How do I know if my floor is solid?

[Carrara68]

I have a recently purchased 1967 Overlander. The floor seems to have a 1/4" plywood sheeting over my subfloor. I hear a little creeking over some areas but wasn't sure if that was an issue? I was planning on pulling the complete underpan and use an ice pick to probe the plywood. Does that seem like a viable option.

Any information would be helpful.

Will

[Carrara68]

The floor feels very solid everywhere, just the creaking in one area. Not the bathroom. I am a carpenter of many years, but brand new to RVing. So happy I have an Airstream

[toastie]

My first guess is that the PO covered up a bad floor, can you take a piece of the belly pan off and do a check. My second guess, time for a new floor, frame repair and new axle on your 46 year old Overlander.

toastie

[247stream]

anytime a new floor is put over an old one I suspect a bad subfloor. you simply can't feel the soft spots with new plywood over the old. its pretty common for old trailers, especially in the bathroom. as to how to check, you didn't say how well the new plywood is covered it might be easier to simply 'find a corner' to pull up the new flooring and test an area underneath you might get lucky in that one spot but without having access to all the old floor you'll never really be able to know for certain your old subfloor is solid. good luck

[perryg114]

The first rule of buying a used Airstream is you never discover a bad floor till after you bought it.

The second rule is there is no such thing as NO LEAKS.

I agree pull the pan and see what you have. Especially on one that old. Odds are against that floor being good.

Perry

[xrvr]

If the floor has no sag or soft spots and you have no leaks currently, why worry about it.? Go camping!! Jim

[ALANSD]

I second that last comment. If the trailer works, use it.

[cwf]

have you tried one of those 'sonic' wall stud finders?

As a carpenter, ask yourself, "would I walk on that in my home if I lived over an alligator pit?"

Not that serious, but surely a point to consider is 'usefulness' versus 'perfection' versus 'safety'.. Since you are a carpenter, we look forward to your contributions!

If it is solid enough to tow, make some trips and use to decide if you have problems you want to address...

For me, my 1999 is 'new'.. having owned only a couple of months. 3 weeks ago we pulled up all the carpeting.. then it rained... we found a couple of 'damp' areas and one area really 'soft'. I repaired the soft area with 'Git Rot'.. which is a Marine grade, very thin Epoxy. It did the job as documented and I do not expect an issue from that area in the future.

All that said, I would gain access to the floor to see what shape it is in because that is where the shell is supported along the sides.

Great advice above my post... Welcome.. and enjoy!

[Carrara68]

Great information on the floor, thanks. The underlayment is completely covering the floor. It looks stapled and then skim coated over the top with a concrete based floor patch. Upside is that the whole trailer (minus the bathroom) is gutted. Before I put things back, I will do a good inspection from the underside.

I admit, we got a little blinded when we purchased the Airstream. Love is blind.

[247stream]

aaah, too true, love is blind but I think that's a good thing because without the love of the trailer it would not make it back to be the beauty it once was, it would just be off rotting in a yard or field somewhere.

[switz]

Airstreams can be like a boat. A bottomless opening down which we pour gobs of paper money in the hopes that will cure the various problems.... Hopefully we have some fun along the way to mitigate the reality of the costs.

Even a "new" unit seems to be full of surprises. They may be covered by warranty, but where is that nearest dealer with fuel at nearly $4.00 per gallon and a TV that currently gets 11.3 mpg towing?

[switz]

Airstreams can be like a boat. A bottomless opening down which we pour gobs of paper money in the hopes that will cure the various problems.... Hopefully we have some fun along the way to mitigate the reality of the costs.

Even a "new" unit seems to be full of surprises. They may be covered by warranty, but where is that nearest dealer with fuel at nearly $4.00 per gallon and a TV that currently gets 11.3 mpg towing?