from the bottom and I hope that that's were yours is coming from so you won't have to rebuild it all the way to the roof.

Denny

taketimeforlife · June 14, 2015

Denny,

You are so correct! It's way worse than we thought...

Posted 2 more videos with what it looks like after we ripped it apart.

rdickinson · June 15, 2015

Dan,

In looking at the lst video it seems the water stains stop close to where the panel transitions to going around the side. If you could get that piece out intact you could use it as a template for a new panel.

Is the framework underneath metal or wood? If wood is it intact? Are the joints still holding together? ie not wiggly. Can you provide more pics. There are more than a few of us with significant Carpentry and or Cabinetmaking/ Joinery skills on this forum who may be able to assist from arms length.

There is also at leat one person with a significant fibreglass(ing) background which could play into this issue.

Roger

On edit, You should most definitely be using PPE, personal protective equipment on this project. Gloves thin enough to facilitate gripping small or thin items, a dust mask and protective eyewear be they wrap around glasses or goggles with adequate venting to prevent fogging. There is at least one MD on the HDT site I think who could better speak to this.

Mold is bad JUJU as one member said.

Kirk W · June 15, 2015

Any chance you could post some still pictures? It is much easier to examine closely with a single shot.

taketimeforlife · July 8, 2015

With all the 100+ temps we've had over the past 2 weeks it's all dried up pretty well. We plan to begin replacing the board this weekend.

On a side note, I contacted the person that sold me the RV and when we met up I shared the videos with him and he was shocked how bad it was. He apologized and returned $800 of the purchase price to me!

WOW!!!

Kirk W · July 8, 2015

I contacted the person that sold me the RV and when we met up I shared the videos with him and he was shocked how bad it was. He apologized and returned $800 of the purchase price to me!

Now that was an honest and honorable man! Very unusual, especially if he was a stranger to you before the sale.