Floor renovation and other things

[btyler48]

I just bought a gutted 31' Sovereign '71 model. Subfloor has the same rotted problems at door and in rear bath area. With so much to do I would like suggestions as what to do first. Prepare wall and paint, fix the subfloor and or replace all water tanks. Thanks beforehand for your help.

[mccrosti]

Start with the floors. Correct that huge issue and everything else will be a pleasure.


Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums

[Belegedhel]

Step 1, evaluate your entire floor, and decide how much patching/replacing there is to do.

Step 2, open up the rear bumper trunk and remove enough aluminum to get a look at the rear of the frame.

Step 3, If frame is excessively deteriorated and enough floor is rotted that you will need to replace entire sheets, remove the center rear most interor skin and evaluate the condition of hte insulation and hold-down plate (it may have rusted completely away).

Step 4, Take a long sip of your favorite adult beverage and make the tough decision. Do you have the unholy trinity (rotting floors+disintegrating frame+rodent infestation in the walls)? If so, go ahead and build the gantry frames and resign yourself to doing a shell-off. If things can be corrected with patch-work, then proceed with the patching.

Some people try to do complete floor replacements without lifting the shell. I promise you that this is the hard way. If you lift the shell, then you can do all of the frame, bellypan, and tank work with the frame flipped in whatever orientation is easiest for you to work. Otherwise, you will be spending a lot of time on your back under the trailer.

Once your floor and frame are done, you can start worrying about the interior color scheme.

good luck!