The camper thread! Pulling, using, equipment, maintenance!
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Hotshot
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 13,484
Likes: 42
From: Stevens Point, WI
The problem is, like ours, is you don't see the leaks. I never once actually saw water in my TT either and thought all was well until one day my wife said the floor on her side of the bed was soft. Not long at all after that I noticed the floor by the door getting soft. At that point it is to late and the soft spots need to be replaced.
Although like I mentioned and I am 99% sure now that the water didn't "leak in" but found its way in threw small holes in the tarp covering the bottom of the trailer while pulling it down the road in wet conditions. These things are slapped together it seems by blind people. The holes in the tarp are mostly from missed staples holding the siding on the bottom edge. the other problem I see and do know about with these type of weaved plastic tarps is after a few years the weave starts to separate a bit and the tarp basically does nothing anymore beside let water in and hold it in.
This is the reason why I would like to coat the underside with something to seal up the tarp better. The problem I see though is not much of anything likes to stick to a plastic tarp material.
is a BAAAD MAN
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,738
Likes: 5
From: Winston Salem NC
Ours was leaking from the bottom somehow, I noticed a bubble in the wallpaper and pushed it with my finger and poked through the wall. Then I went around the whole camper and it was the same way. Soon after the fiberglass started bubbling up here and there and on the way to trade it in the front corner blew loose and insulation went everywhere.
They still took it though. It was a '97 model so I'm sure they make them better now.
They still took it though. It was a '97 model so I'm sure they make them better now.
Bleed Ford Blue
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 13,578
Likes: 157
From: Anchorage Alaska
Mines also a '97, but its spent most of its life parked. it did go through a flood some years back at my uncles place with salt water. Amazingly though the frame, wheel bearings..ect all look good. i do have a soft spot in the floor but i braced it up from the underside with heavy gauge steel angle. I bought it for $1k everything works and it will be fine for the camping trips i have going on…if it fell apart totally in 2 years i would not shed a tear.
is a BAAAD MAN
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,738
Likes: 5
From: Winston Salem NC
Yeah, I bought mine used for $7k in 2002 and traded it in in 2011 for $3500, used the hell out of it so got my moneys worth out of it. Also kept it stored at the beach so I'm sure that didn't help haha.
Thread Starter
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Hotshot
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 13,484
Likes: 42
From: Stevens Point, WI
Ours is a 05 that we scored on for $5500 about 4-5 years ago now. It is in great shape besides the floor sections I replaced. The original tires on it had almost like new thread on them even.
FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 11,273
Likes: 100
From: North Dakota
Got camp setup last night!!
But, I'm going to have to make a guard/skid plate for the black water drain. If I wasn't paying attention I would have ripped it off. Got a little sand on it though.
It pulled nice this trip, even though my second trailer has only about 100 lbs of toung wt.
FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 11,273
Likes: 100
From: North Dakota
You know, I'll have to go outside and look. I know the windows are all white silicone sealed. Better than my old camper.
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Thread Starter
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Hotshot
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 13,484
Likes: 42
From: Stevens Point, WI
Hmm, that is different than mine. Mine looks, feels, and acts like plain plumbers putty. Gray in color, pliable like play doh, all the same symptoms like putty.
I'll try to get some pics later on today when playing with it. Maybe it is just the one lower joint that has the putty and the rest is silicone.
I'll try to get some pics later on today when playing with it. Maybe it is just the one lower joint that has the putty and the rest is silicone.
FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 11,273
Likes: 100
From: North Dakota
My old camper had that putty stuff on all the ends, and windows. I had to go around the windows with silicone to seal it back up. They had leaked and made the walls soft under a couple of them.
Thread Starter
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Hotshot
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 13,484
Likes: 42
From: Stevens Point, WI
That does bring up another question I have with campers. I am positive some makes are better than others. Is there a list of the better built ones? Like this deal with silicone sealant over the putty stuff. I also notice many of the small doors on my camper are sealed with what seems like topper seal, that foam stuff. All another reason I am thinking of getting an airstream or the like and tearing it all down and rebuilding it myself.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2013
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From: NJ pine barrens
That is butyl putty, think they used to use it alot and it is still sold in rv stores.
I pulled it out of my front corners and applied silicone sealant from a home center.
It started seperating after the 1st trip, pulled that and used sealant specifically for rv's.
Much better/stronger product and not too expensive, several trips no peeling or leaking
http://www.campingworld.com/search=sealant
I pulled it out of my front corners and applied silicone sealant from a home center.
It started seperating after the 1st trip, pulled that and used sealant specifically for rv's.
Much better/stronger product and not too expensive, several trips no peeling or leaking
http://www.campingworld.com/search=sealant
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 240
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From: NJ pine barrens
That link I posted is on page 2, look at page 1 also.
And if you like vintage, check out what this guy does...
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/vintage-atv-toyhauler-build-thread.html
And if you like vintage, check out what this guy does...
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/vintage-atv-toyhauler-build-thread.html