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RamblinAnne's avatar
RamblinAnne
Explorer
May 21, 2018

Bowing/Buldging Walls

I'm noticing some bowing of the walls inside my Bigfoot. I spent Dec-Mar living in the camper while it was off the truck and never had this issue (though I did notice some gaps where the floor meets the walls). Now the camper is primarily in the bed of my truck and I rarely put the jacks down. Since it's been in the truck, I notice this issue of the bowing walls. (But the gap issue has gone away). I did a search on the issue and it said it could be delamination due to moisture getting in. It's true that one wall is near a window and another is in the bathroom. But I am super diligent about checking for leaks on a very regular basis and I don't think I have any water coming in. What is the problem and how do I fix this? Is it just normal compression of being in the truck bed?

One thought, particularly in regard to the bathroom wall, is that I removed the sink, installed new flooring, and reinstalled the sink in the same place. I'm wondering if the small shift in flooring could be pushing up on the sink (the more noticeable buldge). But that doesn't explain the spacing by the dinette.. at least I don't think.. unless it's all kind of shifting due to this sink placement.

Any input would be greatly appreciated!



28 Replies

  • When it was off the truck was it sitting on just the jacks? Was there any other support under the floor? Cinder blocks, 4x4 lumber, etc.?

    Sounds like it may be just twisting.
  • This would make sense. I really do notice a good deal of things shifting depending on whether the camper is on or off the truck... even the angle at which I'm parked. Sometimes if I don't level out, things seem noticeably out of place.

    Think it's something to worry about? I want to intall some shiplap in this dinette area and I'm worried all this flexing will be a nightmare with an upgrade like that. Hmmm...
  • I have a friend with a 2003 Bigfoot in which he has extensively traveled and he has notice a very similar, maybe identical, problem with his camper.

    He believes that there is an internal frame failure that allows the entire camper to flex.

    I one had a 2005 Eagle Cap camper and noted the same problem - an internal wall would separate (bow) when the camper was off-truck and on jacks. I'm pretty sure that the bowing has to do with frame flex.
  • Well I don't want to say it's impossible but I have looked in the wall and don't see any moisture in there. The windows never fog up in there. Sometimes they do in the bed area when my windows are closed but never the bathroom. I've never experienced a true winter while living in here so I don't struggle with condensation issues like a lot of fulltimers do, as I am heat seeking and go south in the winters.

    Yes! The flooring does go under the sink and it is quite thick. I was almost sure that was the issue but now that I am seeing a similar issue beginning to develop on the wall where the dinette booth meets the "exterior" wall, I'm wondering if it's a bigger problem. Better picture below of where this is happening.

  • How thick is the new flooring? Does it go under the sink? Looking at the first photo it seems if the sink is slightly higher due to thicker flooring AND the bulging section sits on the sink that it could cause what you are seeing. The sink would be "pushing up" on the bottom of the panel causing the bowing.
  • Kind of curious Anne, when I had my Lance and used it on snowmachine trips, condensation was always an issue. One time I had ice on the inside walls...

    Can you pull the buckled part away enough to see behind it to see if there is an obvious reason for it to pull away?
  • Always kept it vented! Either the truck cab window or the fantastic fans. Usually both unless really cold. But yes it's true that condensation is a major issue in truck campers. Especially in the bed area. But this is happening towards the back in the bathroom. I haven't closed that vent in months. Never had any moisture issues in there. I rarely use the shower so never any steam in there.
  • Anne..

    When you lived in it did you keep it ventilated inside or was it closed up? reason I ask is because a person aspirates moisture all the time and living in a TC and cooking/showering, creates a lot of moisture and that could be why you have a buckling issue.