Hi all,
Thanks for the feedback. There are more comments than I thought there'd be! Seems I need to provide a bit more background.
I acquired the camper for nothing. It is the top trim for that model so comes with all the fixings that at least 06 had to offer. Parting-out is still very much on the table.
That said, I have "flipped" several campers over the last few years. I am unfortunately attracted to the work and problem solving... I suppose one would call that a hobby. In my part of Canada, we have a solid 8 month no-camping season so this passes the time. As of yet, I have been able to come ahead each time. This camper has the most damage but not by much.
The process will be the same whether I part-out or rebuild. I'll need to strip the inside down to the frame to ascertain the true damage. This is going to be step #1. Happy to post an update later on depending on which direction I decide. The one advantage to the whole thing is that the roof and walls are 100% solid. I am uncertain at this point how much/if the floor rot has affected the connection to the walls.
I tried to include photos previously but only figured that out now.
Photo #1 is the right side sagging wall, also under the kitchen. You'll notice there aren't any outriggers. Next to no support for the walls.
Photo #2 you'll notice the result of water damage and lack of structural support... the kitchen cabinets are buckling.
Photo #3 is the plate fix on the crack. This is the only thing of the project that concerns me. My father is a certified welder so there is hope there but still questioning if I want to rebuild on a "repaired" frame as many have mentioned.
Thanks for the frame photo and the helpful feedback re: rebuild. I certainly understand the disadvantages, cost, frustration, wildly extensive damage, etc. so your responses to my initial questions about the sag/frame were appreciated!
Thanks for the feedback. There are more comments than I thought there'd be! Seems I need to provide a bit more background.
I acquired the camper for nothing. It is the top trim for that model so comes with all the fixings that at least 06 had to offer. Parting-out is still very much on the table.
That said, I have "flipped" several campers over the last few years. I am unfortunately attracted to the work and problem solving... I suppose one would call that a hobby. In my part of Canada, we have a solid 8 month no-camping season so this passes the time. As of yet, I have been able to come ahead each time. This camper has the most damage but not by much.
The process will be the same whether I part-out or rebuild. I'll need to strip the inside down to the frame to ascertain the true damage. This is going to be step #1. Happy to post an update later on depending on which direction I decide. The one advantage to the whole thing is that the roof and walls are 100% solid. I am uncertain at this point how much/if the floor rot has affected the connection to the walls.
I tried to include photos previously but only figured that out now.
Photo #1 is the right side sagging wall, also under the kitchen. You'll notice there aren't any outriggers. Next to no support for the walls.
Photo #2 you'll notice the result of water damage and lack of structural support... the kitchen cabinets are buckling.
Photo #3 is the plate fix on the crack. This is the only thing of the project that concerns me. My father is a certified welder so there is hope there but still questioning if I want to rebuild on a "repaired" frame as many have mentioned.
BurbMan wrote:
Big project but do-able if you have the time.
Thanks for the frame photo and the helpful feedback re: rebuild. I certainly understand the disadvantages, cost, frustration, wildly extensive damage, etc. so your responses to my initial questions about the sag/frame were appreciated!
Hey Jay, welcome to the forum! Sounds like you got a pile of work ahead of you with this one. Prowler was a Fleetwood brand in 2006, so it's made just like my 2008 Terry was. I found a pic of a frame that is just like what Fleetwood used in that era:
On top of the frame the floor platform is built with 2x3 framing and 1/2" flakeboard, and extends all the way out to the outriggers. Picture a floor platform running on top of the whole frame and out to the ends of the outriggers.
Once the floor platform is framed, they roll out the sheet vinyl, add the base cabinets, then attach the walls on top of the floor platform (just like a house) and screw the walls to the cabinets.
If the floor is that bad, then the baseplate of the wall is probably bad too, and the wall is sinking down between the steel outriggers. Unless those are rusted off, in which case there is nothing but the cabinets holding that wall up.
Hopefully the vinyl floor prevented the cabinets from soaking up that much water, so if you can save the cabinets you'll be money ahead. Get the cabinets and appliances out of there ASAP, Then tear what's left down to the frame and start with a fresh floor and build up like they do at the factory. Big project but do-able if you have the time.
On top of the frame the floor platform is built with 2x3 framing and 1/2" flakeboard, and extends all the way out to the outriggers. Picture a floor platform running on top of the whole frame and out to the ends of the outriggers.
Once the floor platform is framed, they roll out the sheet vinyl, add the base cabinets, then attach the walls on top of the floor platform (just like a house) and screw the walls to the cabinets.
If the floor is that bad, then the baseplate of the wall is probably bad too, and the wall is sinking down between the steel outriggers. Unless those are rusted off, in which case there is nothing but the cabinets holding that wall up.
Hopefully the vinyl floor prevented the cabinets from soaking up that much water, so if you can save the cabinets you'll be money ahead. Get the cabinets and appliances out of there ASAP, Then tear what's left down to the frame and start with a fresh floor and build up like they do at the factory. Big project but do-able if you have the time.
