Dropping rear bathroom panel, video incl.

[Thenoob]

Hey guys

Included a video.  I need to drop the rear panel down and see how bad the damage got.  I'm curious the
Best way to do it as it's an original panel that was cut around the vent pipe.  I want to keep the panel as a whole to retrace when I replace it.

I def need to drop it tho and have a very detailed look and inspection to plan out repair.  It's just the rear.  The
Middle and front are dry and totally solid.

Thanks!

http://youtu.be/I3Vic48djSI

[TripleJ]

Totally NOT helpful to your repair plans... But to me it still looks pretty good on the surface.

As long as the leak is sorted out, I wouldn't take that apart if I didn't have to. If no seams are popping and stuff isn't falling on ya... Button it back up, fix up the trim and leave it alone.

Course I don't know how pristine (or not) the rest of your rig is... But that's just me talking.

I should add... From perspective, I have a lot more pressing issues than a wrinkly ceiling

[Thenoob]

Hahaha
I hear ya.  I'm just a bit crazy, I like peace of mind and this is the only major issue for me, besides installing a few new appliances.

I do want to look, I have no idea how much damage has been done or how long water dripped in for or if drying the area out with heat can help stop etc.  Just got my rig so I like to tackle the big jobs first

Cheers!!!

[sasktrini]

I'm kind of at the same place in replacing my spongy ceiling.  Unfortunately, I think you have to pull the wall out to get unencumbered access.  Another option is to resort to the smelly option of replacing the vent tube... cut it off and stuff a rag in the tube.  Pull it through the top.  Join it back when you complete the repair.

Because of the steel framing, I imagine you will have to remove walls to replace entire panels.  I have my entire passenger side ceiling ready with the exception of the plumbing vent obstruction.  But I really am dreading tearing down my bathroom walls and fridge enclosure to do a proper ceiling panel replacement.

You could wait 'til spring if you figure on roof repairs being part of the project.  If you end up working from the exterior side, you may not have to damage the interior walls to get at the ceiling panel... no guarantee though.

Good luck.

[Thenoob]

Thanks for the details

I thought these were all wood framing other then one steel brace? I haven't taken mine apart yet obviously, but my understanding was a single steel bracing in the middle and the rest is wood?  Again, I'm a noob so there's a good chance I'm completely wrong haha

[sasktrini]

I don't have a Winnie, but they have the patented Thermo-panel construction, where they use a sandwich of panelling on the interior cemented to insulation and steel frame cemented to exterior plywood and finally the outer skin.  In my roof, the spacing of the steel frame members (1"X2" rectangular tubing) was almost 4' apart running the width of the coach, where there were no openings in the roof, but I found that fore and aft of each factory vent opening had cross-members.  My guess is that your bathroom will have steel framing in the ceiling.  Just means that you won't simply be able to unscrew the cross-member to get all the way through.


Please correct me if I'm wrong, Winnie people.  It could be that the panel has the framing embedded in it.

[Oz]

The structural framing is entirely wood.

[Rickf1985]

The structural framing is entirely wood.

In that case you do want to get in there and see what you have because you WILL have roof damage that will need to be addressed. Once it gets wet the structure starts to go and you have to get on it.

[Thenoob]

My thoughts exactlyBah! Guess it comes with the territory

I'll be tackling this as soon as I recaulk the rig, which I'm doing this weekend.  Gotta strip all the old crap that was slapped on her

On a side note, I unfort found out the hard way the panels weren't powder coated lol.  Couldn't believe how easy it was to strip some paint off which kinda gets ya thinking hmmmmmm.... Strip and polish??

I have polished an airstream so this wouldn't be too big a deal.  Has anyone on here stripped their rig?

[Oz]

Off:Topic