What a way to start !!!

[markandco]

Hello all. I am new to the forum and a new owner of a 98 Diplomat. (Please add the cool icon now !!! Yahoo). I thought I would say hello and discuss what I am working on with the coach. I am looking for any advice or guidance.

Ok, here we go.....

I recently purchased a 98 diplomat, 38' with one slide. Good mechanical order and everything works. It has new tires and batteries. I purchased it for a nice low price because it has some interior water damage to the flooring and wall on the left side of the cockpit area. It also needs new floor covering. I'm thinking laminate.

I removed the controls left of the dash and took back the carpet. The plywood subfloor is shot from the steering shaft to the wall and up the wall about a foot. I cut some of the flooring out to discover that the insulation was not sprayed all the way to the front and the water must have been in there for some time. It was able to make it all the way under the insulation and onto the wood below it. The 1/4" wood under the insulation, next to the vapor barrier was wet and completely rotted. It looks as if the waterproofing kept the moisture in and it just sat. I have to remove the interior wall up to the drivers window and might just take the window out to see if that is the source of the leak. The frame rails have rust on them so my guess is this is a prolonged problem. I will check everywhere to see where the water was coming in.

I have to admit that I was scared to start the project but once I made the first cut into the flooring I was comfortable digging deeper. So has anyone here had the luck of doing the flooring and wall like I have? Any advice? This is my first attempt at this.

Other than that the coach is in good shape. It needs a few maintenance items that any coach this age should have. I really enjoy reading the forums and all the knowledge that is here. I will shoot some pictures and let you know how it is going.

Mark

[Rex]

Mark you indeed have a project ahead of you. Depending on how bad the water damage is, check at Home Depot, Lowe’s and West Marine for a liquid product made to harden rotted wood. May be your best choice. The subfloor will be difficult to replace. It goes under the side wall also. It is installed onto steel framing and you will have to find the framing and remove the flooring to ½ of the framing members so you still have something to support the new flooring. Same with the side wall. You will find the inside part of the side wall to be about ¼” and then insulation. The outside wall is also plywood with an overlayment of fiberglass bonded to it. The fiberglass is very thin. Inside the wall is steel framing.

The driver’s window is the cause of many water leaks. It needs to be sealed to the wall outside. Most use silicone which is NOT a good product to seal the outside parts of your coach. Use a product made by Geocel. Their 2300 caulk can be had in clear or white and works great to seal the windows. Clean around the area to be caulked with denatured alcohol.

Before you start repairs, find the water leak. Use a hose with a sprinkler head set on shower and start about a foot above the bottom of the wall. Cover the sidewall and the seam where the front cap joins the wall. Work very slowly with this giving the water time to get inside where the leak is. Move up the wall in one foot increments, checking often inside for water coming in near where the side wall joins the floor. Using this method you should find the leak.

To remove the window, have someone hold it on the outside while you remove all the screws inside around the frame. Once the screws are out the window will come out very easy, and could fall out if not held. You will likely be able to see down inside the wall once the window is out as the outside and inside will no longer be adhered to the steel framing inside the wall.

[markandco]

Thank you very much. I have cut out a chunk of the floor and have not yet removed the sidewall or window. I have taken out a large chunk of rotted wood. I know this is going to be a lot of labor. The subfloor is damaged between the sidewall and flooring and is coming out easy. Its a pain digging it out of what now looks like a channel. I will get most out then use the wood hardener. My hope is to cut the new flooring and slide it into the cleaned out area between the floor and sidewall then anchor it to the floor framing.

I have a mobile mechanic coming out to take a look and give me his advice. I may hire him to put it al back together. Other than that I am happy with the coach. I am putting a little elbow grease now and have a good coach for many years.

Wish me luck. Thanks for the advice.

Mark

[RJay]

Mark,
Welcome to the forum. It looks like you have a good winter project ahead of you. You seem to have a good handle on it and Rex has giving you some good insight into the specifics. Good luck and don't forget to post some pictures!

[markandco]

Well I had an expert out today to validate what I was doing and make sure I was not completely off track. We tracked the water entry point on to the upper corner of the drivers side windshield. It appears that the moulding / gasket around the windshield is cracked and failing. He checked the drivers side window, seams, and any other point of entry.

Needless to say I hired him to complete the interior repairs. It wont be cheap but I have 3 kids under 5 years of age and my time is better spent with them. Another bright spot is that the drivers windshield has a nice crack in it and I happen to have full glass coverage. My only concern is how they repair only one side of a 2 piece windshield. The glass guys come out tomorrow to let me know.

All in all I think the repair will be done in a week and I can install flooring right after. Our goal is to take a small trip to my brothers (8 hours away) for Thanksgiving before heading out on our cross country trip to Florida in Feb.

Wish me luck and I will post some before and after pictures once I figure out how.

Mark

[MonacoMama]

markanco..Welcome to the Monaco Forum! I did add you to the "club" but I can no longer add the "cool icon" and most of the other Moderators won't do it any more....but you can find some info at the link in this post so you can do it yourself...

Again- welcome and Good Luck on your projects!!