For the love of it!

Spent most of the day washing the roof. This probably hasn't been washed in 10 years or more. What I learned. A stiff scrub brush is a must, good strong detergent and add an oxi clean type cleaner ( for the organic growth). Man does it look great.

It's going to take several more hours to get it back but at least it is very useable.

Just finished fixing a crack in the rear cap and redid the rear wall where the paneling was water damaged( used a primed luan and painted it with a semi- gloss paint mixed to match the vinyl wall covering). I will post some pictures soon.

One advantage with a HiLo you can lower the roof to work on it and if you fall off you'll break a leg or something. Where if you are working on a regular trailer roof and you fall you'll prolly die.

Roof maintenance

DH has to totaly recoat our roof this year. Got the two part dicor from our RV dealer. Does your roof need to be coated or recoated ?. It won't get done for a while as we are going camping this weekend. Some rain is forcasted. We are very dry and need the rain for the lawn and garden. DH started a big pluming job for our neighbor. When you pay some one from planet Mars to drain all the water from the house because you haven't moved in yet and the work is done wrong. You get burst pipes. Pay now or pay later!!

Recoating is on my list right after re caulking the end caps to the roof. I had a crack in the rear cap. Repaired it with epoxy. Having a wrap made to cover it. And removing the windows and resealing.

Resealing windows

It has been a few years since we removed all of our windows. You Tube has a great tutioral on this. Lets see what I can remember to tell you. Have a helper and a set of saw horses. Garbage can and lots of paper towels and some rags. Start with one person on the inside and one outside. Have the HiLoin the lowered position. Take out all the screws on the inside and gently use a putty knife or five in one tool to release the trim ring. Have glass cleaner and goo gone. The second person steadies the window until you can get outside. Two people place the window on the saw horses. May have used a sheet of something on the saw horses. Exacto knife to cut butyl tape or scissors. Clean as much butyl tape off the rim of the window. Doesn't have to be perfect. Helper cleans the side of the HiLo then helps get the Butyl tape off. The first window is scary. Then it gets easier. Would love to see a picture when you get the wrap on your RV. Replace all screws with stainless steel ones.

Here is what the end cap looks like now. I drilled several small holes after cutting a "V" notch. Trying to load epoxy to form a good bond. On the inside I epoxied 2" of light weight Fiberglas cloth to the inside. Then added popsicle sticks to the mix for added strength.
The rear wall was replaced with a piece if primed luan plywood then painted with two coats of semi gloss custom matched. It passes the 3' test.

Last time I looked an end cap without shipping and crate fees was $1250.
I have $40 in epoxy, $15 in a quart of paint, $15 in the luan, and $7 for a piece of poly trim. Outside of my time I figured I still have $1,100 in my pocket.

Depends how wild I get with the wrap I could cut out so me simple graphics for $50 or wrap the 4 sides oh the top for $1,750 or so.

The DW and I are thinking of a trail of ants across the back, or a lighthouse and third choice is sea turtles. Eventually all he factory tape is coming off.

My original idea was to name our rig Hobbit Hotel and creat a scene of a shire on the back.

We decided against the full wrap on the back for two reasons. One costs and two while down and traveling with bikes on a rack the scene will mostly be blocked.

I think it is best to keep the art work understated while still whimsical. We are liking the trail of ants.

Well back to popping windows out.

Pictures

Here it is the rear cap finished in the outside

Been scrubbing the top... and popping windows out.... and letting it dry out.

Running three fans inside and the fan on the a/c. Plus our dehumidifier from the basement. Needed to seal it up to dry out. Plastic taped over opening to facilitate drying. Working inside would be nice.

Doing repairs

Just some encouragement. While this is a tremendous amt of work it will pay big dividends in the long run. You will be High and Dry for many years. Pun intended.

Glued the wall together over the sink. Didn't have enough clamps to make it a one shot deal. Note it was raining out and that is black garbage bags over the opening.

Here is my wedging with what is at hand to put pressure on the inside wall

Bravada said:

Here is my wedging with what is at hand to put pressure on the inside wall

Click to expand...

I've been through that exactly - you're doing great work.