Forum Discussion
bricetribe
Aug 27, 2013Explorer
Tamnative and AnEv942,
Thanks greatly for the input! Regarding the structure repairs... The event in which the damage occurred was not a catastrophic crash to the ground but more of a gradual slump until the camper settled. All the involved members have been removed and the 1"x2" <1/16" wood cored squared tubing frame members have been replaced with reinforced 1"x2" 1/8" thick square tubing members. The jack mounts are now aluminum 1/4" plates welded to the frame with over twice the contact area instead of 1/16 steel lag bolted to the aluminum/wood frame with little more than 2' of contact. The plates not only support the jacks but also increases the support to the over cab portion of the camper. In the end, I believe that structurally the components repaired will be far superior to the OEM camper components.
The only rot that I found appears to have origionated from leakage around the lag bolts that mounted the jack mount to the side of the camper.
I have not figured out exactly how I'm going to accomplish the cosmetic portion of the repairs and I also am trying to figure out how do deal with insulation since I essentially created a heat sink from the aluminum frame out through the siding to the jack mount.
Thanks for the insight....
Thanks greatly for the input! Regarding the structure repairs... The event in which the damage occurred was not a catastrophic crash to the ground but more of a gradual slump until the camper settled. All the involved members have been removed and the 1"x2" <1/16" wood cored squared tubing frame members have been replaced with reinforced 1"x2" 1/8" thick square tubing members. The jack mounts are now aluminum 1/4" plates welded to the frame with over twice the contact area instead of 1/16 steel lag bolted to the aluminum/wood frame with little more than 2' of contact. The plates not only support the jacks but also increases the support to the over cab portion of the camper. In the end, I believe that structurally the components repaired will be far superior to the OEM camper components.
The only rot that I found appears to have origionated from leakage around the lag bolts that mounted the jack mount to the side of the camper.
I have not figured out exactly how I'm going to accomplish the cosmetic portion of the repairs and I also am trying to figure out how do deal with insulation since I essentially created a heat sink from the aluminum frame out through the siding to the jack mount.
Thanks for the insight....
About Travel Trailer Group
44,025 PostsLatest Activity: Feb 06, 2025