Sagging in cab-over bed area -> how bad is this?

[jornvango]

Well, it looks like we got what we paid for. We are going to take a road trip south of the border for a few months and wanted to buy an older, cheap TC for the trip. Since we're TC newbies, we're now finding out what can go wrong when you buy one of those ...

As usual, the seller answered a firm 'no' on my question if it had any water leaks or rot.
Now that I'm preparing the TC here for the trip, I noticed the carpet in the cab-over bed looks pretty new ... too new to be original. I pulled it up and found a lot of paper-thin particle board, however, I don't think it's rotten (with my extremely limited knowledge). I pulled up some of the particle board and saw the original 'real' wooden pieces underneath which I also don't think are rotten.

However, see the attached picture: it shows the cab-over area sagging in the middle. Some of the screws in the center seem are loose and I can basically push them back into the camper with my finger.

In light of our upcoming 3 month trip ... what is my best option?

1) ignore this, you won't fall through the floor when sleeping

or

2) this is bad: the supporting wood floor is probably rotten and you need to replace this immediately

or

3) it's OK, just screw some bigger screws in the middle seem to hold it together and put some caulking on the seem

Thanks 🙂

[Butch50]

scolew325 wrote:
from experience, here is what the problem is. There is likely a hole in the rubber roof which is letting water in, running down the wall(s) and settling in that area which has rotted the wood from the hole to the puddle. Once it has settled in a puddle it has rotted the wood that the fiberglass is laminated to (delamination). This can be repaired but will take a lot of time. If you do not have carpentry skills I would have a repair outfit fix it but be ready to take a good hit to the wallet. I fortunately have carpentry experience and friends that have built campers for guidance. I would show you pictures but cant figure out how to do it on this sight.

Just to let you know the OP has already moved on and has bought a new Living Lite camper.

[scolew325]

from experience, here is what the problem is. There is likely a hole in the rubber roof which is letting water in, running down the wall(s) and settling in that area which has rotted the wood from the hole to the puddle. Once it has settled in a puddle it has rotted the wood that the fiberglass is laminated to (delamination). This can be repaired but will take a lot of time. If you do not have carpentry skills I would have a repair outfit fix it but be ready to take a good hit to the wallet. I fortunately have carpentry experience and friends that have built campers for guidance. I would show you pictures but cant figure out how to do it on this sight.

[Super_Dave]

deleted.

[covered_wagon]

mkirsch wrote:
Hey, I'm all for a happy ending. Just trying to be realistic about expectations.

Sounds like you made out as well, probably better, than could be expected. Chalk that up in the WIN column.

There are those of us who can't even afford the "small" payment on a new camper. The interest may be tax deductible but the refund doesn't come close to making a year's payments on the camper.

Even after ten years of finance payments, if taken good care of, is better than a fix or repair nightmare. I made the payments all the way thru and now have a good camper. It's really worth much more now than the ones I saw used.

[mkirsch]

Hey, I'm all for a happy ending. Just trying to be realistic about expectations.

Sounds like you made out as well, probably better, than could be expected. Chalk that up in the WIN column.

There are those of us who can't even afford the "small" payment on a new camper. The interest may be tax deductible but the refund doesn't come close to making a year's payments on the camper.

[jornvango]

Indeed, that thought did enter my mind: to take a sledgehammer to the TC and then set it on fire. That would have felt very satisfying!

We bought a new TC today and traded in our TC from hell. Life is too short to be stressed, after all, it's just money.

[kerry4951]

mkirsch wrote:
"Buy another camper" assumes that the OP has the means and the will to run out and drop another big pile of cash.

Thats exactly what the OP indicated in one of his later posts. Hes apparently willing to go out and buy a better one, and cut his losses. I didnt assume anything.

[covered_wagon]

mkirsch wrote:
"Buy another camper" assumes that the OP has the means and the will to run out and drop another big pile of cash.

A dealer is not going to give him a fresh roll of toilet paper for this camper. Sorry. You guys have no idea what good business sense is.

Odds are that camper is a LOT more sins than the OP has found so far. It would be one thing if a customer were paying to have it fixed. The dealer would be more than happy to soak the customer for whatever it cost. BTDT.

For a dealer to sink their OWN money into this with no guarantee that it can be fixed economically, and leave a little "meat on the bone" for a profit at sale time... That's just bad business all the way around.

To any profitable dealer, this camper is a write off. They'll gladly take it and make it look like they knocked some off the price for it. Yeah, MSRP. You could've gotten that price clean deal and burned this camper in your backyard.

Think positive... not all camper dealers do but, there is a better likely hood of a deal this time of year. Especially out west where dealers have a good attitude.

Making payments is cheap on a camper and the interest is tax deductable. The new owner ends up with a unit that has no surprises and gets to enjoy it rather than have a constant bad taste in his mouth.

Sure the dealer will absorb it into the deal from any angle but, at least the arrow gets pointed in the right direction.... pointing at having fun. Life is too short to worry about the little things.

[mkirsch]

"Buy another camper" assumes that the OP has the means and the will to run out and drop another big pile of cash.

A dealer is not going to give him a fresh roll of toilet paper for this camper. Sorry. You guys have no idea what good business sense is.

Odds are that camper is a LOT more sins than the OP has found so far. It would be one thing if a customer were paying to have it fixed. The dealer would be more than happy to soak the customer for whatever it cost. BTDT.

For a dealer to sink their OWN money into this with no guarantee that it can be fixed economically, and leave a little "meat on the bone" for a profit at sale time... That's just bad business all the way around.

To any profitable dealer, this camper is a write off. They'll gladly take it and make it look like they knocked some off the price for it. Yeah, MSRP. You could've gotten that price clean deal and burned this camper in your backyard.

[covered_wagon]

kerry4951 wrote:
I agree with covered wagon......if you can swing it make the trade and upgrade to a nicer unit. Could be a good time to make the deal. In a long run I think you will be much happier.

I'm glad someone agrees.

A good camper dealer will see this as an opportunity to keep his service guys busy in a time when jobs seemingly continue to go bye bye.

[kerry4951]

I agree with covered wagon......if you can swing it make the trade and upgrade to a nicer unit. Could be a good time to make the deal. In a long run I think you will be much happier.

[covered_wagon]

3/4'' plywood is just a band aid.... covering up, further sealing off any chance for the wet wood to dry out. Right now, middle of winter, you have a far better chance at hammering out a good deal on a new unit. Plywood will just bow down anyhow and you'd need two sheets further waisting money because you'd have a seam down the middle.

Oh how I love to argue 🙂

A dealer with a good repair facility can get that camper back in order, make money after giving you your money spent for a down payment.

[Mich_F]

That 3/4" plywood idea is probably the best short term "fix" for this situation. I think the tie down issue in your other thread is probably a more important immediate concern than this issue.
I'd advise bringing this in to someone that knows something about slide ins and get their opinion on how bad your issues are and how to fix them, before taking off on your trip.

[free_radical]

Camp, Forrest, Camp! wrote:
I'm kinda lazy, so I would throw a piece of 3/4" plywood in the cab over under the bed. It looks like it's basin the middle so distributing the weigh out to the edges would help. The worst thing that would happen is you would fall through to your cab, but I doubt that'll happen.

Others will disagree, but that's my two cents.

that would be my advice also,
plus Id run bead of caulking on every outside seam to seal the leaks,,