Brand new owner

It will cost thousands to repair. And nobody knows what is underneath. Run, run, run.

How soon will it really come apart is my question.
For $3,000 it might be good for three years and you go have some fun.
I would not fix it, just use it. Just have to keep one eye closed.

Worth zero at trade in but who cares?

I've seen a lot of leakers and not all are delamination subjects and even a new fresh from the factory RV can be a leaker, Reason why is because the unit sits outside at the factory, then gets yanked down the road by a delivery company and then sits again at a dealership, waiting for a buyer, all the time outside, in the elements and today, builders aren't all that good at sealing a unit, they are always pressed for time. Consequently, even a new, un titled unit can be leaking.
\
The problem gets worse with an owner, even though most builders recommend checking all the seals at least every 6 months but most owners figure because it's new, it's good and that isn't always the case.

If you really want to see if it's wet, go to Harbor Freight and buy a non contact IR thermometer (39 bucks not on sale) and check the inside walls at the ceiling juncture and the floor transition. Don't matter what the ambient temperature is, you'll quickly pick up a temperature differential if it's wet because the mold generates heat as it decomposes the structure underneath.

I use a thermal imaging camera that actually takes a thermal 'picture' that I can download and print out.

The way Filon panels are made is the Filon (fancy name for Fiberglass reinforced plastic membrane) is vacuum bonded to a substrate layer, usually luan with an adhesive and barring any glue voids (which is rare), the only thing that causes delamination like in your photo is moisture. The moisture gets between the Filon and the substrate and causes it to lift and the rotting luan further pushes the Filon outward causing ripples in the outer skin. Before you take it back, take your fingers and push on the rippled section, anywhere, and feel if it's spongy. If it is, that spongyness is rotting substrate.

If you are really good with wood and fiberglass (I'm not) and have a lot of time, it's fixable. Key word is time, why a shop will charge a fortune to do the work because, not only does the Filon have to be removed, the inside has to be removed as well to access the rot and mold.

Mr. Page is pretty graphic in his video's but he's making a point.

DownTheAvenue wrote:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xx0SPexRHgo

After watching this, tell me you understand why everyone says to run run run away from that RV.

I LITERALLY watched that video before joining here, but NONE of the discoloration signs were there, even my father's girlfriend is an experienced 5th wheel owner, and when I shared the news with them, she said she was looking for those signs in the inside, and they were not there. Please understand I am not arguing to keep it, it is going back to the owner tomorrow. Even with his offer at 4-4.5K, I am learning that the mess that this is in is not worth the cost to repair.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xx0SPexRHgo

After watching this, tell me you understand why everyone says to run run run away from that RV.

SidecarFlip wrote:
I've posted many times on here about water intrusion and what happens to Filon siding and the structure underneath.

From what I see in the pictures there is serious water intrusion between the outside skin and the inside walls and, if you don't know what to look for inside, it may look fine, but it isn't.

You have a couple issues beside delamination (which is caused my moisture impacting the glue that adheres the Filon skin to the substrate (usually Luan) under it.

The big issue isn't the delamination, the issue is the mold that's growing between the outer skin and the inner walls. That mold is toxic and a health issue and can cause issues with your lungs.

That is a wood framed trailer with fiberglass insulation and the glass is wet and the frame is rotting. I can see it's quite advanced by the fallen out porch lite, the screws have rusted away from moisture and the acid produced by the mold underneath.

If it was me, I would not even bother having it looked at. Any competent shop that does resto work will tell you that it will cost literally thousands of dollars to remediate it.

Best place for that unit is the local landfill. It's unhealthy to use it.

Of course it looks fine inside because you don't know where to look for intrusion or how to look. I'm not trying to be insulting, just the facts.

Anytime you are looking for water intrusion, you start on the roof, by walking on it and feeling for soft spots underfoot. If it's soft, the underlayment is gone. It's rotted away. May never show on the inside however.

What shows on the inside is in the lower corners where the walls meet the floor. If you see any black residue there, it's wet. You look inside cabinets and under the mattress and under the bed where it meets the wall and floor transition and you use a thermal imaging camera or non-contact IR thermometer to gauge the temperature differential between the various interior walls, the wet ones will always be a couple degrees warmer because mold and rot generates heat.

The telling thing is the seller saying he had the roof sealed? If he had done proper seal maintenance in the first place there would not have been an issue.

I live in Michigan as well and any unit kept outside here, year around, with our weather extremes, is a suspect of water intrusion unit.

I would return it and look elsewhere. Even 4 grand is no bargain, you'll spend at least that much remediating it. Probably more.

I only know of one shop in SW Michigan that dies that work and I'm not sure he's taking on any right now.

My 2 cents.

Thank you, I am not insulted at all, he is hoping that by offering at the lower price, and even if someone put another 4-5 grand into it, the overall cost would be under what the trailer is worth.

At this point, I am just going to return it.

I've posted many times on here about water intrusion and what happens to Filon siding and the structure underneath.

From what I see in the pictures there is serious water intrusion between the outside skin and the inside walls and, if you don't know what to look for inside, it may look fine, but it isn't.

You have a couple issues beside delamination (which is caused my moisture impacting the glue that adheres the Filon skin to the substrate (usually Luan) under it.

The big issue isn't the delamination, the issue is the mold that's growing between the outer skin and the inner walls. That mold is toxic and a health issue and can cause issues with your lungs.

That is a wood framed trailer with fiberglass insulation and the glass is wet and the frame is rotting. I can see it's quite advanced by the fallen out porch lite, the screws have rusted away from moisture and the acid produced by the mold underneath.

If it was me, I would not even bother having it looked at. Any competent shop that does resto work will tell you that it will cost literally thousands of dollars to remediate it.

Best place for that unit is the local landfill. It's unhealthy to use it.

Of course it looks fine inside because you don't know where to look for intrusion or how to look. I'm not trying to be insulting, just the facts.

Anytime you are looking for water intrusion, you start on the roof, by walking on it and feeling for soft spots underfoot. If it's soft, the underlayment is gone. It's rotted away. May never show on the inside however.

What shows on the inside is in the lower corners where the walls meet the floor. If you see any black residue there, it's wet. You look inside cabinets and under the mattress and under the bed where it meets the wall and floor transition and you use a thermal imaging camera or non-contact IR thermometer to gauge the temperature differential between the various interior walls, the wet ones will always be a couple degrees warmer because mold and rot generates heat.

The telling thing is the seller saying he had the roof sealed? If he had done proper seal maintenance in the first place there would not have been an issue.

I live in Michigan as well and any unit kept outside here, year around, with our weather extremes, is a suspect of water intrusion unit.

I would return it and look elsewhere. Even 4 grand is no bargain, you'll spend at least that much remediating it. Probably more.

I only know of one shop in SW Michigan that dies that work and I'm not sure he's taking on any right now.

My 2 cents.

Take these pics to the bank on the loan watch how fast it will get denied

I strongly suggest taking it to a reputable service center for accurate diagnossis. This is a good idea before buying any used RV. If the seller is honest he will not mind and may even welcome this.

camp-n-family wrote:
That's pretty extensive water damage by the looks of it. Repair costs would far exceed its value. Take it back and run away.

yep, don't assume that the repairs will be just gluing the fiberglass material back to the substrate. probably lots of rotten wood with mold hidden. but please let us know what the repair facility says. and exactly what they are planning on doing.
bumpy