The Good.
The Bad.
The Ugly!
Today we begin work on repairing the left-rear gash, because we have already unzipped this side of the trailer.
A great deal of today's work deals with fixing a previous owner's fix. Now I don't hold repairs against anybody; I think it's better to have tried and failed than to have never succeeded at all. Wait, I think I messed that up. Let's see.
It's better to try, try again, than to live with one of the ugliest repairs I have ever seen! That's it!
Seriously, when you don't know what to do, don't ask the motor vehicle division.
When we bought the trailer it was licensed. We got a bill of sale, paid the money, then towed it home. I told the PO I could destroy the old plate if he wanted, but he wanted it brought back in a few hours - when we were scheduled to pick up the title. He said, "I do stuff with old license plates".
Dear PO. If you ever come across this post, please forgive me. We've all made repairs that we later learn might have been just a bit questionable. Why I remember that one electrical box in a basement remodel where I.... neva-mind.
The PO told me that at some point in the past, the "tractor bucket" hit the camper, causing the gash. He also said he didn't know what to do to fix it, so he used "liquid nails".
I didn't know what I would find, but it was easier to fix it now, while I had to lift the sidewall siding to get to the wheel well area for framing anyway. Additionally, the interior behind here was cracked and damaged and needed attention before "happy campers" could enjoyably lean back against this arguably "worst comfy spot" in the camper.
Okay, so look at this photo; I had just started lifting the siding staples.
Here you see where they are out and the back wall siding edge bent back out of the way a bit.
Remember, if you have to see the framing, pull the trim (it probably needs new butyl anyway - careful, don't let it get all bent, and straighten it before removing the screws too), gently lift the staples and remove them, being careful with your metal edge so as not to damage it.
After carefully scraping for what seemed like weeks, with my steel scraper (oh what am I gonna do when this one breaks?!), I revealed this.
That's nine (count them) nine pop-rivets and nine screws! Three of the screws wouldn't back out, as they had difficulty finding purchase in the stale air they were screwed into.
Here at the rear, I pulled fasteners up to about this level.
And the sky darkened. It wasn't supposed to rain today!
Up front you can see I peeled back much less. Just enough to see things are looking pretty good! Yes, that's a split.
You'll see more of those. Yes there are staple and screw holes. I think we'll work with those. The trim screws had pretty darn good bite in these areas, and you can always get that one size larger or longer screw in problem areas. Much faster and easier than a complete removal and rebuild with new materials.
And really, much of this old wood is pretty darn good quality, compared to a lot of what today's trailers are made of. Fiberglass doesn't rot, but when you put a door "hold open" screwed into fiberglass panels in a door, and in the trailer wall, without pre-drilling even, you make a mess, brand new, 2013 Komfort 2410RK - FAIL!
Oh don't get me started. Someday I'll post the kitchen repairs, friggin' vinyl tape for a countertop surface, 1/2" gaps in flushing a range install - okay just breath! Oooooooom.
Here's looking back from the front corner.
And here's where I'll be "connecting in" to the wheel well rotted repair. This is at the wheel well looking forward.
And at the rear corner looking forward.
So let's get back to this. (Cue "The Ugly" music).
Again, for a "weather opening" into the framing, this is looking pretty sweet!
But what's that on the backside of the siding?
I made my plan and grabbed the oscillating tool (like a power door jamb saw) and cut out all of the wood that didn't look like my new plan. It revealed a pretty cool build design. What do they call this sort of joint? Not a dado, but a lap joint maybe?
And it was glued, at the corner.
Looking down.
Looking up.
And on the inside is the paneling crack, which really needs backing support for a good repair.
Oh, notice that drawer bottom (hardboard) for the slide-out bed parts? The 1x2s alternate (this sliding piece and the non-sliding other part - the built-in section) so the hardboard is wavy. The sliding part is shown upside down.
What the?
Does stuff with license plates. :S
Yeah. It was covered. That was pretty hard to get the plate off the siding. I tried many things and found a propane torch heated steel scraper blade to cut best. Sheesh!
First thing I wanted to do is stop the tear from continuing, especially since I'm manipulating this area as I lift the siding away from the framing.
So I drilled a "stop hole" and tore the metal another little fraction into it.
Still have to be careful, but this helps a lot!
Now I'll go make my repair board. I put the scaffolding up against the loose siding overnight to keep the wind from trying to turn the camper into a sailboat.
