Started to look into some water damage in the kitchen of our 83 Pace Arrow. The more I looked, the more I found. I have some pics of the damage so far. Anyone interested in following a rebuild thread?

Good evening everyone. Nope, not dead. Sorry for being M.I.A. for a while. It's good to be back. Hope your year is starting off well. I won't bore you with a bunch of B.S. stories. (Baby Sitting). Ah, I'll tell ya, grandkids are great. You can love 'em and send 'em home! Lol.Anyhow, couple of pics coming up.

Well, I must say, what a shock to see the new format. Looks like there are others not very happy either. Look like we just landed on Mars!I wanted to check in, as we are currently in the Poconos in Eastern Pa for this week. I hope to get back to work on the moho next week one day.Then again, I guess it depends on whether anyone can find this thread anymore. I cast one vote for going back to the old format, if this is the only other option.

Here you can see the 2 pieces on the left with the uprights holding the 2 x 3's. This is just a temporary solution as I work on things in the middle of the "living room".

I'm still here, after bumbling around a good while. Not fond of the new format; not near as clean as the previous version. But I will soldier on... Still looking forward to your remodel efforts, fulltimin.

Well, due to technical difficulties, I can't post any pics tonight. I'll try to get things corrected for tomorrow night. Have a great day!

Anyone interested in 83 Pace Arrow Tear down and Rebuild?

8,453 Replies

fulltimin
Nomad
May 19, 2020
Anyhow, back to the shelves. I used my 6' level to straighten out the shelves, since they are currently not fastened to the wall. You can see here that the level and the shelf are aligned well.

After straightening the shelf, I marked a line on the wall, underneath the shelf. I will pull the shelves off, and add a 1/2" or 3/4" square underneath the line, and fasten that to the wall. When I put the shelves back up, I can then fasten the shelves to the square wood to keep the shelf level, and help support the weight of any items we put on the shelves.

The red square indicates where the extra wood will go to support the entire length of the shelf from side to side.

Between the brace at the back, and the face frame on the front, that should keep the shelves nice and flat.
fulltimin
Nomad
May 19, 2020
Wound up working on the PT today instead of the motor home. What happened, COULD have happened to an rv, so I am going to post what I did to repair it.

Calm down, it's a short post.

Came home and a bunch of steam was escaping from under the hood, as well as a stream of water running down the driveway.

Turns out, there is a tube running from the front of the engine to the heater core, and it had a hole in it. Obviously, when the engine is up to normal temp, and the cooling system under pressure, a small hole can blow a lot of water out.

What to do? Cut the pipe in half.

Add some heater hose and a few clamps, and it's not leaking any longer. Wahoo!

Turns out, that pipe is one of a pair going to and coming from the heater core. Rock Auto has a replacement for about $75.00, and our local NAPA dealer has one for $150.00.

I didn't know that until I was done. That may end up being a permanent repair.
fulltimin
Nomad
May 19, 2020
Bruce Brown wrote:

Why not work from the roof?

I've done (2) roofs recently. Take the material and lay it out over the roof. Once you're satisfied with where it's at roll it up to one end. Next put your glue in a paint tray and roll it on a section at a time, unrolling the TPO on to the glued section as you go. I normally do 4-5 feet at a time. Use a floor squeegee or broom to work any bubbles out as you go. It really isn't a bad job. The first one I did I was thinking I'd need help. When I was ready to do it no one was around so I figured I'd get started. Easy job. When I did the second one I didn't want anyone around.

On the glue, check with your local roofing supply house or RV dealer. When I was looking I found the glue was cheap enough, the freight wasn't. My local RV dealer buys it in buckets - they were happy to sell me a few gallons.

I'll call the outfit I got the TPO from. I am not sure, but I think the TPO adhesive for this, MAY be a contact adhesive. If it is, that may be a little of an issue for me.

Since the roof is curved, I am not sure I can roll this out, from front to rear, without inducing wrinkles. If it's not contact adhesive, and I only have to roll it on the roof, that would make things a lot easier.

Either way, I would think it would be easier to avoid wrinkles starting in the center of the roof, side to side, and rolling out towards the edges. Then again, since I haven't done this yet, I could be wrong.

I am also dealing with a much heavier TPO than is typically used on an rv, so that may help things go better, or worse.

Can you tell, I really don't know?
Bruce_Brown
Moderator
May 19, 2020
fulltimin wrote:
Brob wrote:
Do you have a plan on when you may have the opportunity to permanently install the TPO roof?

Any more thoughts on using it for the siding?

Sorry, I didn't see your post last night. I went to bed early.

As far as gluing it down, I need to figure out how to get up to the correct height, so I can apply the glue, and still be able to manipulate the TPO without putting air bubbles in it. My truck bed is about 3' off the ground, but I still need some additional height, and trying to use a ladder just isn't going to cut it.

Some scaffolding would probably be a great addition, but I'll need it to be 20 feet long, (truck bed is 16'), and I suppose work from one side, and then the other.

I still need to purchase the glue for the TPO.

Why not work from the roof?

I've done (2) roofs recently. Take the material and lay it out over the roof. Once you're satisfied with where it's at roll it up to one end. Next put your glue in a paint tray and roll it on a section at a time, unrolling the TPO on to the glued section as you go. I normally do 4-5 feet at a time. Use a floor squeegee or broom to work any bubbles out as you go. It really isn't a bad job. The first one I did I was thinking I'd need help. When I was ready to do it no one was around so I figured I'd get started. Easy job. When I did the second one I didn't want anyone around.

On the glue, check with your local roofing supply house or RV dealer. When I was looking I found the glue was cheap enough, the freight wasn't. My local RV dealer buys it in buckets - they were happy to sell me a few gallons.
fulltimin
Nomad
May 18, 2020
Old Islander wrote:
The thing I'd worry about with TPO on the sides is gravity. On the roof, gravity is continuously working for you. On the sides, it is working against you 24/7/352. On the roof or on the sides, there will be occasional 60+ MPH headwinds, when driving. You would have to have a good deal of faith in the glue on the sides, never to fail during the life of the application. For that reason, I might be inclined to favour something with fasteners.

Actually, I did see that Carlisle (manufacturer of the TPO I have), does make an adhesive for vertical installation, instead of the normal flat, horizontal installation.

Obviously, I would not be the first one to do that.

I'll have to look a little closer into that before making a decision.
fulltimin
Nomad
May 18, 2020
Bill1374 wrote:
Would you consider laying up the sides with fiberglass as you would a boat? That would give you a solid exterior wall that you could finish either with gelcoat (costly) or automotive paint.

I had thought of that. I need to figure out what it'll cost me in components. I haven't done that yet.

Paint would be a welcome look instead of just plain old white or off white colors.

Thanks.
fulltimin
Nomad
May 18, 2020
JoeH wrote:
Speaking of adhesives, check out 3M 5200 adhesive... great stuff, but pricey, might get a deal by buying in quantity.

I've heard of that before, but haven't checked it out with any serious intent up until now. I'll have to take a look. Thanks.
Brob
Explorer
May 18, 2020
Old Islander wrote:
fulltimin wrote:
mike brez wrote:
Old Islander wrote:
The thing I'd worry about with TPO on the sides is gravity. On the roof, gravity is continuously working for you. On the sides, it is working against you 24/7/352. On the roof or on the sides, there will be occasional 60+ MPH headwinds, when driving. You would have to have a good deal of faith in the glue on the sides, never to fail during the life of the application. For that reason, I might be inclined to favour something with fasteners.

352:)

LOL ?? I thought you were giving a shout out to Gainesville, FL.

Who makes that? Assuming it's a form of adhesive of some sort.

It was a brain-fart... which I seem to have more and more of these days. I meant 24/7/365 -- 24 hrs per day per week per year... It might have made more sense to say 'continuously'... :E
Bill1374
Explorer
May 18, 2020
Would you consider laying up the sides with fiberglass as you would a boat? That would give you a solid exterior wall that you could finish either with gelcoat (costly) or automotive paint.
JoeH
Explorer III
May 18, 2020
Speaking of adhesives, check out 3M 5200 adhesive... great stuff, but pricey, might get a deal by buying in quantity.

Forum Discussion

Anyone interested in 83 Pace Arrow Tear down and Rebuild?

8,453 Replies

About Motorhome Group

Related Content

Anyone from Mexico?

EFB camper batteries -- has anyone used them?

Interesting vehicle

1972 Amerigo Camper Rebuild

Lost the old rig time to rebuild