Hi there, This is my first post on this forum, I own a 2006 24ft Kingsport camper. As you can see in the picture I have a little issue. There is this weird little bulge in the wall I just noticed. I am a newer camper owner and have not seen damage like this before. I am worried that it could be water related, since it is right by a window.Here is a pictureMy other theory is better than water damage, last week my little niece and nephew were playing up on the rear bunk where the damage is located. I don't know, but maybe they pulled on the blind cover and caused the interior wall to be pulled away a bit? I feel like that may be a stretch but I can't think of anything else that would do it. On a side note, since I have owned that camper, it has only rained for approx 24hrs in a 2 day period. this was after the kids were playing up there...and before I noticed that damage.If anyone has seen damage like this before and has an idea what it is caused by let me know. I will be taking a closer look at it this week so any input is going to be greatly appreciated!Thanks!

Looks like a leak in the roof to me, have you checked up top?

Yeah, I have looked up top on the roof, I really didn't see anything out of the ordinary. No cracks or anything of the sort. Just to elaborate a bit, I just bought the camper September 9th, and me and a buddy checked it over really well and did not notice anything. It has sat in my driveway since then. Now all of the sudden I notice this, and like I said I had kids playing up there and it rained for one day...but it seems weird that if there was a leak it would just start to show symptoms like that right now, and not show anything from the years before.But I really don't know. I will definitely have a closer look around the window and the roof again, to see if I can spot anything weird.Thanks for the reply!

From my experience leaks usually manifest themselves on the inside of the RV as small blisters in the vinyl wall covering. Your pic looks more like some structural element, like an aluminum stud, has pulled loose.It looks like the bulge runs down behind the decorative panel above the window. I would remove it and drill a small hole or two in order to investigate it further. If it's dry in there then you can at least rest at ease a bit.I wonder, were the kids rough housing in there? the bulge looks square-ish, like the alum. framing is coming through. They have hit (or kicked) the inside wall hard enough to push it out a bit. That's what it looks like to me. Also notice that it is in direct line with the frame member that runs on the side of the window. I believe that "stud" is bent because of a blunt outward force.

Not intending to suggest how to parent, but that is probably the WORST possible place for them to be. Suggest you get them down and keep them down. Possible damages are endless, not to mention falling.We had a spot like that on our ROO and after careful checking it seemed to come from the movement of the slide. It was maybe an inch or so max and never got any larger. And no water intrusion.

...and Yeknomssarb spelled backwards is?

Weird bulge I noticed inside my camper | Good Sam Community

24 Replies

Yeknomssarb
Explorer
Dec 02, 2013
Sorry. I haven't, camper is currently in storage for the winter, I just got lazy and will probably wait until spring.
bjlakatos1
Explorer
Dec 02, 2013
Yeknomssarb wrote:
Just an update, after two days of rain, I notice no moisture what so ever. So I am thinking it really isn't water issues. Thanks everyone for the tips, I will be sure to keep them all in mind when I attempt to repair this!

I just returned from a great week of camping in my 2011 StarCraft and noticed the same sort of bulge but about twice as wide and twice as deep. It is located directly in front of the door. Not in an area that would receive direct impact (electric awning) unless from closing the door. I didn't have a ladder to check for leaks but will this week. Have you made any progress on your repair or diagnosis?
Yeknomssarb
Explorer
Oct 03, 2013
Just an update, after two days of rain, I notice no moisture what so ever. So I am thinking it really isn't water issues. Thanks everyone for the tips, I will be sure to keep them all in mind when I attempt to repair this!
westend
Explorer
Oct 01, 2013
Yeknomssarb wrote:
opnspaces wrote:
Unfortunately you're eventually going to have to find some way to open it up and look. I know I have let my awning slap up repeatedly without damage. But that doesn't mean that yours wasn't damaged by the same thing.

When you push it in, does it feel like just thin wood and then stops when it is flat? If so it might just the the paneling warped away from the frame. If that is the case you might be able to just drive a screw into the bulge and secure it to the stud again.

Yeah I definitely plan to open it up and have a look soon. Like I said before it feels pretty tough when I push it in, I have to give a good 2 handed push to get it to go flat. Then it just pops back out after I let it go. I may be able to just screw it down, but I would feel more comfortable to take a look on the inside before I do that.

I am new to campers and am not entirely sure what something like that should feel like when I try to push it back in place, haha. Also, I am really not sure what the best way to open it up would be. I don't really want to wreck anything else.

Anyone have any tips?
I would try to access the wall cavity by putting a finger tip or a small tool into the top of the bulge gap near the ceiling. What I'd be trying to feel is if the stud has pushed out with the wall covering or is it still in place, fastened to the frame top rail. If the stud is still in place, I'd send some adhesive down into the exterior of the wall covering, press, it in place, and fasten it with a screw underneath the white trim rail, adjacent to the ceiling. It might take some additional fastening and//or bracing under tension until the adhesive sets. This is the least intrusive repair I can think of.

I'm in agreement with one of your preliminary diagnosis', the kids swung on the valance and it forced the paneling to bulge. It would be more likely if the valance is glued to the wall paneling, that would take the force of the rug-rat onto the paneling and not to the wall framing.

Good luck with your repair!
Yeknomssarb
Explorer
Sep 30, 2013
peirek wrote:
If no moisture, I would push it in and attach with small staples. I assume a wooden framed trailer?

Honestly, I don't know if its wood framed. Most likely is. I just got home from work and had a look, near the top of the bulge there is a few small staple holes where the wall was pulled from them.

There is rain in the forecast this week so I can definitely check for moisture when it rains.

Thanks again for everyone who has posted, i'm glad I signed up to this forum!
peirek
Explorer
Sep 30, 2013
Yeknomssarb wrote:
opnspaces wrote:
Unfortunately you're eventually going to have to find some way to open it up and look. I know I have let my awning slap up repeatedly without damage. But that doesn't mean that yours wasn't damaged by the same thing.

When you push it in, does it feel like just thin wood and then stops when it is flat? If so it might just the the paneling warped away from the frame. If that is the case you might be able to just drive a screw into the bulge and secure it to the stud again.

Yeah I definitely plan to open it up and have a look soon. Like I said before it feels pretty tough when I push it in, I have to give a good 2 handed push to get it to go flat. Then it just pops back out after I let it go. I may be able to just screw it down, but I would feel more comfortable to take a look on the inside before I do that.

I am new to campers and am not entirely sure what something like that should feel like when I try to push it back in place, haha. Also, I am really not sure what the best way to open it up would be. I don't really want to wreck anything else.

Anyone have any tips?

My .02. If it was caused from a leak it would likely feel spongy and the paper would likely pull away from the thin plywood. Especially after pushing it back in. I would not cut it open to check it out. Repairing that cleanly would be difficult. I would await a good rain storm and check for moisture. If no moisture, I would push it in and attach with small staples. I assume a wooden framed trailer?
colliehauler
Explorer III
Sep 30, 2013
ScottG wrote:
From my experience leaks usually manifest themselves on the inside of the RV as small blisters in the vinyl wall covering. Your pic looks more like some structural element, like an aluminum stud, has pulled loose.
It looks like the bulge runs down behind the decorative panel above the window. I would remove it and drill a small hole or two in order to investigate it further. If it's dry in there then you can at least rest at ease a bit.
I wonder, were the kids rough housing in there? the bulge looks square-ish, like the alum. framing is coming through. They have hit (or kicked) the inside wall hard enough to push it out a bit. That's what it looks like to me. Also notice that it is in direct line with the frame member that runs on the side of the window. I believe that "stud" is bent because of a blunt outward force.
X 2
Yeknomssarb
Explorer
Sep 30, 2013
opnspaces wrote:
Unfortunately you're eventually going to have to find some way to open it up and look. I know I have let my awning slap up repeatedly without damage. But that doesn't mean that yours wasn't damaged by the same thing.

When you push it in, does it feel like just thin wood and then stops when it is flat? If so it might just the the paneling warped away from the frame. If that is the case you might be able to just drive a screw into the bulge and secure it to the stud again.

Yeah I definitely plan to open it up and have a look soon. Like I said before it feels pretty tough when I push it in, I have to give a good 2 handed push to get it to go flat. Then it just pops back out after I let it go. I may be able to just screw it down, but I would feel more comfortable to take a look on the inside before I do that.

I am new to campers and am not entirely sure what something like that should feel like when I try to push it back in place, haha. Also, I am really not sure what the best way to open it up would be. I don't really want to wreck anything else.

Anyone have any tips?
opnspaces
Navigator III
Sep 30, 2013
Unfortunately you're eventually going to have to find some way to open it up and look. I know I have let my awning slap up repeatedly without damage. But that doesn't mean that yours wasn't damaged by the same thing.

When you push it in, does it feel like just thin wood and then stops when it is flat? If so it might just the the paneling warped away from the frame. If that is the case you might be able to just drive a screw into the bulge and secure it to the stud again.
TxTiger
Explorer
Sep 30, 2013
I think you probably have it right, that the awning hit the side hard enough to pop something loose in the wall. If that is the case, I would closely inspect the outside of the trailer where the awning hit and the brackets to ensure that something else isn't damaged where water could penetrate.

Good luck with your fix.