Worst thing Ever....

[bacardiron]

Hello everyone, It's with a heavy heart I tell this story. Our beloved 2007 TK3 that we have had for three years developed a leak in the rear driver side of the living room. We took it into our dealer for repairs and were told that the repairs would be extensive and cost $18,000+. Our roof was rotten apparently. We had planned to live in this and do not have the money to re do the roof etc. I plan to get a second opinion from a different dealer. There were no marks or signs of leaking at all, the unit seemed to be fine. There was some cabinets that were separating for some reason, we love our rig and are devastated. I think the cost of repairs are high for replacing a roof but then again we live in Vancouver Canada where everything is expensive. Will the roof dry out if it is covered by a garage or something or will it continue to deteriate if left alone. Any ideas out out there aside from robbing a bank??

[wingnut60]

Who gave you the estimate? Seems that they are planning to replace more than just the roof and roof plywood. Do you have any of the new spray-on roof repair facilities anywhere nearby? RV Armor? (www.rv-armor.com). If so, they usually can take the membrane off, repair rotten wood and spray a lifetime warranty roof on.
Here is an article on a MH roof replacement by a dealer in OR...

http://www.motorhome.com/rv-how-to/rv-tech-tips/fiddlin-on-the-roof-motorhome-rubber-roof-replacement/

Any chance of insurance helping out?
Joe

[jwbups]

We have a 2006 TK3, and 6-7 years ago we had to have extensive roof repairs done. We have the 2 piece fiber glass roof with a seam in the middle of the coach, and where the seam met was where we had the problem. DRV did not do a good job of caulking and taping the seam and water got thru at the seam and the roof had to be removed and a 4 foot area of the ceiling frame had to be rebuilt and then roof reinstalled and taped and caulked properly. If you have the 2 piece roof it could be that after 9 years the area under the roof is much larger than our damage was. The cost at that time was over 2800 dollars, and even though unit out of warrenty, DRV paid for 50% of the repair, so DRV knew they had erred when installing the roof. I know believe that the roof are 1 piece running the length of the trailer.

[bacardiron]

Hey Joe; thanks for the help. I never thought of going thru insurance, going to give that a try. Failing that I contactacted Rv-Armour and talked to them. I can take the rig to washington and they will come and do the work. They estimate that if the roof does need replacing it would be $9000 with a lifetime guarantee and done right. Even with the high exchange it would save us $6000 and would be done right. Upon further research I found out that many DRV units have roof issues,probably a factory deficiency. Oh well. It's only money...right? lol thanks

[wingnut60]

Actually, I have been on the DRV forums since 2007 and have not heard much of roof problems with them. It mostly stems from not maintaining them correctly and often enough--I had to rebuild the framing around my shower skylight because I did not pay attention to the caulking drying up/shrinking.
Hope the roof deal works out--could not feature 18K even in CAD.
Joe

[porkchop]

That's 2 people in 1 post mentioning reframing part of the roof structure. I have owned 5 different DRV's so far starting with a 2008. The framing in all of them have aluminum. Are you saying they used to be wood? I go on the roof and check all seams at least twice a year. So far, so good. Wish you luck in your repair.

Bill

[wingnut60]

Bill,
All the talk above has been about replacing the ROOFING plywood, not reframing; the roof trusses are aluminum.
Joe

[bacardiron]

Thats one good thing, the trusses are aluminum. Wish the roof was as well. The wood is punky

[porkchop]

"and a 4 foot area of the ceiling frame had to be rebuilt and then roof reinstalled "

"--I had to rebuild the framing around my shower skylight "

Sure sounds like "framing" to me. Where I come from we don't use plywood for framing.

Bill

[wingnut60]

Sorry that I mis-stated what I had done--somehow, I mistook the 2x6 crossmember on the right and left sides of my shower skylight for wood instead of aluminum--no wonder my nails kept bending...

[porkchop]

I believe you actually could mistake aluminum for wood.
Perhaps my confusion comes from the fact that you talk about framing and then say you're talking about replacing plywood and then you're back to wood framing after telling me it's all aluminum?
Bill

[wingnut60]

Just trying to point out that altho DRVs have an all-aluminum 'superstructure' this does not preclude that there aren't some wooden sections. And, you're right, never heard of plywood used for 'framing' but lots used for covering framing. Was being a little facetious in talking about the 'frame' of my shower skylight, but it in fact has left-to-right aluminum truss components, and front-to-rear wooden components, and to 're-frame' the skylight necessitated the use of 'wood.'
Joe

[Cummins12V98]

They use wood for backing. Our RV being built. You can see the wood backing up high for the awning mounts.

http://i.imgur.com/WRB5ryDl.jpg