We Bought a RV Clark!! Oh no! Rebuild thread

Maybe a thought but could you lay the blue foam flat in relation to the inner ceiling panels. Then, fasten the Luan to the exterior roof frame work (with the arch). Drill small holes inside through the blue board and insert a expanding foam straw and squirt it in there effectively eliminating the “gap” as it expands filling the area left above the blue board but below the luan? Just a thought but not sure of its actual outcome.
 
While I was cleaning out and organizing my storage shed and making room for parts and pieces of this rv..Bobby was busy ripping out the back bedroom.
Using what I've learned from the front end room, I already knew the cabinates would need to be removed 1st.
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skyhighZJ said:
Maybe a thought but could you lay the blue foam flat in relation to the inner ceiling panels. Then, fasten the Luan to the exterior roof frame work (with the arch). Drill small holes inside through the blue board and insert a expanding foam straw and squirt it in there effectively eliminating the “gap” as it expands filling the area left above the blue board but below the luan? Just a thought but not sure of its actual outcome.
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I'm worried that expanding foam, if used between the roof and cieling, will cause bulges. I have a plan to add some regular pink insulation to any gaps, as best I can.

The foam fastens/glues to the underside of the roof luan...otherwise it'll be hell to try and hold it up during ceiling install.
 
Dylan W. said:
I'm worried that expanding foam, if used between the roof and cieling, will cause bulges. I have a plan to add some regular pink insulation to any gaps, as best I can.

The foam fastens/glues to the underside of the roof luan...otherwise it'll be hell to try and hold it up during ceiling install.
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Yeah scratch that idea then I thought maybe the blue board sat in/ on the aluminum frame work. Oh well carry on. Your progress is awesome.
 
Before long, Bobby had started tearing out the walls. Yes..its wet back in here. Its all gotta go.
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The window frames are rotted. Still dripping water actually.
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And the wooden corner thingies have surely seen better days. We already replaced these pieces in the front, the back ones are just bigger. Should be easy to replace as long as I can salvage one for a pattern. This might not go well, as I can punch out chunks with my finger tips. Itll probably fall apart when removed.
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nevermind that white plastic in the picture. It's just a piece of wall trim..its covering a good portion of the rotten corner. I'll get a better pic.shortly.
 
This..... This is one of the best parts!
What I am trying to say is......
Ripping old walls out let's you find small villages. This colony has large black ants. I couldnt believe the size of these ants. They were all black and shiny. Glad we found them. A quik spray of Goof off, quickly laid them to waste. I could imagine not finding them, then waking up to them crawling in my ears...damn it man! Sooo glad we found this nest.
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Sheesh man! This makes me scared to buy any RV! Props to you for going this far. I’m sure if I were in your shoes, I’d have cut my loss and struck a match long ago. Then I’d have heard my wife go on and on for the next 5 years about how “I told you so” and how buying it was the worst idea ever!

I still think it’s gonna be awesome for you in the end, and this is a killer thread.
 
77GreenMachine said:
Sheesh man! This makes me scared to buy any RV!

“I told you so” and how buying it was the worst idea ever!
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I was told by a wiseman... well, cant lie.... it was @GotWood he told me just today, that RVs leak the first day out of the factory.
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So if any good comes from this thread, maybe its going to help someone with their decision to buy a rv or not. Or at least teach them what to look for when shopping.
 
My understanding with RVs and campers is if you can visibly see any water damage, even just a little, that means there’s a LOT of water damage. I little leak doesn’t show up until it’s a big problem.
 
shawn said:
Heat strips are little wire elements that heat up when you apply electricity to them. They're resistance heaters. RV heat strips are limited to 1800 watts, which is something like 5500 BTU. RV propane furnaces typically put out something like 15,000 (truck camper) to 30,000 BTU (full size RV).

RV heat pumps are the same as what you might have in your house. They don't work very well below 45F, and need electric heat strips or a furnace to thaw the coil and provide supplemental heat. They suffer from the same wattage limitation that stand-alone heat strips have, so they're usually backed up with a propane furnace.
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Yes I know that, but your earlier comment only mentioned heat strips not the fact that there are heat pump options. I am also well aware of how they function in cold weather both in an RV and a traditional home.
 
I have to add to what others have said, Your tenacity at this project is amazing! If it was me I would have stopped and cut my losses at the first sign of major issues!
So with your newfound knowledge of the RV repair world, how could they possibly make these things better...MUCH better, to last as long as a person would expect them too?
 
R Q said:
I have to add to what others have said, Your tenacity at this project is amazing! If it was me I would have stopped and cut my losses at the first sign of major issues!
So with your newfound knowledge of the RV repair world, how could they possibly make these things better...MUCH better, to last as long as a person would expect them too?
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I think the answer is maintainance on the owners end. I think they build them good enough but I think they flex so much while moving, that different things like running lights, corners, windows, exterior doors, roof vents, a/c...all those places where it has been sealed from the factory....all those places need resealing correctly after so many years.

Or....build everyone of them like a windstream...no wood used in the structure etc...and no windows lol (yes I realize wind streams have windows)
 
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Dylan W. said:
I think the answer is maintainance on the owners end. I think they build them good enough but I think they flex so much while moving, that different things like running lights, corners, windows, exterior doors, roof vents, a/c...all those places where it has been sealed from the factory....all those places need resealing correctly after so many years.

Or....build everyone of them like a windstream...no wood used in the structure etc...and no windows lol (yes I realize wind streams have windows)
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That is right, I always told my customers that they needed to check the roof before going on a trip, after arriving at the campground and then again after getting back home. I always got the question about what the best accessory for their new RV would be and my first answer was always a building or shed to store it in when not in use. The sun and rain 24/7 destroys the rubber roofing and the various sealers used so storing out of the rain and sun saves a ton of wear and tear when its not even being used.
 
Dylan, I have to say this is the most interesting build thread I've seen thus far. You're doing one heck of a job, and I am looking forward to the grand showing of the finished product! Hang in there, and best wishes! And... Brooke better be happy with it! :)
 
Granny said:
Dylan, I have to say this is the most interesting build thread I've seen thus far. You're doing one heck of a job, and I am looking forward to the grand showing of the finished product! Hang in there, and best wishes! And... Brooke better be happy with it! :)
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Thanks Don! I'm sure Brooke will like it!
 
Awesome job! Yes, inside or at least covered storage will make one last a good bit longer. I'm going to have more in my storage building than I have in my camper!
 
josh m said:
View attachment 283929 View attachment 283926 Now I needed to rip my foamboard down some. Ella right by my side.View attachment 283925
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Sure is a shiny new post there in the background.
What's the plan for the roof? I've got a partial roll of white EPDM 90mil "commercial stuff". Can be urine if ya want. You'll have to get glue and figure out the edge trim, but it won't leak.


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nice catch on the new post. :lol:

How long is the partial roll? I need 30 ft.
 
It's 10 wide. I'll have to roll it out and get the length. I'll let you know this week.


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