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Shomemule's avatar
Shomemule
Explorer
Apr 13, 2014

Dealing with rotted studs and flooring

Hi all,
I have an older 1996 vintage travel trailer with a slide ( I just bought it). It has had a leak in the left front corner seam that has pretty much rotted a few feet of the floor and several studs in the front bedroom.
What should I use for floor material? It has particle board but I was thinking of replacing it with plywood.
How do I make up the curve in the front with the studs?
How are the studs attached to the aluminum siding.
The rot is inside the front closet but it seems like the closet is screwed on from the outside in. Any hints on how I deal with that?
All advice is appreciated. I'm pretty handy but maybe I got in over my head here. I do have photos to send to anyone who is interested in helping.
  • I am into a similar project in a fiver. I an replacing the framing with D-Fir studs and particle board flooring, half the price of plywood. Take it back far enough to remove all the rot and start from there.
  • However much time you think it will take to fix, TRIPPLE it!
  • Post pictures. Curves are easy to make. Use a very thin piece of veneer or wood strip, perhaps exoxy it in and use braces until dry. Add another layer glued to the first in held in place by braces. Keep at it a layer at a time. Basically you're building plywood a layer at a time and it's curved.

    Or make paper or cardboard patterns as a guide.
  • Seems you are getting a lot of help.... I can't help, but I have read many posts regarding this type of thing and do know that there are some u-tube videos out there with repair advice. There are probably some old threads, maybe with photos under the Do It Yourself Modifications on the forum.
  • RVs are really made from the inside out. Honestly. So the siding was put on last and is fastened from the outside.

    Repairs are, well, interesting, not fun, time consuming, and well, not fun. I've done two, one for myself, one for a good friend. Neither sounds as bad as yours.
    Personally, if the floor was gone too... I might just forget it.

    I'm going to guess, by your questions, you are not skilled with handy-man work. Because honestly while it's a lot of work, it's not really tough. You may not have the skills needed

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