Just a little write up to follow up this project and add to the knowledge.
Discoveries:
The flimsy panel that seemed like cardboard on the bottom of the Arctic Fox is actually door skin plywood. Decent, except the non-washered screws had pulled through it in several places. I used big fender washers on the reinstall and it's now great.
The damage I did was pretty severe. Glad the water tank started leaking to alert me to the problem!
Upon crushing part of my passenger side (USA) wheel well, the right wall of the basement of the TC was pulled WAY out of line. It severed the majority of screws that hold the transverse aluminum beams to the wooden runners that go down the length of the TC in the basement. I had almost nothing left holding the basement together! It's a lucky thing the tank leaked because I don't think what was left would have held a full tank of water from falling out of the TC once I took it off the bed of the truck.
The tank was moved around from being loose. From all the transverse aluminum beams being loose. It put pressure on the fresh water pickup and caused it to leak.
The fixes:
Squeezed the sides of the TC basement in so they were again parallel. Screwed the aluminum cross beams to the side runners that run the long way on the TC.
Repositioned tanks and chocks that hold the tanks so there were no pinch points or anything funny going on and so that the tanks were no longer able to move around.
Re-fitted the fresh water tank pickup and used plenty of thread sealant. No leaks. Tank wasn't burst. Tank was leaking because there was pressure on the pickup.
Used large fender washers to keep the doorskin plywood bottom in place better than factory did it.
Results:
Everything is good! Back to normal.
Now I just have to find a place to get the Torklift tie downs on the truck frame fixed. They are pulled up a bit, top bolt that goes into the bed of the truck is sheared and gone. They are bent, but no big deal. Easy to bend back and attach again with help. Just don't have the tools to remove them from the truck. Traveling by truck camper. lol.
If anyone ever needs to know anything about what's inside the basement of an Arctic Fox TC, hit me up. I can guide you through whatever.
Overall, there is nothing scary to worry about and getting the doorskin panel back in place is a pice of cake... 1) Put it in place on the ground with insulation. 2) Get under it on one side of it and start screwing it into place. 3) Use your knees to hold it at a reasonable curve as you screw in the rows of screws, working your way to the other end you didn't start from. Zero hassle.
PS: Microwave was giving off burning wire smells after years of use and bouncing around. Replaced it with a fresh, stylish LG model while I'm here. Ready for years of travel now!!
