Roof redux: Fixing T1N seam rust

[InterBlog]

Post script to this thread, re: T1N Interstates. Check your vehicles for rust, particularly at the roof seams and windshield seal.

A sad story was relayed through Class B Forum where a 2006 PW owner is facing a minimum of $20,000 in repair costs, if the rig can be repaired at all, which is not clear. It may need to be scrapped instead (permalink here).

This sounds like the classic T1N Sprinter issues left unchecked for too long. It's a pain in the rear end to have to do all the roof work, and to pay preemptively for a new windshield like I did the week before last. A few days ago I told my husband, "You know that sound that a giant whale makes when it expels air out of its blow-hole? That's the same sound that money is making as it is being expelled from my wallet right now. BOOOOOOOSHHH!!" (New rear tires, new windshield, new 3M cab tint, new Lagun table...). I spoke prematurely. Mine does not qualify as wallet blow-holing. Twenty thousand bucks in repairs is wallet blow-holing.

[Tincampers]

Originally Posted by InterBlog

Post script to this thread, re: T1N Interstates. Check your vehicles for rust, particularly at the roof seams and windshield seal.

A sad story was relayed through Class B Forum where a 2006 PW owner is facing a minimum of $20,000 in repair costs, if the rig can be repaired at all, which is not clear. It may need to be scrapped instead (permalink here).

This sounds like the classic T1N Sprinter issues left unchecked for too long. It's a pain in the rear end to have to do all the roof work, and to pay preemptively for a new windshield like I did the week before last. A few days ago I told my husband, "You know that sound that a giant whale makes when it expels air out of its blow-hole? That's the same sound that money is making as it is being expelled from my wallet right now. BOOOOOOOSHHH!!" (New rear tires, new windshield, new 3M cab tint, new Lagun table...). I spoke prematurely. Mine does not qualify as wallet blow-holing. Twenty thousand bucks in repairs is wallet blow-holing.

Sounds like a part-out job to me. Wish there were pictures.

[Lily&Me]

I had small rust spots treated and then my entire roof coated with ProFlexRV roof sealant last year....it was relatively inexpensive, and will hopefully prevent rust for years to come.

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f240...ep-110840.html

Posts #248-#257.

Maggie

[Tincampers]

Originally Posted by Lily&Me

I had small rust spots treated and then my entire roof coated with ProFlexRV roof sealant last year....it was relatively inexpensive, and will hopefully prevent rust for years to come.

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f240...ep-110840.html

Posts #248-#257.

Maggie

How is that holding up Maggie?

[Lily&Me]

Perfectly, thus far.

No peeling nor other degradation noted.

Maggie

[InterBlog]

Originally Posted by Tincampers

Sounds like a part-out job to me. Wish there were pictures.

If you do a track-back, you might find pics somewhere in that chain. At this point I generally avoid online venues where realnames might be used. Not because I have anything to hide, but because I need to segregate aspects of my personal and professional life. Every time someone says "Oh, there's a FB [or some other] group for that," I'm like, "Sorry - I'm out."

[Alex AVI]

Originally Posted by InterBlog

every time I angle-back into my driveway, raising one wheel at a time, I hear metal creaking all over the van.

Hey INTERBLOG - I creak too every time I raise one leg at a time to board my AI. So I guess AI & AVI are one

Seriously though, been reading this thread and from what I gather this is only inherent in T1N. So hopefully NCV3 have learned their lesson? Or not? (have not seen any posts that mention this happening to NCV3).

BTW - I do love how your solar panels are installed. Roof line is clean. I wish mine was all-together like that. I am a creature of symmetry & continuity (which precludes me from being an artist)

[InterBlog]

Originally Posted by Alex AVI

...

.... from what I gather this is only inherent in T1N. So hopefully NCV3 have learned their lesson? Or not? (have not seen any posts that mention this happening to NCV3).
...

It's not clear. The T1Ns are older, and so their problem has had longer to manifest. If someone posts a close-up pic of an NCV3 roof seam, that would be basis for further discussion (white or silver, not black).

The T1N problem originated with the way those lap seams were constructed. To my untrained eye, they appear to have been spot welded only. I look at it and I think, "That can't possibly be true... there must have been something more done to it that is beneath the visible edge." If so, I don't know what it was.