2000 Coachmen Santara 311SB class C MH on a Ford F-450 chassis. This coach has a double bed in the cabover. We had significant water penetration over the winter which rotted the wood under the bed. I've replaced and repaired most of the cabover bottom and all the way up to the cabover lights. The final damage to repair is the headliner over the drivers and passenger seats. This runs from the top of the windshield along the top of the drivers and passenger doors. It was made from thick non-corrugated cardboard panel, covered with vinyl. Along the leading edge across the top of the windshield was a plastic wire wrap. The cardboard got soaked on the passenger side and has crumbled. MDW was able to wash the vinyl and foam for reuse.It was held up by the sun visors and a button over the drivers and passenger windows. The vinyl was stretched up and stapled to the cutout in the cabover roof. I have not been able to locate cardboard like this locally. My first attempt was to make a piece out of 1/8 luan plywood but it was too rigid to bend. I then tried 1/8 masonite but it cracked instead of bending. I then tried 1/8 FRP (fiberglass reinforced panel) from Home Depot. I have covered it and installed it but am not happy with the results. The FRP is still too stiff. I ended up with too many waves and wrinkles. Looking for ideas and alternatives. I have more vinyl that matches so can use a new piece if needed.

Would a new headliner be available from Ford?

tenbear wrote:Would a new headliner be available from Ford? Haven't checked for a new one but did look for used one. Not much available. I'm going to want to cover in in vinyl so it matches the rest of the front.

how about just using FOAM? Get the thickness and size you need cut to shape just like they do in the auto shows on tv. You will just have to glue to the cab and all should be well as it will form just like you want and best of all it will add some noise insulation. Just a thought

You might want to contact a GOOD upholstery shop. They may be able to get you what you need. As a thanks, you might want to let them do the reupholster. It shouldn't cost very much, especially if you do the reinstall.

Have you tried a good art supply / framing store. You can buy pretty long mat board.

Replace/repair headliner (under cab-over) help/ideas???

Wiz
Explorer
Jul 07, 2013
tboss wrote:
I had to replace mine when I rebuilt the cab over,,It's not to bad of a job ,the secret is to start with a new piece of stiff card board which I bought from home depot. it abt 1/8 of an inch thick...
How long ago did you get the cardboard? I haven't been able to locate anything like that at home depot or anywhere else.
tenbear
Explorer
Jul 06, 2013
Wiz wrote:
Tenbear, that looks like a factory fit. I'll bet they ordered the cutaway with a headliner. I like the fence idea.

I think you are right. I believe it is Chevrolet, not Four Winds. I know the visors are Chevy.
tboss
Explorer
Jul 06, 2013
I had to replace mine when I rebuilt the cab over,,It's not to bad of a job ,the secret is to start with a new piece of stiff card board which I bought from home depot. it abt 1/8 of an inch thick. lay the old one down on the new mat. and tracr around it ..use a new balde in your razor knife and trim it out .line up the center overhead courtesy lite and start attaching the vynil to the new mat with a stainless staple. tnhe staple will not go all the way thru if the sponge is still in good shape. use the old board to line it up if it is still in have way decent shape..to install it line it up with the center roof of the cab and install the visors first.. it takes 8 men and a boy scout to complete this job but I did it by myself and it is very time consuming and you will get very frustrated before its all over ..Take your time and if you can get some one to help you it will go a lot eaiser. the card board will have to bend to a lot of different shapes but it will if you work it. Someone mentionee using 1/4 in luan but it will not bend in all the shapes it takes to install it around the window.
Wiz
Explorer
Jul 06, 2013
Tenbear, that looks like a factory fit. I'll bet they ordered the cutaway with a headliner. I like the fence idea.
Wiz
Explorer
Jul 06, 2013
SkiMore wrote:

You could glue the vinyl to the plastic. Look at 3M 77 spray adhesive. I think it would attach vinyl to plastic. It is a bit of a mess to use, do it outside.

I wasn't suggesting shag carpet. I'm thinking there must be something similar to thin carpet. Maybe something car stereo people use to cover custom speakers.

I should have realized that. Had regular carpet on the mind because we replaced the flooring the entire RV last summer. We put back carpet in the bedroom, and tile everywhere else. We ran out of time so didn't finish the cab area till this spring.
SkiMore
Explorer
Jul 06, 2013
Wiz wrote:
No the DW would never go for carpet. That would be a lot like the custom vans popular in the 80's. The area is pretty bumpy anyway, there is a ridge that goes across that I assume is for reinforcement. Bending plastic is a good idea I hadn't thought of, but not sure how I would attach the vinyl to it. Perhaps using a strip of wood as I mentioned in a previous post.

You could glue the vinyl to the plastic. Look at 3M 77 spray adhesive. I think it would attach vinyl to plastic. It is a bit of a mess to use, do it outside.

I wasn't suggesting shag carpet. I'm thinking there must be something similar to thin carpet. Maybe something car stereo people use to cover custom speakers.
tenbear
Explorer
Jul 06, 2013
Hi Wiz, Here are a couple of photos of the headliner in my Chevy based Four Winds. Not the same as your Ford but may be of some use as something different.

First the view of the front. I couldn't get far enough away to show the whole thing. The little fence above is for the area converted to a storage area.

Here is the passenger's side.

Hope these help. Let me know if you would like any more details.
Wiz
Explorer
Jul 06, 2013
If anyone has pictures of their headliner treatment (and knows how to post it) please add to the thread. It would be interesting to see how other manufacturers do it. I've looked on ebay but it's amazing how many people put up a used RV with only one picture of the outside and expect to sell it. :)
Wiz
Explorer
Jul 06, 2013
SkiMore wrote:
You can also get thin plastic and use a heat gun to make it soft and bendable.

I'm guessing gluing carpet to the top is out.
No the DW would never go for carpet. That would be a lot like the custom vans popular in the 80's. The area is pretty bumpy anyway, there is a ridge that goes across that I assume is for reinforcement. Bending plastic is a good idea I hadn't thought of, but not sure how I would attach the vinyl to it. Perhaps using a strip of wood as I mentioned in a previous post.
SkiMore
Explorer
Jul 06, 2013
You can also get thin plastic and use a heat gun to make it soft and bendable.

I'm guessing gluing carpet to the top is out.

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Replace/repair headliner (under cab-over) help/ideas???

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