Newbie Sunline Saturn T661

[Erinpatricia]

Hi there! My husband brought home this new fun find a few weeks ago. It is in rough shape and needs a good amount of work. Interior water damage in the rear (bathroom area) and front (next to the window). Anyone who has renovated one of these any tips would be helpful!

 

[JohnGB]

Welcome, Erin and hubby!

It sounds like you have a good-sized project ahead of you. And you know there is water damage.

Where to start in all this? Restoring or renovating an old camper can be a fun project. It also comes with a substantial amount of work to complete. There are many small steps to take, and you need to plan how to cover the camper when it's apart. If you are fortunate to have a building, you can do the work inside; that is the ideal situation. However, not all of us have a building for this, so you need to create a large tarp setup to cover the camper. Many have done this, including myself, before the new barn was built. The tarp will cover the entire camper, and you fold it back when working on an area, then back over when you are done. Lots of bungee cords to keep it tight from the wind getting it.

Then comes the question: where do you start taking it apart? If you are using the tarp method, consider starting on only one end at a time. And understand, you want to take the camper apart from the outside, as the damage you are describing means the siding has to come off anyway, so start there, as you will be replacing wall studs, and the siding needs to be stapled back to the nearest wall studs from the outside.

Here are some prior significant repair efforts, accompanied by many pictures to show you what your project can become.

The first one is by Sunline Fan, showing him taking apart his 1979 project camper. While he is still rebuilding it, the process reveals the basic methods Sunline used in the wall framing of your vintage camper.
New Project Sunline - 1979 12 1/2' MC

This post by Thomascine shows how she rebuilt the entire front wall and floor on her 1987 camper. Water Damage Assessment and Repair

Here is another by Yellow Jacket on his 1987 camper. 1987 t1550 restoration

This is one of mine, it is a step-by-step post I started on how to repair a front wall on a 2004 camper. I haven't finished the post yet, but it's a good start to help get you going. This camper is made a little differently than yours, with thicker wood and a few different techniques, as Sunline changed its methods over time.
2004 T2475 Repair - Project Camper No 2

Here is another complete restoration, again of a newer camper than yours —a 2004 model— but the technique is the same.
2004 T1950 Restoration Project - (Ugly Picture Heavy)

There are many other posts too. I didn't want to overwhelm you all at once, but those are a good start. We can point you to others as you want/need more.

Consider creating a post of your repair journey to help you and others in the future.

I hope this helps.

John