RV Camping; Tips, tricks & repairs

[spike98]

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Potentially picking ourselves up a wee project trailer

Leaky roof and the seller noticed this year that the floor has started to go a bit soft right where the leak is, but it hasn't spread too far yet

Price is right, half-ton towable and with an engineer and a carpenter in the family, a re-seal on the roof and a bit of floor replacement will be do-able right?

@ExtraSlow old buddy old pal, any good resources you've found over the years of trailering? I'm declaring you the beyond trailer consultant

Given some issues i have had in the past personally and close family friends in the business, unless its free, run. Soft wood will always mean mold and it would be quite likely the damage is worse than suspected. If the leak is from the roof to the floor you are looking at replacement of the section of roof, connecting walls (inner, outer, frame), floor, and then resealing everything.

To put things into perspective, i had a leaking slide repaired under warranty on a 1 year old 5th wheel. Didn't make it to the floor, just into the roof and out of a light fixture inside. Noticed fairly quick so not a significant amount of damage. $10k job.

How about a good friend of mine had a similar issue as you describe. Resealed the roof, changed some carpet, called it good. Swiped a fence post backing into his yard after a trip and the entire back wall disbonded from the trailer and fell to the ground. Total loss on the trailer. Turns out it was leaking for at least a year plus and the damage was so extensive there was zero structural strength to the back half of the unit. It was simply not economical to repair it.

[Brent.ff]

Was going to say, that water got from the roof and into the floor, and likely wasn't just from dripping direct.. You'll be pulling all the walls and likely starting from scratch. We had friends do this with a very old Prowler, and it does look great now, but man they put a lot of work into it. With the price of wood right now, that trailer better be free!

[haggis88]

Thanks for the input fellas

Going to see it in person anyway, and I have done a bit of trailer work before so it doesn't scare me

In normal circumstances labour is usually the killer on jobs like this, but I'm confident we can do 95% of it ourselves. Of course as you say, lumber is a fuck of a price right now but I figure if we can get it stripped down to the frame, identify the leak and get it sealed this summer then everything else can come later

The owner has had this trailer for over 20 years (its a 1997 model and he bought it in 2000) and has assured me the only other issue is that the fridge only works on gas (again fine with me as we're mostly off-grid anyway)

[suntan]

I would never buy a trailer with unrepaired water damage.

[ExtraSlow]

Re-doing the roof is a pain in the dick, but doable for the average dude with some time on his hands. I've never torn apart the interior, but that can be a BIG job.
RV stuff isn't usually complex, but sourcing parts is a big issue. Get to be buddies with someone at Hobo or another parts desk and they can be a good resource. Old Farts RV seems ot be a good online source, but always use your Google-fu to price check everyone.

[spike98]

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Re-doing the roof is a pain in the dick, but doable for the average dude with some time on his hands. I've never torn apart the interior, but that can be a BIG job.
RV stuff isn't usually complex, but sourcing parts is a big issue. Get to be buddies with someone at Hobo or another parts desk and they can be a good resource. Old Farts RV seems ot be a good online source, but always use your Google-fu to price check everyone.

I can add that the repair to my trailer spend 6 months at the dealer waiting for parts half ton apart. If there is aftermarket equivalents (which may be on an old unit) it will be better but OEM parts are facing significant delay because of demand and COVID.

[haggis88]

Well...the floor wasn't actually too bad, was defo leaking down the wall so would have needed stripped back...bunks were already out and laminate lifted and I'd have been cool doing that

But wait...there's more

Axles were rotted out, poked my screwdriver right through both of them and the caulking he'd been doing round the roof vents was fucking terrible lol

Oh yeah, and it needed 4 new tires, which would obviously be the easiest part hahah

[ExtraSlow]

New axles means new brakes and bearings, practically coming out ahead bro!

Taking my trailer to Hobo today to get them to fix my slide. On the way home from the storage yard I had awful instability. Was a little windy, but this felt like the trailer just wouldn't stay behind the truck at all. Been towing for a long time and never felt it like this. Had WD bars hooked up same as normal too. Not sure what the hell is going on. Didn't like it.

[killramos]

Time for a new truck

[ExtraSlow]

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Time for a new truck

I have a better idea.

[Twin_Cam_Turbo]

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New axles means new brakes and bearings, practically coming out ahead bro!

Taking my trailer to Hobo today to get them to fix my slide. On the way home from the storage yard I had awful instability. Was a little windy, but this felt like the trailer just wouldn't stay behind the truck at all. Been towing for a long time and never felt it like this. Had WD bars hooked up same as normal too. Not sure what the hell is going on. Didn't like it.

The wind was very gusty yesterday, even just flat towing my company car I noticed it was less stable than usual.

[killramos]

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I have a better idea.

2 new trucks?

[Tik-Tok]

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2 new trucks?

4 Honda Fits tethered together to pull the trailer, like a sleigh.

[killramos]

This is the way

[ExtraSlow]

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4 Honda Fits tethered together to pull the trailer, like a sleigh.

I like this!

[suntan]

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4 Honda Fits tethered together to pull the trailer, like a sleigh.

Also immediate availability.

[ExtraSlow]

Dropped it off for slide repair.

[Tik-Tok]

These problems would never have started if you didn't talk about selling it.

[ExtraSlow]

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These problems would never have started if you didn't talk about selling it.

Figure it heard me? Does it have an account on beyond? Are you my trailers alt?

[suntan]

BRB going to take ES's trailer.