I need advice on my totalled yet still beautiful baby.

[elijahsdream]

Issue resolved.

[Water-Bug]

Westend
I've been suggesting that the OP cover it for days. They completely reject the idea for some reason. I've even been chastised and told that I am preaching to myself by others. I even suggested that her insurance may find it "failure to maintan". All to no avail.

[pianotuna]

Bingo.

elijahsdream wrote:

As far as fixing, the good fella at the shop with whom I trust to no end, said "do NOT do that." He stated because of the sudden extreme rate of deterioration.
We do not want to move this thing anymore. It is not worth someones health or life.

[elijahsdream]

Now I'm itching to pull it apart! Upon pushing lightly, the cheap luann on the inside of the nose, right at the front corner is soft enough to go thru. And yes there is water damage to the wall and floor, and the little side table is coming apart.
As far as fixing, the good fella at the shop with whom I trust to no end, said "do NOT do that." He stated because of the sudden extreme rate of deterioration.
We do not want to move this thing anymore. It is not worth someones health or life.

[TheAmRheins]

I have been following this thread and the photos explain a lot, but the interior damage seems extreme - unless the trailer was hooked up to the truck the whole time it was at the dealer?

Can you check inside the upper cabinets, and the front wall under the bed for water damage?

We had a broken frame which was repaired by welding extra bracing in the pinbox area. Ours did not buckle nearly as much as yours though, just about 1/4" gap at the bottom when hitched.

Good luck! And I agree, I would put it inside or under a tarp until the insurance settles up. TRUST NO ONE when it comes to "but he said" or "she said" !

[westend]

elijahsdream wrote:
I was told...the wall, floor, ceiling, and nose all POSSIBLY may need fixed. Again, I don't pretend to know it all but, it's already been totalled and the shop man, whom is a trusted member kf our community, said to run from this, as the damage is happening so quickly. I can't help but wonder if there is something wrong with the manufacturing process that would cause rapid deterioration such as this.

Possibly, but if you leave it out in the rain, assuredly.
To me, it's pretty straight forward. You have a broken pin box frame causing the exterior to buckle. It moves enough so that the seal is lost between the nose/wall trim and the side wall. When the seal is gone, water is able to migrate into the interior, causing even more damage. The reason "fast" is used in thes context is that the glue that holds the Luaun board to the fiberglass is separating fast due to it's solubility with water. If you want slowness, eliminate the water part.

FWIW, my trailer was a lot more damaged than this when I bought it. I could put my hand through the hole between the siding pieces on the driver's side wall. It was exactly what I was looking for. I rebuilt the trailer and now have a well insulated and constructed RV. I'm sure there is another guy in Ohio that could either restore it for you or would buy it in the condition, presently. Leaving it out in the rain is only diminishing it's value and the ease of restoration.

Your Baby is lying in cold bath water.

[elijahsdream]

I was told...the wall, floor, ceiling, and nose all POSSIBLY may need fixed. Again, I don't pretend to know it all but, it's already been totalled and the shop man, whom is a trusted member kf our community, said to run from this, as the damage is happening so quickly. I can't help but wonder if there is something wrong with the manufacturing process that would cause rapid deterioration such as this.

[westend]

Is there a reason you don't pull it back into the barn so it doesn't get any wetter? The situation is probably beyond your skill set to fix but the damage, as it is now, can be fixed. In fact, since the only thing damaged is the frame of the pin box and the small area in the bedroom, it isn't an incredibly difficult restoration. Unless I'm missing something, $20K estimate is way off the mark.

[elijahsdream]

Yep. Today its off the hitch setting on the landing gear. Which doesn't look bad today either, but still very wobbly.

[Water-Bug]

Not the same area. No window either.

[BurbMan]

Wait…so this is what it looked like the other day:



…and this is what it looks like now??



What happened to the buckling? Did it just go back into shape on its own? Is frame damage such that it only buckles the siding like that when the weight is on the pin? WHen it sits on the landing gear and there is no weight on the pin it goes back to normal?

[elijahsdream]

JJBIRISH. What a terrifying read. I may start tent camping. If a tent breaks, u sleep under the stars in ur jammies, get up, throw it away and then buy a new one. These 5ers with lami sides are scary little things. But thank you much for the link. Now I better understand that

[elijahsdream]

Now these photos are from today.

[dodge_guy]

Do a search for cracked 5th wheel frames (or something similar). I think you will see what has happened.

Time to let it go and look for something else!

Edit: I see JJBRISH already linked you the problems!

[elijahsdream]

Westend- histrionic? Nah. But if you noticed in the beginning, I reallllly liked my camper. And I actually cleaned up the interior because I have to unpack the entire camper. And maybe to you it doesnt seem bad......tell my boys how bad it is Not. When something changes your enitire life, it becomes quite a large situation. So thats it.

Rickeoni- I liked the popcorn. I'm trying to learn how to post things like that. HAHA
JJBRISH- as soon as I am done I am going to read. You have been so helpful. I really wish others would learn from you.
TOOBOLD- Ahhhh you understand. Much appreciated. I surely did not come here boasting of my all knowing camper owning self. I simply came for advice.

[rickeoni]

I was not trying to make light of your situation, my post was aimed at the hostile attitudes of some of the people who inhabit this site. I feel for your plight, but your fiver has many issues that to have repaired exceed the value of the trailer. Hopefully the insurance company comes up with something for you.