s//m-cinco wrote:
Subscribed.
I have an '05 10-2RR that I purchased used in 2012. It is really starting to show it's design limitations. The camper has sagged towards the rear passenger corner, and on my flatbed it really became evident through buckling of fiberglass on the genset cabinet. The rear driver's side underhang around the rear tie-down also delaminated (both tie-downs on the driver's side have always been stressed, regardless of using the NL-recommended fast guns or happijac tie-downs). The camper has never been off road to my knowledge.
I also have the same bulge by the water fill, ostensibly from the PO installing a heavy custom memory foam mattress and also two 100W PV panels glued to the front roof (shouldn't make a difference in a well built camper IMO).
I was planning on selling the camper until I discovered all of these defects but now have decided to keep it so as to not stick someone else with it (I got what seemed to be a great deal, no wonder why). So I need to come up with what I'm hopeful is a permanent solution so I can use this camper in baja on rough roads without coming back with a slumped mess of fiberglass shards.
What I have been thinking of is drilling through the glass in the offending areas and then vacuum infusing epoxy, with many layers of fiberglass over the area to stiffen it. I fear that epoxy (or anything) bonding to the foam substrate will be suspect, I hope that if I make the outer shell stiff enough with layers of fiberglass that it might be able to better distribute the load. Reinforcing the basement area to solve the sag might be a bit more straight forward but I haven't given that much thought yet.
Any thoughts?
Love the effort put into this post. Describes my experience to a 'T'.
Had to reinforce all my basement sides especially nearest the Gen box. Sides were crushing and no moisture issues either. I laminated 5 ply 1/2'' plywood to the basement sides while camper sat straight on it's jacks (Not in the squished or crushed position). Set it back on the truck a the problem is about 90% gone.
I respect your character immensely and agree completely when you say You don't want to sell these problems to someone else. That's in my gut as well.
You and me need to meet up over a campfire someday soon if possible.
HMS BEAGLE, you have an excellent grasp on the subject of fiberglass construction. I used to own a solid fiberglass boat without the new 'hamburger helper'(term coined by Yacht Survey.com) foam cores being used today.
