Lots of rotten floor

[StingrayL82]

Vern, that is one helluva job you've done. It's a shame that I lived in a townhouse, when I was stationed in Maryland...I would have loved to have redone our Sovereign the way you did yours, that way I would have been satisfied that it was done right...as it stands, I'll be taking care of separation in ours, although ours is in the rear.

Keep up the good work, it's motivating!

[HiHoAgRV]

Sit back, close your eyes and visualize a pair of 17' Airstreams, not a single 34'...

The first one is done and the second one isn't as bad...

Nope, that doesn't help at all

The ole ice pick fooled me on this one... I checked the rear compartment and it was solid. Until we pulled the bed and carpet and found aluminum on the floor...crazy previous repairs. The really wacky parts are the attempted sealing method by caulking the interior skin to the ribs and the use of expanding wing nuts to clamp the joint.

This does however shows signs of somebody familar with Airstream construction.

[HiHoAgRV]

Today was supposed to be a simple day. Patch the bathroom floor and install the rest of the vinyl planks but noooo, yesterdays discovery of rotten floor in the bedroom tossed me a curve. I did get the bath patched and the started on the bedroom. The bad area was cut out, the c channel, cleaned out and new wood cut to size (I'm glad I kept the pattern from the front - it fit the rear!) and varnished.

Mrs. HiHo has spent the day sewing and installing new cloth on the soft panels for the bedroom, also a full day

Tomorrow will be POR15 the frame, insulation and bolt in the sections...simple huh?

[HiHoAgRV]

Today started with POR 15 on the exposed 1.5 feet of rear frame, insulation and insertion of the floor parts that were cut and sealed yesterday. Vinyl flooring has now been installed all the way to the bedroom with the exception of the bath. It's getting ceramic tile. I've had good luck installing it with Liquid Nails and grouting with (NO - DON'T SAY IT!) Silicone !

I also took a swipe at the gross looking decals. The clear coat that was sprayed over the stripes was peeling and looked horrible. By using a scotch brite pad, lots of water and STAYING OFF THE ALUMINUM, the stripes cleaned up ok.

Whew, long weekend. Back to the office tomorrow for some rest.

[HiHoAgRV]

Not much progress except getting all of the bedroom interior skins installed, cleaned and ready for the new soft sections that Mrs. HiHo has completed. Tomorrow I hope to get the flooring down, the bed and the night stands installed. I'm not done with the interior but I can smell it from here .

[HiHoAgRV]

Tonight we got the flooring down and the bedroom assembled in 3 hours flat. The rotten floor thread is getting close to wrapping up .

On to the bathroom, thank goodness it's only 24" X 36"...

[HiHoAgRV]

The front - Mac didn't mind the carpet.

[HiHoAgRV]

And the back. Was blue and flowers, now muti earthtone

[HiHoAgRV]

Where did the past week go? Not much visible progress but there were still things to be done. A water system test found a cracked polybutal "T" under the sink - that's this afternoons project . Saturday was spent rempving old sealant and re sealing the front cap and the lower beltline. The 1/4 round is now installed. A grand plan of repacking the wheel bearings went off track when the local supplier for seals was closed on Saturday.

The only thing to show for all of those efforts is the ceramic tile in the bath. Cutting and placing the tile did take 3 days, the diamond saw blade died and I could only glue one row to the wall at a time. It's glued down and waiting for the silicone grout.

Time to order a new toilet.

[HiHoAgRV]

Let me say - Me and Plummin'- we don't see eye to eye...

The stupid little broken gray "T" cost me 3 trips to Home Depot, 2 trips to Lowes and close to $40 in brass and hose.

I don't think I like PolyButal piping...

We did get the Levlor blinds installed in the kitchen and bath

Still waiting on the glue to cure under the tiles before the final sealing.

[frankfarmer]

New owner,

I should have done more due dilligence!!! Trusted previous owner too much.

All the wood underneath Toilet is rotten to the core, what a mess/mold & little even mushrooms.

Located North Alabama.

Does anyone know any repair centers around Birmingham Alabama for this type problem. It looks like more of a job than I can handle.

92 Limited Edition, 34 footer.

Thank you, much better luck your way than here.

[HiHoAgRV]

Originally Posted by frankfarmer

...All the wood underneath Toilet is rotten to the core, what a mess/mold & little even mushrooms... It looks like more of a job than I can handle...

I don't know of a source in the area, although I lived there for years...

Ya' know a handy man? The main required skills are a circular saw and, well, hummm...a hammer?

Pull up some threads and show him, it's not really that tough for the bath area...all the instructions are here on Airforums! The folks here are INCREDIBLE at answering questions

Ya' know how it goes when buying a trailer..."everything worked when I last used it and nothing leaks..."

[85/345]

Try Camper Repair Center they are very close to Birmingham.

Camper Repair Center
Montevallo, AL 35187
(205) 665-2531

[gutsgolf]

I need to see pics of the frame of a rear bath 31 ft soverign. i have some rot around the back edges. Curious about frame and how i need to plan patches.
thanks

[frankfarmer]

Originally Posted by 85/345

Try Camper Repair Center they are very close to Birmingham.

Camper Repair Center
Montevallo, AL 35187
(205) 665-2531

Sonny at Camper Repair, Montivallo referred me to a Colonial RV in Birmigham. He says they are reliable, know airstreams. Do you by chance know anything about them? Guess I plan to take it into them for service/repairs.

[HiHoAgRV]

The tile is glued down, the caulking is dry and UPS delivered the new toilet...

We are getting close! 5 days to the first outing , its looking like a mini rally with Mrs HiHo wanting to take BOTH Airstreams camping this weekend.

On edit: I spent yesterday re-keying the deadbolt - everyone should try that for themselves...ONCE!

[StingrayL82]

Is there a certain brand of deadbolt to use, or can you just go to Home Depot/Lowe's and buy whatever deadbolt there?

[HiHoAgRV]

Originally Posted by StingrayL82

Is there a certain brand of deadbolt to use, or can you just go to Home Depot/Lowe's and buy whatever deadbolt there?

My deadbolt is an insert in the handle portion mounted to the shell just fwd of the door. It's too dark for a good photo so here comes the text...

I removed the inner door frame, a dozen rivits from the inner skins near the latch, peeled back the skin, drilled out the 3/16 rivits attaching the deadbolt to the main door frame, hacked away 1 pound of vulcum from the backside of the handle, removed the allen bolts and slid the OEM Schlage lock assembly out of the door handle.
THEN-
I tumbled thru a box of old keys until I found one that would fit into the lock (obviously not lucky enough to have it actually UNLOCk the darn thing...). Some internet browsing showed me how to "shim" the lock open and pull the tumbler pins out (sproing and they fly everywhere). Out of the 5 pins, 3 could be rearranged to fit my new key and 1 was long enough to be filed down for a new fit. 1 was just left out . Reassembly is the reverse process except for getting all those tiny springs to play nice...
I know that several sources will sell a new key and tumbler set but what would be the fun in that!

[HiHoAgRV]

Tonight I completed the toilet install, bringing me to a re-assembled 34'!

There is still a long list of items to fix/update/blah blah blah but basically I am done with the floor portion and this thread.
I'm going to continue the updates on my main thread

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f205...num-54749.html

I will add details to this thread as they pop up so feel free to continue using it.

Thanks to all the folks that posted, PM'd and 'thanked' during the last month, y'all really did help!

Lumatic, Whitelight, Jim & Susan, vlamica, Wabbiteer, Hampstead38, ArtStream, bertro, catson4, 87MH, 3Ms75Argosy, Don McKelvay, dieseleagle, goransons, mello mike, Aerowood, StingrayL82, frankfarmer, 85/345, gutsgolf and other 'well known' Forum Members...

[HiHoAgRV]

Ok, I'm gonna toss out some info from the Dark Side...

We also own a SOB

All of us 'Streamers fuss and cuss when a leak wipes out the floor...

Guess what happens to a SOB?

Beyond gross, the wall studs rot and then get shorter. The biomass of wood is enough to support alien life forms

And we also fuss about sealing...try it on corrugated sides

The only thing that makes me smile is the fact that the SOB is on blocks at the weekend property and the 'Stream is on the road!