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anutami's avatar
anutami
Explorer III
Oct 17, 2017

Wolf Creek 850 front box issues

The bolts that secure my truck bed to the frame have caused issues with my fiberglass. Although I have a rubber mat All the washboard roads have taken their toll.




Come to find out the bottom of my camper is only 1/8" thick!! I am looking for ideas on the best way to prevent further cracking to my fiberglass. Will installing a 1/2" thick piece of plywood help reduce the stress? I am looking at putting a sheet of diamond plating on the front to hide the cracks and possibly a piece of plywood on the bottom. Any other ideas?





Access panel, note the stainless steel band chewing into panel.


Also noticed the sides of the box structure are not aluminum, also note the 1 screw backing out


Front corner aluminum tubing, northwood claims these are stuffed with wood

18 Replies

  • Even my cheap azzed Palomino is 3/4" plywood on the bottom. sheathed in embossed aluminum sheeting with roll formed steel flanged 'U''s running lengthwise and cross ways in the front and back. screwed to the bottom every 3" with flat head wood screws dipped in sealant.

    The only thing that contacts the bed of my truck is the 'U' channels. The bottom is spaced off the truck bed by 1/2" I really like the 'U' channel arrangement. Keeps the bottom off the truck bed so no damage is incurred from our wonderful rough roads and the channels add a lot of stiffness to the camper itself. Hard to beat steel for strength where it counts.

    Only downside I can see is the steel is slippery but that has never been an issue yet. In fact, I removed and modified the back cross channel to carry my Stow and Go step mount.
  • I recently repaired a Hallmark that had a very thin sheet of plywood as that of your Wolf Creek. It had rotted over the years and was a poor design coming from the factory. I use 1/2 marine ply and 3 coats of Flex Seal. I applied the Flex Seal prior to installing the plywood and then just had to touch up where the screws into the frame were installed. If you haven't use Flex Seal it is a outstanding product. I then use aluminum angle to cover the outside edges.
  • work2much wrote:
    I would send these pictures to Northwoods and ask for an explanation.


    Why? They don't give a turd about you or whatever problem you have.
  • It is not sometimes, it is always.
    Each time you remove some skin from the camper you are for bad surprise.
    I screw 3/4" plywood to bottom of my camper last season.
    Don't think 1/2 will do much, unless it is high-grade multi-layer plywood.
    That aluminium trim on the bottom is the stupidest and cheapest thing I can imagine.
  • Pretty discouraging what one finds under camper skin sometimes.
  • I would too and the aren't even in a straight line...

    I think I'd add a sheet of 3/4" marine grade .40 retention plywood to the bottom and wrap the edges with extruded aluminum L channel and of course some good sealant.

    I've never been fond of campers that lack any standoff support on the bottom side
  • Well fitted wood seems obviously missing. Those long wood screws don't make much of a connection into the aluminum. I would send these pictures to Northwoods and ask for an explanation.