Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 05-07-2012, 08:06 PM   #1
2 Rivet Member
 
CampUnger's Avatar
 
1979 31' Sovereign
Wabash , Indiana
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 86
Images: 1
Exclamation Expect the unexpected...

Last summer I had our gaucho cushion redone by a professional. New foam and new fabric.

This year I decided to tackle the rest of the gaucho myself (we had minimal time last year to finish, and to be honest the arm rests intimidated me a little) I took the pieces apart and we have some water damage to them so we remade those.

After making new bases for the arm rests on each side of the gaucho out of plywood fronts and luan (sp?) sides and getting them nicely covered in new fabric, I was ready to install them.

We didn't replace carpet under it when we got new as it was just a few days old, and we had to get it done asap, we had plans for our new fun toy, and no idea how to remove the gaucho. I needed to pull out the old carpet and put some new in underneath, so I started cutting along the side of the gaucho to get the corners up ( I figured just doing the corners would be ok, no one will see UNDER the gaucho anyway, right???

uh-oh....

We knew we have had a leak we can't pinpoint, but we didn't know how long it has been there or how bad it was. Our best guess it is a long time (we have had it 2 years now) and runs under the skin and onto the floor in the door side front corner, right under the window.

So after pulling up the carpet, BLACK MOLD.....AAAGGGHHHHH!!!! Not a happy camper here, and I barely pushed on the plywood floor with the closed razor blade and not only did it puddle, but the second time I did it, it poked a hole in the floor!!!!

So, unexpectedly, out came the caugho, and the bad parts of the floor and insulation. Thankfully the battery boxes didn't have to come out, it is solid around and under those.
We chipped away all the loose rust from the frame (that is another project for a few years from now, but not to be put off too long. Maybe when my now toddlers are in school and I have free time, HA) and painted the frame with black rustoleum, to try to help prevent more rust.

Currently, we are waiting on paint to dry, and hopefully soon we can reinsulate, set the new floor, carpet, and gaucho, them maybe pick up where I started at reinstalling the bases for the arm rests.

Moral of the story: lesson learned, never expect an easy fix, and just because you hope you won't have the same problems others have,doesn't mean you won't. Things take ten times longer than you expect, and cost three times as much.

CampUnger is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-07-2012, 09:32 PM   #2
Rivet Master
 
Skatiero's Avatar
 
1986 32' Excella
Currently Looking...
Canton , Georgia
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,342
Images: 25
Well, at least you know what's under there, now! It could have been a lot worse. It will be gorgeous when you are finished! Any luck n locating the leak?
Skatiero is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-07-2012, 09:45 PM   #3
Rivet Master
 
c_lewis77's Avatar
 
1982 34' Limited
Brunswick , Georgia
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,084
Images: 22
I had a leak on the door side front corner. it was the seal around the scare light. That its easy to check.
__________________
1982 34' Limited
2000 Excursion V10 4x4
WBCCI #3321
TAC #GA-24
c_lewis77 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Airstream, Inc. or any of its affiliates. Airstream is a registered trademark of Airstream Inc. All rights reserved. Airstream trademark used under license to Social Knowledge LLC.



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 12:43 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.