We looked at a fifth wheel yesterday and really like the floor plan. But it has some delamination that makes me think at one point it had a leak. The delimitation is on one section in the back left corner and the ladder on the back wall in that corner seems to be loose. However I see no signs of water penetration inside. No musty smell, no soft walls or floors/roof. The cabinets have a dead spot in the corner of the wall with the delamination. I removed draws and got into the area and it is clean and solid.It's under consignment and I was told that the roof was replaced at some point. It is a 2004 Keystone Challenger. I am a newbie to evaluating these things. Is it possible for a small leak to cause delimitation, the source of the leak be fixed, and everything else be ok in the long run?? I have pictures of the delimitation and a little video of the chaffing that occurs on the roof when I push on it or rub my finger on it. It seems dried out and perhaps needing to be replaced again? We really like the trailer otherwise...30' fifth wheel with good floorpan and a king bed! Thoughts..Link to delaminationVideo of roofPicture of whole roof

The delam I see was most likely caused by a leak around the (scare) light.The loose ladder in the same area around back is not a good sign either...There could be (probably is) significant damage in the wall.And, I don't like what I am seeing in the roof video you posted.My advice is to look elsewhere. There are a bazillion trailers out there for sale. I think you are asking for trouble with this one.

The video removes any doubt. Run away.

gbopp wrote:The video removes any doubt. Run away.X2!

Does this roof need work? | Good Sam Community

20 Replies

frank33v
Explorer
Oct 12, 2016
Bumpyroad wrote:
downtheroad wrote:
Kind of sounds like you have already made up your mind and are wanting others to verify your decision. (I could be wrong).

Anyway, good luck with it all and with your search for an RV.

I don't think that you are wrong,. OP just wants somebody to assure him it is a wonderful buy. then a few years down the road when it junks out, he will have somebody else than himself to blame.

bumpy

How nice of you try to make an assumption on my motivations rather than just try to be constructive. You are completely wrong. I posted more information to try to clarify.

I appreciate all the feedback here. We are not purchasing this camper.
TXiceman
Explorer II
Oct 11, 2016
A delaminated RV is trouble at any price. The repair cost is typically in excess or $7000 per wall.

The delamination is an indication of a problem and there is no way to know the extent of the damage to the wall and even floor structural damage until the wal is pulled apart.

Run man run.

Ken
Bumpyroad
Explorer
Oct 11, 2016
downtheroad wrote:
Kind of sounds like you have already made up your mind and are wanting others to verify your decision. (I could be wrong).

Anyway, good luck with it all and with your search for an RV.

I don't think that you are wrong,. OP just wants somebody to assure him it is a wonderful buy. then a few years down the road when it junks out, he will have somebody else than himself to blame.

bumpy
downtheroad
Explorer
Oct 11, 2016
Kind of sounds like you have already made up your mind and are wanting others to verify your decision. (I could be wrong).

Anyway, good luck with it all and with your search for an RV.
alboy
Explorer
Oct 11, 2016
IF THE UNIT is what you like ,hire a real expert to go over it with you, right from the brakes up to the roof.Then you can Really determine if its really worth the $$ you can get it for.
minnow
Explorer
Oct 11, 2016
You'll need a new roof regardless. What are they asking?
frank33v
Explorer
Oct 11, 2016
minnow wrote:
However you do certainly have rot in the roof as the video showing you pushing on the roofing material with no backing underneath. At the least you'll need a new roof and underlayment.

Just so it's clear I don't think the roof decking has rotted. The roofing material that I pushed on and appears to have no backing is because the edge of the roof is raised higher than the majority of the roof. It has a lip on the edge. Seems like the roofing cover was stretched from the decking up and over the lip at the edge. In the video I am pushing at this gap where the material angles up to the lip. My intention in posting the video was to show how it chaffed when I rubbed my finger on it. I could not press my finger through the roof material despite trying somewhat but it did chaffe the material as you saw which made me think it was dried out and perhaps due for replacement????

I hear all the comments about there being alot of inventory to look at but in my little bit of searching I do not find many under 30-32' trailers or fifth wheels with King beds but will keep looking.
Allworth
Explorer II
Oct 10, 2016
RUN!
Bumpyroad
Explorer
Oct 10, 2016
skip it
bumpy
minnow
Explorer
Oct 10, 2016
We had a 2005 Cougar that had a similar rear wall as the one you are looking at. We had a ripple in the rear wall too. I called Keystone and they said that the rear exterior wall is not glued to the wall supports and is "free floating". Over time, the fiberglass can develop those ripples. So I would not be concerned about the rear wall so much. However you do certainly have rot in the roof as the video showing you pushing on the roofing material with no backing underneath. At the least you'll need a new roof and underlayment. You won't know the extent of the damage until you strip the roof. RV Roof in Florida can install a new lifetime roof for a few thousand dollars. When I was looking at that option, it was around $5 grand for our 28' Cougar. Depending on what you can buy the rig for it might be a consideration. But like someone else posted, there are a lot of preowned RV's for sale.