Do NOT use Flex Seal on your camper roof!
Figured I’d post this since I had a troubling conversation with my repair guy a couple weeks back when I picked up my camper after it was repaired following a minor collision last fall. We were discussing my long battle with a skylight leak in the bathroom and I mentioned that at one point I used flex seal spray as an emergency measure until I could do a proper repair with new butyl tape and Dicor and eternabond. He got all exited and told me that the “flex seal is great stuff! That’s the way to go!” And he used it on his parents’ leaky shed roof and its holding just fine. I nodded and told him it’s great for an emergency but from my firsthand experience, it becomes brittle, cracks, and eventually peels off when it’s been exposed to ultraviolet light for more than a few weeks. He apparently wasn’t aware of that. Ive been thinking about that conversation for a few weeks now and figured I’d post a thread about it to inform others who might be tempted to use flex seal as a permanent solution on camper roofs. DON’T! Even though the tv commercial shows a guy sealing a skylight, Even though your repair guy or dealer might tell you it’s great, Even though a website or blog extols it’s virtues, It is NOT a permanent solution!!!!! Emergency patch? Sure. But it WILL become brittle, crack, and peel off in a few weeks under UV light (sunlight). So please, PLEASE, don’t even think about using this stuff I place of lap sealant or eternabond. This has been a public service announcement. We now return to your regularly scheduled program.
Help! 2004 Bigfoot 2500 TC Advice
Hi everyone! My husband and I just purchased a 2004 Bigfoot2500 10.5E truck camper and we’ve spent hours upon hours trying to source parts for it. It’s certainly harder then anticipated but we really want to make sure we’re doing right by our old school Bigfooot. Theres a few things we’ve haven’t been able to find and we’d would love any information/insight. 1. Kitchen sink plastic drain stoppers. We have a split acrylic (I think?) sink. Theres a beige plastic stopper in each drain that seem screw down into the drain in order to plug it. Ours our deteriorating and for now we’re trying to find replacements if anyone knows where to get them. We’re debating replacing the entire sink as well at some point so if anyone has some insight with links to replacement sinks or how big of a job that would be. The more info the better 2. Exterior range hooded vent cover. Ours is cracking and discolored on the outside and we can’t find a similar one that fits. Apparently the only one we can order from Bigfoot is too large and we’d have to cut the hole in the fiberglass bigger (certainly trying to avoid that lol). 3. Replacing the mattress. We ordered a new foam mattress from Amazon (6 inches like the original). Although, I really like the quality of the mattress cover on the original and was wondering if anyone ever replaced the original insert with a foam mattress to keep the cover? Also, are the cushion upholstery and mattress cover that come in these older Bigfoots machine washable? 4. Monitor panel on power range hood. All of the connections, lights for tank levels and switches function properly but the rubber boarder on panel itself seems to be pulling away from the metal hood. Is there a way to replace the entire strip/mount around the switches? I know that panel itself is delicate so before we go taking it apart is this a “dont fix what’s not broken” situation? 5. Exterior door metal lock. It’s always sticking and hard to close without using force. Any links to a good replacement would be helpful. 6. Wet bath shower curtain track. Looking the replace the entire track since the little clasps attached to it are rusty and one on the end is stuck in place. I can’t seem to find the replacement anywhere. Or is there a product to apply to get the rust off without compromising the fiberglass? 7. Replacement exterior little door locks. A lot of them are a pain to unlock with the key and they stick. Has anyone ever bought them in bulk and replaced them all? Or is there a way to clean them out or a specific lubricant to get them to function better? I know the list is long but if anyone has any tips, links to replacement products, ideas just any insight at all it would be so so so helpful. My Bigfoot did come with an owners manual but it’s a bit vague and a lot of the individual manuals they reference for more information we don’t have. I added a picture of the information inside of the closet incase anyone happens to be familiar with our model or own the same one. Thanks everyone!
3D Printing Success Story
The jack covers on our 2014 Lance 865 had gotten very brittle and I broke one of them when I was washing the camper. After an exhaustive search, I was not able to find any OEM replacement covers for the Atwood jacks. I found someone on Etsy that offered 3d printing services and I was able to have him print/create an entire set of new jack covers for not much more than one OEM replacement cover. OEM: 3D printed: There is a crack in the bottom part of the 3D part. I tried to stretch it around the jack when it was very cold, I am certain if I had warmed up the plastic it would not have split.
Photo Thread - Post a Photo of Your Truck Camper Here
Post photos of your truck camper on this thread. Any photo with a truck camper in it is allowable; any brand, any year. If you have a couple of nice truck camper photos from your vacation, feel free to post them here. But, if you have 10, 20, 30 or 130 vacation photos you would like to post, this is not the thread for them. Just start a new thread and post all of them you like there. If you would like to also post a couple of the better TC photos on this thread, that is fine. This thread is for Truck Camper photos only. But feel free to post comments on posted photos. Because this thread is very long, I will occasionally clean it up by removing the older posts that do not have truck camper photos and other off topic material. Also, please limit photo width to 640 pixels. Please do not post thumbnail size photos, they are just too small to see and will be deleted. Please post photos, not just a clickable link to a photo. Please limit the photo file size to reasonable size. preferably less than 100k, but absolutely less than 200k. Large size files just take too long to download. Register at photobucket.com (free), download your pictures (takes a while), hi-lite and copy the URL, then use the "image" icon to paste the photo URL. See the links below for help with posting photos. PhotoBucket.com - Free Photo Hosting Posting Photos Help Thread Posting Photos Brad's Way Another Good Thread With Photo Posting Info Technology Forum Posting Photos on the Forum - Help Thread More help with photos More help with photos (2) Photo Bucket Photo Hosting Site NetBoy's Thread on Compressing Photos Can't See the Photos? Click Here (The Mad Norsky) BradW :) :)
1978 Fliteway Truck Camper
My DW and I bought a 1978 Fliteway last year. When the camper isn't on the truck, we've been working long and hard at refurbishing and updating it. Other than locating a company (Fliteway Co., Inc. in Manawa, WI) that existed in the late '70's I have not been successful at finding any information, including pictures on this camper. Anyone out there have any knowledge, pictures of, or experience with this one? We're almost done with the interior, and previous owners repainted the exterior - left one logo and the serial number plate untouched. We'd like to find more information on the company and camper - how many were built, if the company still exists & under which name (if it does) and where we can get pieces and parts to finish the refurbishment. Thanks for any information you can supply.Laminated Fiberglass Walls
Looking at purchasing a new camper. Looking for experiences with the Adventurer 901SB / Arctic Fox 865 I like the 2" R13 insulation of the Adventurer, I dislike the layout and storage. I like the layout and storage of the Arctic Fox but would like there to be something more than the R7? insulation.... (actually, they don't specify what the wall insulation is. Just that it is 5" thick at the crown) What has been everyone's experiences with the laminated aluminum framed walls with either of these campers? How has the build quality been? Have they solved the problem of laminated wall campers coming apart like a cheap watch at the slightest hint of moisture?How 4-season are 4 seasons Lances?
Ok, so lots of questions. First off, let me introduce myself. I've got 3 kids who will all be off to college in the next 5 years or so. My wife and I have always loved traveling and we are avid skiers (Me moreso than her). We live in Upstate NY and have 2 dogs and a Cat. So for when the kids go off to college for my next adventure I've settled on getting a truck camper. I've ruled out other vehicles for a few reasons. First, I have some towing needs, that some of the 4x4 vans can't accommodate. My two big goals for the TC are using it to drive to different ski resorts here in the North East, and driving it to fishing spots to fly fish. I will get a 4x4 but have no intentions of wheeling it hard; just rough roads and bad weather. I think I've settled on a Lance 1172 or possibly a 975. I'll mate it to a Ford F550, (possibly super single conversion.) although I haven't decided on the upfitter yet. I have a large shop that I can park it in, that's heated even in the winter. I built it with an RV in mind so large overhead door, electric drop, pull through, etc. So first question, those of you that use your water in the winter I assume you are driving with the heat on? I'm pretty handy and would even consider adding a diesel heater to supplement in the winter. This really works if my wife can hop in and go, take showers, use the toilet etc. She doesn't Ski as much as me and is more than happy to go back and kick back with a book while I chase the last lift. Those of you with the larger Lances what's your experience been? My typical winters here in NY are often down in the single digits (-17C for my Canadian friends) and while I've seen the Lances in person a few times it seems like maybe they'd need a bit more customizing to boost the low end? Do people find the bed warm enough in the really cold? I know some people use the bed systems to get an air gap, etc. We've been to a few RV shows and the Lance seems to fit our needs the best. I like the room versus Bigfoot, and they seem to be a little more modern than Northern Lite, especially now with the Truma heating and AC. Does anyone use the dehumidifier in the winter? Hows that work? I also work remotely and might occasionally take it for customer visits if I can reasonably get away with it, so I'll likely equip it with decent internet. Anyone have any experiences similar to this they care to share? Am I asking too much of it?
