Newbie: Rotten wood floor

[Royalwapiti]

I am looking at a Forest River Work N Play that has a rotten floor under the bathroom hallway. I am a competent handy man and good carpenter. How tough would it be to cut out the old plywood floor and piece in new. Then replace the vinyl floor.

The water damage is from an appliance that was sitting in the bathroom, (Don't ask, I suspect it was a dishwasher as it was used as BBQ cook-off trailer and there are rust spots where the appliance sat) not a leaky toilet or shower. However, the toilet will have to come up and maybe the shower too, even some hallway panelling (wall) to get all of it replaced. Like I said I do this in houses all the time, but never a RV.

Easy job....nice winter project?

Thanks, comments appreciated.

If I buy it I also plan to add a happijac bed to the garage area above where my ATV will sit. Any sources of used beds equipment such as that?

[Royalwapiti]

Okie Dokie, I guess I will find a new forum for RV posts.

[AquaMan]

Don't be too quick to abandon us. Most on here probably wouldn't tackle that job, but I would. As you stated, you may have to remove some internal walls and such to be able to cut out all the rot, but I think it's a very doable task and sounds like you have the skills to accomplish it. I would reinforce at the seems, as you most likely won't be removing the outside sidewalls (the flooring runs under the sidewalls), and use floor clips where you can.

[TURBS]

threads get buried pretty fast in this forum sometimes.

Some get missed occasionally.

Everybody on this forum will try to help in anyway that they can.

Sometimes it takes a day or two to find someone to respond to your post.

You'll get answers .



Turbs

[dustman_stx]

If the price was right, I'd try it. I helped a friend patch some rotten spots in a floor recently. It was on both sides of the bed. We actually ended up cutting out the rotten wood, replacing the rotten subfloor, and then placing another carpet covered board over it. I think my plan for what you are looking at would be to cut out the old and replace with new subfloor and new floor joists where needed, and then lay new flooring in the entire camper. You'll probably have to cut as close as possible to cabinets and walls and then use a piece of quarter round over the new flooring.

[Royalwapiti]

Thanks guys,

Do you know what the joists are typically made of on these? It's not mine yet so i don't want to pick around at his rotten floor and make it look worse (not sure how I could make it look worse but you know what i mean).

I am thinking $5,000. 2005 24' basic Work N Play.

[fx2]

Originally Posted by dustman_stx

If the price was right

This is the most important part. With the amount of work needed it better be one hell of a deal



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[dave961]

With a rotten floor, you should be able to get it cheap, most people wouldn't touch it. In my first toy hauler, I had to rip out and replace the entire last 3' of floor down to the joists (metal I beams). It was particle board ruined by a roof leak traveling down the walls. I replaced it with marine plywood. Do not use PT plywood as that will shrink as it dries.

A year later, most of the bathroom floor had to go including removing and replacing the toilet. That was tougher that the garage floor because the space was tight and there was plumbing involved.

From those two jobs, I would say the more floor you remove the easier the job gets and the easier it is to find supports to tie into. Sounds opposite, but it's not - and you want to be sure you get all the bad stuff out. Where the floor goes under the wall can get a but tricky, but it sounds like this aint your first rodeo. After the demo phase, start the replacement with the toughest parts.

Good luck, and post before, during, and after photos. We love to see stuff like that on this site.

[Royalwapiti]

I am going to pass on buying this RV. There are two many unknowns and possible issues.

- If it were only the floor rot I could handle that. The Work N Plays are built with 3/4" plywood coated with FRP for the exterior with a masonite type interior surface. There is water damage coming from the roof area, and the interior is peeling off. It looks like it might be coming from a window, but closer look reveals it starts at the top. I have read you need to reseal with silicone the screws on the angle flashing that holds the walls and roof together.

- The owner has let it sit for 2.5 years, that a negative. Stuff likes to be used, it rots when it sits stagnant.

- The rear ramp will need rebuilt, parts of it are busted up, this is a sealing surface as well when closed it need to seal tight.

- There's no LP gas in it to test any appliances. He didn't know how to light the water heater. So I assume he doesn't know how to fire up the frig or furnace. I don't care about the stove...

- No way to get electricity to it to test any of the that system. I don't have a generator yet and don't want to borrow one.

- It doesn't have a queen bed. I figured I could take out the drop down beds and drop sofa that are against the wall in the garage and install a HappiJac bed system....priced them....ouch!! $1500 for two bed setup and then i have to build the frame and put the mattresses in. Used?

It just could need a complete rebuild and I don't want to put that it in. He has it for $7200 now, he started at $9,000. I was going to offer $5,000 but now wouldn't pay $4000. I am not sure that would be low enough by the time you rebuilt it all. I don't have enough time to do all that.

Will be looking for a 21-24 foot toy hauler with queen bed, not necessarily a bedroom up front, but at least a queen bed somewhere.