Camper shell water damage.

[76Kroh]

So I pulled off the 70s wood paneling, one because it was ugly, and two because I knew there was some old water damage. Now, I have some rotten wood fame parts to replace, any advice on how to go about it before I replace the insulation and paneling?


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[Canonman67]

I haven't done it but I've been looking at some older travel trailers that need some work and have done a bit of research. Here's a couple links I found. http://www.thedoityourselfworld.com/How ... -Or-Rv.php http://www.doityourselfrv.com/replace-r ... l-trailer/ Hope something here helps.

[1972hiboy]

I wouldnt be too worried about this one. Its not that bad and honestly, this shell is easy. Kep in mind its just a wood box. They probably stapled the runners together. When I re-boxed my overhead bed area in my camper, I cut sheet metal braces out with my shears and used screws to really brace everything up and hold it together. With any camper or shell you have two ways really of replacing the rotten wood. cut the rot out and graft on cut to match pieces or remove completely and replace with new piece. If you want some pictures for reference I can email you a bunch of pictures I took during my cabover camper re-build.

[76Kroh]

I wouldnt be too worried about this one. Its not that bad and honestly, this shell is easy. Kep in mind its just a wood box. They probably stapled the runners together. When I re-boxed my overhead bed area in my camper, I cut sheet metal braces out with my shears and used screws to really brace everything up and hold it together. With any camper or shell you have two ways really of replacing the rotten wood. cut the rot out and graft on cut to match pieces or remove completely and replace with new piece. If you want some pictures for reference I can email you a bunch of pictures I took during my cabover camper re-build.

Heck yes I would like to see those pictures. The more information I can gather the better. Never done any repair work like this before. My email is 76Kroh@gmail.com

Thanks in advance for the help.
Stacy

[76Kroh]

I haven't done it but I've been looking at some older travel trailers that need some work and have done a bit of research. Here's a couple links I found. http://www.thedoityourselfworld.com/How ... -Or-Rv.php http://www.doityourselfrv.com/replace-r ... l-trailer/ Hope something here helps.

Thanks! I have seen the first one, but not the second.

[1972hiboy]

Stacey, I send you a three part email, First one with alot of description the other two were just picutres. lemme know if you got them or not.

Rich

[76Kroh]

Stacey, I send you a three part email, First one with alot of description the other two were just picutres. lemme know if you got them or not.

Rich

Yes, I did get them and your email helped me a lot! After reading it and I went out and took a look at the Shell closely and that definitely changed my game plan. I'm just going to graph in a few pieces and just glue those to the skin in the areas it was stapled instead of pulling apart the skin. Thank God it is just minor damage and I I really have to do is graph in a few pieces. Thanks a lot for the email and help Rich. I will post pictures when I get it done.

[1972hiboy]

Luckily looking at your pictures, the water damage is at the bottom. you can undo those staples and just replace that whole board that run front to back then screw or staple the aluminum back to it. the verticals you can graph sections of what you need. Then its just insulating and screwing your veneer to the walls and trimming and your done. It will be a heck of alot faster and easier than my camper was. The area I had to ductape actually split open in the middle of the night. the front wall with the escape hatch in it fractured when I rolled over in bed at 3am and the whole front opened up. I made a important discovery that night, I dont fit on the dinette bed. post up more pictures,
Too bad your werent closer id give you a hand with this. Little shell project like this would be alot of fun. it will turn out great. Dont be afraid to ask questions either.

[76Kroh]

Luckily looking at your pictures, the water damage is at the bottom. you can undo those staples and just replace that whole board that run front to back then screw or staple the aluminum back to it. the verticals you can graph sections of what you need. Then its just insulating and screwing your veneer to the walls and trimming and your done. It will be a heck of alot faster and easier than my camper was. The area I had to ductape actually split open in the middle of the night. the front wall with the escape hatch in it fractured when I rolled over in bed at 3am and the whole front opened up. I made a important discovery that night, I dont fit on the dinette bed. post up more pictures,
Too bad your werent closer id give you a hand with this. Little shell project like this would be alot of fun. it will turn out great. Dont be afraid to ask questions either.

I won't, I will ask if I get stuck! Which is a good possibility . I'll be sure to post pictures when I'm done and during.

[Ranchero50]

Also, be gentle with the skins. If there is a tight bend on the bottom, don't straighten it out completely. Just work the material loose enough to get the old wood out. Might also be worthwhile to cut part way through the rotten stuff and pop it out vs. peel the skins away.

What are you going to redo the interior panels with? I'm partial to red oak stained beadboard.

[76Kroh]

Also, be gentle with the skins. If there is a tight bend on the bottom, don't straighten it out completely. Just work the material loose enough to get the old wood out. Might also be worthwhile to cut part way through the rotten stuff and pop it out vs. peel the skins away.

What are you going to redo the interior panels with? I'm partial to red oak stained beadboard.

Just going with a lot lighter color board to lighten up from that depressing dark brown .