Fiberglass siding question (updated 12-30-15)
Well once again I come to the experts for some insights and advise. Before I start I want to say this question is for specific insights into the problem I'm having. I need specific suggestions for ...
Forum Discussion
Well here’s the update.
History:
As I stated earlier there has never been any damage to this TH and I perform maintenance twice a year. Upon spring’s arrival and at the end of fall (that’s how I discovered this problem).
I did notice during the summer that the interior floor looked like it was sloping downward about ¼”. This was barely noticeable as it was about 1 1/4" inside the door threshold plate but I didn’t think too much of it. Thinking back I recall the door would stick on occasion but not often.
We used the TH during the summer and had it set-up for friends to use as extra housing all season long. The TH was on a paved parking pad and supported with the stabilizer jacks. All was fine during my routine inspections and I found no problems with the roof seams or front/back edge seams.
When I broke down the trailer and moved it to my work area is when I found the front curbside seam split and the side panel bowed outward. Further inspection revealed the edge trim mold sealer was now cracked and the whole front seam pulled outward (as seen in the original photo).
As I looked for additional evidence of what was happening I found the leading edge of the front compartment(under bed)was shifted. The door gap was no longer even between the door and the frame. I now believe all was fine while the TH was supported on the tires and jacks. When I let it down to tow it the weight of the coach settled on the frame and the frame sank and split the seams. Just that damm fast.
Repairs:
I took the advice of the members of this forum and contacted the RV Doctor and spoke with Curtis, as Jim is no longer there. Curtis was very patient, helpful, and answered my questions completely. I was told that this is not a problem with WW trailers only but many brands have the same issues. It’s a design issue and folks should be aware of this and watch carefully for it.
Curtis said that they do these repairs all the time and mentioned they had three trailers in the shop as we spoke.
Impacts:
I don’t want to lock RV Doctor into a price as they haven’t seen my unit yet. However, repair costs are a concern for me since my wife and I are now fully retired and on a fixed income. We travel extensively in this TH and this event could have impacted our lifestyle tremendously.
I believe the folks at RV Doctor have a solution for me and I’ll be moving my unit down there for repairs. If you have a problem or wish to prevent it in the first place I’D call these people and get an estimate for their upgrade.
Thanks again everyone for your help in directing me to a shop and preventing me from attempting this repair on my own.
Hap
History:
As I stated earlier there has never been any damage to this TH and I perform maintenance twice a year. Upon spring’s arrival and at the end of fall (that’s how I discovered this problem).
I did notice during the summer that the interior floor looked like it was sloping downward about ¼”. This was barely noticeable as it was about 1 1/4" inside the door threshold plate but I didn’t think too much of it. Thinking back I recall the door would stick on occasion but not often.
We used the TH during the summer and had it set-up for friends to use as extra housing all season long. The TH was on a paved parking pad and supported with the stabilizer jacks. All was fine during my routine inspections and I found no problems with the roof seams or front/back edge seams.
When I broke down the trailer and moved it to my work area is when I found the front curbside seam split and the side panel bowed outward. Further inspection revealed the edge trim mold sealer was now cracked and the whole front seam pulled outward (as seen in the original photo).
As I looked for additional evidence of what was happening I found the leading edge of the front compartment(under bed)was shifted. The door gap was no longer even between the door and the frame. I now believe all was fine while the TH was supported on the tires and jacks. When I let it down to tow it the weight of the coach settled on the frame and the frame sank and split the seams. Just that damm fast.
Repairs:
I took the advice of the members of this forum and contacted the RV Doctor and spoke with Curtis, as Jim is no longer there. Curtis was very patient, helpful, and answered my questions completely. I was told that this is not a problem with WW trailers only but many brands have the same issues. It’s a design issue and folks should be aware of this and watch carefully for it.
Curtis said that they do these repairs all the time and mentioned they had three trailers in the shop as we spoke.
Impacts:
I don’t want to lock RV Doctor into a price as they haven’t seen my unit yet. However, repair costs are a concern for me since my wife and I are now fully retired and on a fixed income. We travel extensively in this TH and this event could have impacted our lifestyle tremendously.
I believe the folks at RV Doctor have a solution for me and I’ll be moving my unit down there for repairs. If you have a problem or wish to prevent it in the first place I’D call these people and get an estimate for their upgrade.
Thanks again everyone for your help in directing me to a shop and preventing me from attempting this repair on my own.
Hap
