Hi Everyone: Maybe some could see this question coming. I am looking at purchasing a 2005 1181 Lance which is clean inside and has a water tight roof but showing some concerns on outside walls. There is a tapered bulge in the lower middle exterior wall of the slide-out about 6" in width and 1 foot high. I estimate it is a good 1/8" in thickness. The present owner for the past 4 years has indicated it has not changed in that time. When applying heavy exterior pressure by hand the bulge feels quite firm - no movement. There is no evidence of deformity on the inside wall of the slide under the table or under the slide. It looks like moisture at one time has been allowed to enter the interior wall along the bottom seam and swelled the plywood and hence been re-sealed. Could this bulge (after 4 years) be considered to be in a stable condition and not get worse? Please see picture.There are other lower seams that need to be re-caulked as soon as possible but they do not appear to show any signs of swelling yet.See picture.Any words of wisdom/caution/experience would be appreciated. I understand the final decision is mine. cheers christlBy tomorrow afternoon any comments won't make any difference.

looks like poor/no maintenance on this unit. is it cheap enough?bumpy

if there's damage in the wall due to a lower seam leak then the floor is bad as well and a good chance for interior mold

Im not so sure that bulge has anything to do with water intrusion. My brand new AF had a few areas near the bottom of the side walls and mine were there since day 1. Mine arent as long as what you are showing, but they are slight bulges. They appear to be where the metal studs are. If you push on them they are solid and tight. If you can do the same thing then possibly they are construction faults and not delamination. Usually with delam the area is soft and can be pushed in.

kerry4951 wrote:Im not so sure that bulge has anything to do with water intrusion. My brand new AF had a few areas near the bottom of the side walls and mine were there since day 1. Mine arent as long as what you are showing, but they are slight bulges. They appear to be where the metal studs are. If you push on them they are solid and tight. If you can do the same thing then possibly they are construction faults and not delamination. Usually with delam the area is soft and can be pushed in.Hi kerry4951: That is an interesting comment. Here is a picture of the underside of the side right below the bulge. The floor does not appear to show any signs of deformation. This may only be due to the material used in the floor of the slide (not affected by moisture)?

Looks okay for a 10+ year old camper

Big Decission Purchase Question | Good Sam Community

kerry4951
Explorer
Aug 13, 2015
nycsteve wrote:
kerry4951 wrote:
Im not so sure that bulge has anything to do with water intrusion. My brand new AF had a few areas near the bottom of the side walls and mine were there since day 1. Mine arent as long as what you are showing, but they are slight bulges. They appear to be where the metal studs are. If you push on them they are solid and tight. If you can do the same thing then possibly they are construction faults and not delamination. Usually with delam the area is soft and can be pushed in.

My 2008 Lance has the same thing. Small bulges there since the stat. They are hard when pushed, don't grow larger and are not from water intrusion.

At the last TC rally that I attended I made it a point to walk around the CG and look at every TC. It was amazing how many I saw that had those bulges somewhere along the side walls. My guess is if you would ask the owners about them, most would say they never noticed them before.
nycsteve
Explorer
Aug 13, 2015
kerry4951 wrote:
Im not so sure that bulge has anything to do with water intrusion. My brand new AF had a few areas near the bottom of the side walls and mine were there since day 1. Mine arent as long as what you are showing, but they are slight bulges. They appear to be where the metal studs are. If you push on them they are solid and tight. If you can do the same thing then possibly they are construction faults and not delamination. Usually with delam the area is soft and can be pushed in.

My 2008 Lance has the same thing. Small bulges there since the stat. They are hard when pushed, don't grow larger and are not from water intrusion.
Bumpyroad
Explorer
Aug 12, 2015
I think it partly depends on how long the OP plans on keeping the rV. if indefinitely, till the wheels fall off, which might be difficult on a TC, that is one thing. but if it is planned to keep it for 2-3 years, a 12/13 year old unit that "looks" abused/damaged? might be a hard sell.
bumpy
Kayteg1
Explorer II
Aug 12, 2015
Metal has condensation on it only when it is exposed to the outside air.
Not a case on the camper internal frame.
Christl
Explorer
Aug 12, 2015
Hi Folks: It is confirmed that Lance began to manufactured there Max Series camper with aluminum framing members in 2005. There has been some talk that these early units had problems with the aluminum framing members sweating during changing temperatures and this could cause moisture problems in the walls. Has anyone heard this? cheers christl
niftypkg
Explorer
Aug 12, 2015
Any thing can be fixed if you pump enough money in it. You May ask how long you plan to keep it. Nothing is forever! Roof leaks kind of get annoying. I think price vs condition vs age are the over riding factors.
Christl
Explorer
Aug 12, 2015
Christl wrote:
kerry4951 wrote:
Im not so sure that bulge has anything to do with water intrusion. My brand new AF had a few areas near the bottom of the side walls and mine were there since day 1. Mine arent as long as what you are showing, but they are slight bulges. They appear to be where the metal studs are. If you push on them they are solid and tight. If you can do the same thing then possibly they are construction faults and not delamination. Usually with delam the area is soft and can be pushed in.

Hi kerry4951: That is an interesting comment. Here is a picture of the underside of the side right below the bulge. The floor does not appear to show any signs of deformation. This may only be due to the material used in the floor of the slide (not affected by moisture)?

Hi kerry4951: Based on your above comment, I pursued it further with the present owner - it has come to light that the present owner bought the used unit from a RV dealer in US in March of 2012 and it had that bulge at that time and there was no mention of moisture damage and no one knows for sure if the original owners didn't get it from the factory like that just as you suggested there is a possibility. Based on there not being any other evidence of moisture damage (the bulge under pressure does not yield) and it does not look like the caulking has been replaced there, I am becoming inclined to believe this. Anything else you may see in the pictures, I would appreciate hearing. cheer christl
Kayteg1
Explorer II
Aug 11, 2015
I bought my Fletwood 10 years old in Michigan where it was stored outside.
I bought it cheap becouse it had roof cut what PO patched with eternabond tape.
Over the time I discovered that small leak on the top, runs down the frame and having no escape stays year around and doesn't take long to make dryrot.
My TC has aluminium frame, what I experienced is pretty minimal but good base for repairs.
With all wood frame the damage can be impossible to asses without opening the panels.
mkasner
Explorer
Aug 11, 2015
Looks okay for a 10+ year old camper
Christl
Explorer
Aug 11, 2015
kerry4951 wrote:
Im not so sure that bulge has anything to do with water intrusion. My brand new AF had a few areas near the bottom of the side walls and mine were there since day 1. Mine arent as long as what you are showing, but they are slight bulges. They appear to be where the metal studs are. If you push on them they are solid and tight. If you can do the same thing then possibly they are construction faults and not delamination. Usually with delam the area is soft and can be pushed in.

Hi kerry4951: That is an interesting comment. Here is a picture of the underside of the side right below the bulge. The floor does not appear to show any signs of deformation. This may only be due to the material used in the floor of the slide (not affected by moisture)?