The saga of my junk rig.....I need suggestions....

[kamperdog]

I have a 2009 Kodiak 192 hybrid. (Some people here might remember other post I've made about this) To say its a POS is a raging understatement. The bunk ends are of extremely poor design and borderline unusable. THe outside shower has never worked. The step tore out of the underside of the floor because the floor in that spot somehow got wet and its soft/spongy right there by the door. All the decals are peeling and it looks hideous. THere is delamination. The fenders fell off. Yes, fell off. The icing on the cake is last time I used it, when I went to put the awning back up, something went wrong with the mechanism and it retracted wrong and absolutely shredded the awning and bent something because the supports don't line up when their supposed to be closed, so the awning is destroyed. The only saving grace is it doesn't leak (except bunk ends) and everything inside still works.

I owe 12K on it. Yeah, we don't need to get into that. Ex wife issues there. I'm a poor working slob that can't afford to pay it off, or spend thousands on massive repairs. So I really don't know what to do with it. I"m about 85% sure I'm simply going to take the awning off and toss it, and just fill the bolt holes. I will just use a pop up cabana I have. I can try to shore up the floor where its soft and simply make a simple set of steps out of wood. I already tarp the bunkends to keep rain out.

So, I'm asking what you would do in this situation?

[pconroy328]

kamperdog wrote:


So, I'm asking what you would do in this situation?

Make lemonade.

Seriously.
Scope, schedule. budget - pick two.

So start fixing stuff.
Take your time.

[garyhaupt]

I am really sorry that you have to be exposed to all the smart mouth fools that just have to take any opportunity to show their true colours.

If you have any carpentry skills at all, you can fix most anything on your C. It takes time, of course, but it can be done. Take on a small area and work on that...don't try and peel the thing wide open to do a major reno. If, like me, you have no skills, go to a Big Box store and get hold of someone in the wood area and ask questions. Lots of them...take pix of the area you want to work on..and get opinions. Go to an RV repair shop and wheedle your way in to the shop...offer to buy the tech a beer...you just want to pick his brains a bit.

The bumpers falling off is kinda weird. Were you able to get that resolved?

Don't mess too much with that awning. The spring is an evil sob that will break your wrist or arm if it gets away on you.



Gary Haupt

[cyntdon2010]

Yeah Do you have insurance, LOL

[loggenrock]

How's the fridge? Any chance of a propane leak???! ;^/

[Swell1]

Don't you have insurance on it? Turn in a claim. If the adjuster Totals it they give you book value for it.

[Wagonqueen_Truc]

If you have delamination you have leaks. Period. I know first hand. I too had a $16,000 dollar brand new Fleetwood Terry TT back in 2001. It had soft water logged floors and major delamnation within 3 years. I did what I could to find the leaks and patch them up. I also had to replace 1/2 of the floor of that 30 foot trailer. (The other 1/2 rotted out within the next 2 years) by year 6, all of the cupboards had black mold and it was almost unlivable with the smell. Needless to say, I sold it by year 6 for $500 with FULL disclosure of rotted floor, mold and delamination. Very expensive lesson learned. I did my homework second time around. I actually bought a 40 year old camper that has a FULL fiberglass roof and nose. Paid 1000 cash and renovated it. Sorry about your lemon, but most RVs are inferior nowadays.

[RGar974417]

If the floor is getting wet, you need to find where it is coming in. I would suggest either the roof above the door or the door itself is wicking water into the frame and getting the floor wet. I had that happen one time. I agree,take the awning off and just put bolts with silicone on them.Check all of your caulking on the roof and sides and redo as neccessary.When not in use,cover the whole unit with a tarp.

[SoundGuy]

kamperdog wrote:
So, I'm asking what you would do in this situation?

Unfortunately there's not really anything anyone here can do for you but sympathize so I'd do what you're already planning - fix what you can, ignore the rest, and go camping. :B

[garyemunson]

Replacing awning fabric is pretty reasonable....look on eBay for vendors.

[the_bear_II]

ScottG wrote:
I would probably start re-engineering some of the weak points and repairing (not just removing) the things that fail. If you can get caught up with the issues and refrain from crude patches you may end up with something your happy with again.
Good luck!

This is what I would do if I wanted to still go RVing.

Otherwise I would talk with the finance company and manufacturer to see if a deal could be worked out to walk away from it.

[NYCgrrl]

kamperdog wrote:
Just to clarify, it does NOT leak inside. The bunk ends leak around the lower part of the seal on the sides because the seal doesn't stay in the channel.
I lowered the awning a few minutes ago to check on it and it actually came down right. Hmmmmm...If I can find awning repair tape or patches it may be salvagable for another season or two. I do caulk what I can see when I come across it.

Good chance it is leaking inside if the front steps fell off in a spongy section.
I'd start with the infrastructure issues and work out. The awning is only for your comfort and nothing in comparison.

Part of my job was securing the mechanical and infrastructure systems for multi-residences. Twas hard to explain to some Board of Directors how this trumped "prettiness".
JMO and GL with your unit's issues.

.

[wrgrs50s]

Sounds like it's time for a mysterious electrical fire or a low hanging branch !!

LOL !!!!

Sometimes you gotta laugh to keep from crying !!

[kamperdog]

Just to clarify, it does NOT leak inside. The bunk ends leak around the lower part of the seal on the sides because the seal doesn't stay in the channel.
I lowered the awning a few minutes ago to check on it and it actually came down right. Hmmmmm...If I can find awning repair tape or patches it may be salvagable for another season or two. I do caulk what I can see when I come across it.

[colliehauler]

Did you do regular maintenance on the unit every year? Such as caulking the joints and inspecting for leaks?

As to what I would do; I would repair the damage in the off season as I had time and go camping next summer.

[B_O__Plenty]

Next time you buy one....do some research so you don't pay three times more than it is worth..

B.O.