Camper Rehab

Just saw this thread. Congrats on a huge job well done.

Just an update I have everything back together and have fixed just about everything I have found rotten so far.

Got a question, I have some holes in the aluminum siding from staples poking through, what is the best way to seal them?

My thought process on this rebuild was to keep roof penetrations down to a minimum. I wanted to get rid of that skylight in the bathroom but that got overruled by the wife, all in the name of saving energy. I deleted the radio antenna hole and mount. I can see that ladder causing an issue down the road, just not sure the best way to tackle it.

If you don't want the roof rails don't bother with them. I suspect they were there more for show than anything else, since you have a lot of things on the roof that would make ratchet-strapping things to those roof rails difficult. They certainly won't have been added to give any extra structural rigidity to the roof.

I would want the top of that ladder screwed down, but that would mean screwing it through your roof membrane and every time you do that you introduce more options for leaks. That is magnified if you use the ladder since each time you pull on it you will be putting strain on the screws and any sealant there. One of the leaks I had in the rear of my Shadow Cruiser was due to an awning that was attached to a rail screwed to the back wall. The weight of the awning bouncing up and down resulted in a gap around one of the screws securing the rail allowing water to penetrate.

Steve.

2 Questions:
1. Do I really need to put these bars back down on the roof?



2. How is the ladder attached? It is sitting a couple inches above the roof, it was that way before I pulled the old roof off, it almost looks like it came that way from the factory.



Thanks.

Forgot to add that before I put the roof down I put a strip of Etrnabond tape across the back seam to help bridge the gap.

Finally was able to recruit a helping hand this past weekend to help put the roof down, for sure not a 1 person job! Got the EPDM roof down with little to no problems, it is all glued and stapled on the edges, just waiting for my amazon order to get here with some supplies so I can put up the trim rails and get my AC installed once the gasket gets here. I must say that self leveling Dicor is some interesting stuff to watch it smooth itself out like that.

Roof down:


Escape hatch in:

Johnnybgood wrote:
I plan to use Al's bed liner with their heat noise reducer as an undercoat if I ever have to redo my roof.

Al's Liner is some good stuff. I did my utility trailer floor with it. Bought it here

I love to see someone take on a challenge and see it through. It looks like you are well on your way to success. Can not wait to see the finished camper. By the way, I love the Shadow Cruiser. Very stylish, especially the wings in the back.

Ya.. how about a hardwood 2x2 or 2x3 under the seam. If attached the length of the one cabinet end wall would cut the span back down. You'd have to butt to the other wall but could put a small trim block on wall to hold up.


Id probably glue to ceiling also but either way would minmize downward movment of just one side of the seam verse the other (and support at back of the vent).

Being careful when up there, could wait till done- me Id be cracking the roof. Id still put a temporary 2x4 with a block or piece of ply under seam/vent until done. I just saw it..seems you have too.

Im sure it was a lot stronger when new & one contiguous piece but still suprised your camper came with a ladder:).

I dont believe glue will react oddly with the seam tape-it may not want to dry so on it I would tend to use a bit less glue.

Only other suggestion is on the front older ply may be same issue, glue slow to dry as its already semi sealed from old glue? When you start putting stuff together especialy ac, vents etc, where your on your knees & toes is using some clean cardboard or foam on roof to help keep from compressing spots. I know i got on mine a bit too soon and left foot prints, one area the rubber was slipping and bunched where my boot toes were digging. It takes it a while to actually cure.