1st time owner

Michael1975 · 04-28-2017, 05:24 PM

I just bought a 2000 Solaris T2363. I just found it has a soft spot in the floor by the back corner and feels like the wood in the roof on the back end is week. Looks like I really am gonna have a lot of work to get it set up since the awning bracket is coming out from the same general area by the back. I hope I didn't get in over my head .......

**Sunline Fan** · 04-30-2017, 06:14 PM

Hi Michael,

Congrats on your new to you Sunline!

Sunlines were built with the rubber roof material on top of something called bud board- which is like a 1/8" thick pressboard similar to what you'd find on the back of a dry erase board. This material is designed to be lightweight and support the roof, but not a person. So hopefully that's all the flex you found. If anywhere on the roof pushes in like pushing on a balloon, then the bud board has probably absorbed water from a leak and disintegrated. Either way, it sounds like a good time to check your roof seams and probably re-seal them.

The bottom awning bracket pulling away is almost always an indication of severe water damage and rot though.

Michael1975 · 04-30-2017, 07:08 PM

I did find some rot on the rear corner floor. By the back door. This is close to where the awning hooks into the wall. So I am assuming the brace under the floor is rotting as well.
Is replacing a section of the floor board and a brace extremely hard to do? This is the first camper I have owned and this is starting to feel a bit intimidating.
As for the roof yes the top feels like a balloon on the back quarter of the roof. I believe I found the spot the water may have been getting in. There was a cap across the back wall at the roof line that is lifted on one side so the wall was out from under the last 5 inches and exposed. I caulked it temporarily but am worried I may have to replace the whole back wall now.

**Sunline Fan** · 05-01-2017, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael1975

I did find some rot on the rear corner floor. By the back door. This is close to where the awning hooks into the wall. So I am assuming the brace under the floor is rotting as well.
Is replacing a section of the floor board and a brace extremely hard to do? This is the first camper I have owned and this is starting to feel a bit intimidating.
As for the roof yes the top feels like a balloon on the back quarter of the roof. I believe I found the spot the water may have been getting in. There was a cap across the back wall at the roof line that is lifted on one side so the wall was out from under the last 5 inches and exposed. I caulked it temporarily but am worried I may have to replace the whole back wall now.

Yeah, it doesn't sound good. The #1 rule with water leaks is they are always worse than they appear before you open them up, unfortunately. I believe the awning bracket bolts into the lower stud, so that's probably what rotted out.

The cap you describe that was lifted up, is that the aluminum extrusion with screws all the way across? If those screws all rusted away and the trim was loose, the wood underneath is probably completely gone.

We haven't heard from Frank in quite a long time, but he had a 2363 two years newer than yours and had to do a similar repair. His pictures should really help give you an idea of what to expect:

http://www.sunlineclub.com/forums/f7...pair-9066.html

Michael1975 · 05-01-2017, 12:11 PM

Thank you so much for the link to Franks repairs. I now can see at least what I'm looking to get involved in. Next is finding the time to get working on it.
You have been very helpful. I really appreciate it.

Mike

**Sunline Fan** · 05-01-2017, 12:18 PM

No problem Mike! Be sure to let us know if you have any questions once you dig into it. If you are familiar/handy with house renovations, there are many similarities. These trailers are typically built from the inside out, so just keep that in mind when taking things apart. Cabinets are screwed from the outside, before insulation and metal went on. If you do have to take off metal, it's interlocking from the top down, so start at the bottom and it's stapled at ever stud. Luckily it seems like a lot of the damage is concentrated in a pretty basic corner of the trailer- not many windows, cabinets, or furniture.

Michael1975 · 05-01-2017, 01:21 PM

Unfortunately the leak I believe came from the opposite top corner and I think some of the wood there is gone as well. Will keep you posted when I finally have the time to dig into it.

**JohnB** · 05-02-2017, 09:53 AM

Hi Mike,

Welcome to Sunline Club and congrats on your new camper. It sounds like you have a "project" ahead of you.

These Sunlines are all fixable and we have had many before you do some complete restorations. If you are handy with basic wood tools, you can do the work yourself. These kind of repairs are very labor intensive but the materials are not that costly. If you can do the repairs, this is manageable.

When you get to this, create a post in the repairs and maintenance forum on your camper fix. We have some ongoing now and yours can be a good learning post for you and others coming behind you. Lots of pics help too as we can see what you are up against.

I too have a "project camper" (a 2004 T1950) I acquired this spring. It has a lot of what you are describing on it with water damage but the inside is real good. Due to time I may not get to the entire rebuild until over the winter but we have a lot of good pics from other campers to help

On the roof caulk and getting on the roof, see this post. http://www.sunlineclub.com/forums/f7...1-a-11508.html

Here is a roof and back wall repair on my Son's camper a year ago. It is a different model camper, but they are all built similar. Yours may not need a total roof redo, but a lot of this post can help show you how the camper comes apart and goes back together.
http://www.sunlineclub.com/forums/f7...avy-16834.html

Here is another one by Bee-Jen http://www.sunlineclub.com/forums/f7...res-17163.html

And here is a collection of some more of the rot repairs. Zoom down to the area called. http://www.sunlineclub.com/forums/f1...nks-11910.html

Restoring a Sunline

1. Repairing water damage on your Sunline.

That list keeps growing, I need to update it and your repair can make the list too...

Good luck and ask away for any help

John