Start of an Adventure with an S & S 8SC

[97fordrunner]

So this unit came up for sale on the Facebook market right in my town and I've been looking for an OBS Ford like this for a long time and this one is relatively rust free (has a small bubble patch on both rockers behind the doors) and it came with a camper which I've never really considered. Truck is a 460 5spd 2 wheel drive. Camper is a 2001 S & S 8SC. I noted the ceiling & walls showing water intrusion when we looked at it the first time and was not to worried as I am up to the task of doing the repair I just need some pointers where to start like inside or outside? It rained like crazy yesterday and i noted water on the counter by the window and water on the window and first thought the window track drain was plugged but found today that over the top of the window there is no sealant and the roof edges are spotty at best. As far as i can tell the front corners are ok at least from the inside but I am going into it planning that there is a lot to do likely starting with the roof and working my way down.




Upper cabinet water damage


Roof Edges


Kitchen Window Exterior


Moisture under sink area


Ceiling on drivers side


Overall clean interior

[97fordrunner]

Whats a good choice for replacing the roof? It has the look of aluminum but not positive on that but over the overhang portion I do see a low spot which is sort of in an unusual spot as the seam where the front nose meets the roof material is about 10" further forward. I was looking around and found roof replacement kits on RVpartsnation.com and they have a rubber kit or a superflex kit.

Both seem like decent options and pricing is comparable for the 15' I need

[BurbMan]

Generally you would start from the bottom removing tin siding...but I would take off the top and bottom trim and see where the staples are.

Here is a great thread on the Sunline forum. This is a friend of mine (goes by JBarca on this forum) repairing water damage on a Sunline trailer, but he has a lot of great pics on rubber roof removal, siding removal, etc. Scroll down on this thread and there are tons of pics specifically on siding removal.

There may be differences in how your camper is built, but by and large 99% of RVs are built using the same materials and same techniques.

This General Tools Moisture Meter has also been a terrific help. This is the same one you see John using in the Sunline thread above. You can scan the ceiling and walls with this meter and it will identify the moisture level in the wall. The wet spot you can see on the camper is usually only the the tip of the iceberg, this meter helps you identify how far the damage extends and also helps you spot wet spots that have not yet become visible. Typically the soft wood and flakeboard they use in these campers will soak up water from a small leak for years before the substrate becomes so saturated that the interior wallboard starts to appear wet.

[97fordrunner]

BurbMan wrote:
If you have the tin siding, it goes on in rows like residential vinyl, so if you unstaple it carefully you can reinstall it.

Do I start from the top or bottom when removing? I would assume top but we all know how assuming things goes.

[jaycocreek]

Nice..I have never bought an RV that i didn't I immediately do the roof the very next day..You can do the inside anytime but you want to keep any future water out of the inside of the camper..

Enjoy that truck and camper.

[NatParkJunkie]

BurbMan wrote:

Be aware that cabinets and interior walls, partitions, etc, are screwed to the wall from the OUTSIDE. In other words if this was like a regular house, they would put up the framing with the drywall on it, screw through the back of the drywall into the cabinets, then insul;ate and install sheathing and siding. So no fasteners visible from the outside, but you wreck the wall if you try to take cabinets out by pulling them from the inside.

That answers a question I've been trying to solve. I've been trying to figure out how to take out a shelf above the bed that I keep banging my head off of. I haven't been able to find any of the screws that are holding it. They must be on the outside.

[97fordrunner]

mountainkowboy wrote:
And we meet again.....LOL.

AWESOME truck and a good TC for a start.....

My rebuild thread might help you and is found ***Link Removed***

Yeah finally found my way over here. I was already perusing your restore and getting a lot of great info.

[mountainkowboy]

And we meet again.....LOL.

AWESOME truck and a good TC for a start.....

My rebuild thread might help you and is found HERE

[BurbMan]

I can only see the last pic, but for sure this window has been leaking...

I just started a similar project on a 2002 Lance, my pics and write up are here.

Generally you take these apart from the outside in. My fiberglas siding was glued on and the only way it came off was in pieces with a chisel. If you have the tin siding, it goes on in rows like residential vinyl, so if you unstaple it carefully you can reinstall it.

Be aware that cabinets and interior walls, partitions, etc, are screwed to the wall from the OUTSIDE. In other words if this was like a regular house, they would put up the framing with the drywall on it, screw through the back of the drywall into the cabinets, then insul;ate and install sheathing and siding. So no fasteners visible from the outside, but you wreck the wall if you try to take cabinets out by pulling them from the inside.