Hi all, I have an older 1996 vintage travel trailer with a slide ( I just bought it). It has had a leak in the left front corner seam that has pretty much rotted a few feet of the floor and several studs in the front bedroom. What should I use for floor material? It has particle board but I was thinking of replacing it with plywood. How do I make up the curve in the front with the studs? How are the studs attached to the aluminum siding. The rot is inside the front closet but it seems like the closet is screwed on from the outside in. Any hints on how I deal with that? All advice is appreciated. I'm pretty handy but maybe I got in over my head here. I do have photos to send to anyone who is interested in helping.

RVs are really made from the inside out. Honestly. So the siding was put on last and is fastened from the outside.Repairs are, well, interesting, not fun, time consuming, and well, not fun. I've done two, one for myself, one for a good friend. Neither sounds as bad as yours.Personally, if the floor was gone too... I might just forget it.I'm going to guess, by your questions, you are not skilled with handy-man work. Because honestly while it's a lot of work, it's not really tough. You may not have the skills needed

Seems you are getting a lot of help.... I can't help, but I have read many posts regarding this type of thing and do know that there are some u-tube videos out there with repair advice. There are probably some old threads, maybe with photos under the Do It Yourself Modifications on the forum.

Post pictures. Curves are easy to make. Use a very thin piece of veneer or wood strip, perhaps exoxy it in and use braces until dry. Add another layer glued to the first in held in place by braces. Keep at it a layer at a time. Basically you're building plywood a layer at a time and it's curved. Or make paper or cardboard patterns as a guide.

However much time you think it will take to fix, TRIPPLE it!

I am into a similar project in a fiver. I an replacing the framing with D-Fir studs and particle board flooring, half the price of plywood. Take it back far enough to remove all the rot and start from there.

Dealing with rotted studs and flooring | Good Sam Community

n7bsn
Explorer
Apr 13, 2014
RVs are really made from the inside out. Honestly. So the siding was put on last and is fastened from the outside.

Repairs are, well, interesting, not fun, time consuming, and well, not fun. I've done two, one for myself, one for a good friend. Neither sounds as bad as yours.
Personally, if the floor was gone too... I might just forget it.

I'm going to guess, by your questions, you are not skilled with handy-man work. Because honestly while it's a lot of work, it's not really tough. You may not have the skills needed
doxiemom11
Explorer II
Apr 13, 2014
Seems you are getting a lot of help.... I can't help, but I have read many posts regarding this type of thing and do know that there are some u-tube videos out there with repair advice. There are probably some old threads, maybe with photos under the Do It Yourself Modifications on the forum.
CA_Traveler
Explorer III
Apr 13, 2014
Post pictures. Curves are easy to make. Use a very thin piece of veneer or wood strip, perhaps exoxy it in and use braces until dry. Add another layer glued to the first in held in place by braces. Keep at it a layer at a time. Basically you're building plywood a layer at a time and it's curved.

Or make paper or cardboard patterns as a guide.
path1
Explorer
Apr 13, 2014
However much time you think it will take to fix, TRIPPLE it!
romore
Explorer II
Apr 13, 2014
I am into a similar project in a fiver. I an replacing the framing with D-Fir studs and particle board flooring, half the price of plywood. Take it back far enough to remove all the rot and start from there.
mlts22
Explorer
Apr 13, 2014
Unless you are in love with -that particular camper-, I'd say forget it. One can spend the same amount of money and buy a new or used camper in decent shape... and then spend time camping, not replacing moldy wood.

If one wanted a DIY project to learn on, it is an idea, but it will be very time consuming.
John_Joey
Explorer
Apr 13, 2014
mlts22 wrote:
Unless you are in love with -that particular camper-, I'd say forget it. One can spend the same amount of money and buy a new or used camper in decent shape... and then spend time camping, not replacing moldy wood.

If one wanted a DIY project to learn on, it is an idea, but it will be very time consuming.

X2

The next one make sure is made with metal tubing and not wood studs. Also check the roof for any leaks both new and repaired. Chock this one up to a learning experience

The questions you are asking tell me that you're not really a carpenter. If you have your heart set on rebuilding this rig then go for it, otherwise walkaway before you start throwing good money after bad.
westend
Explorer
Apr 13, 2014
You can do it and don't let the armchair engineers tell you not to. I'm assuming throwing away an otherwise serviceable RV is not the way you want to proceed.

Look at the build thread in my signature line, the Cowboy/Hilton. I replaced frame and flooring and it is all pictured there. If you have a particular question, let it fly or shoot me a PM.
Shomemule
Explorer
Apr 16, 2014
westend wrote:
You can do it and don't let the armchair engineers tell you not to. I'm assuming throwing away an otherwise serviceable RV is not the way you want to proceed.

Look at the build thread in my signature line, the Cowboy/Hilton. I replaced frame and flooring and it is all pictured there. If you have a particular question, let it fly or shoot me a PM.

Thanks westend. I guess my biggest challenge is securing the new framing to the aluminum siding. I can remove the old from the siding with a sawzall but I'm not sure how I'll secure the new since the studs are screwed from the outside in. Construction adhesive is one alternative but I'm not sure how well it will adhere to the aluminum.
BurbMan
Explorer II
Apr 16, 2014
You have to remove the siding from the outside, then re-frame, then re-attach the siding to the new framing.