Delamination / water damage?

[Bucky1320]

I have had this 99' Harney Renegade for 8 months now. There is, or was at one time, a water problem I suspect, causing some damage to the outside surface, which appears to be a fiberglass sheet. It isn't what I normally see when I read about delam. There are some bubble areas, some of which have broken through. It seems to be solid behind them though. Not something that can push back in. I'm not sure I can trace where the water came from. One area is on the slide, and I can see that this section appears to have been replaced at one time. The color isn't a perfect match and the paint surface is a bit different as far as wrinkle. The other side of the coach has very little of this damage. Oddly, this side of the coach has a great deal of black streaks which are proving very stubborn to remove.

I would like to track down the source of the trouble first, and then perhaps make some repairs. But I need insight from those who have been there.

I am going to try to post a picture or two.

[Mr_D]

That aluminum trim around the slide doesn't look like an OEM part either. I've never seen anything like the damage your pictures show!

[jesilvas]

Looks like metal siding to me, and kind of like galvanic action is "rusting" the sidewall.

[the_vfox]

Looks like something is loose in the wall and is hitting the fiberglass. You mentioned water damage before you bought. Some of looks like delam, but I think you are in for a rebuild of the walls with a new skin.

[Bucky1320]

Originally Posted by jesilvas

Looks like metal siding to me, and kind of like galvanic action is "rusting" the sidewall.

It's hard to convey in pictures. I really do think the skin is fiberglass sheets. But what is under it may be damaged by water....maybe wood sub? So it has swollen. Not sure why it broke through the fiberglass. Nothing really inside to impact outward.

I am prepared to do some rebuilding. The hardest part may be finding any vinyl that can look close to original. But certainly I want to figure out that I have whatever caused it fixed before putting the work into appearance.

One thing I do know about the coach's history is that it wasn't winterized once, and they had lots of broken plumbing to fix. Now, did the damage come from that? Hard to say. There is some plumbing in SOME of those areas, but not all. I would have expected the damage on average to be lower. I do see when I open the slide that some sealing has been done post factory at the top. That is very suspicious to me. But it does look sealed NOW. But that may be after the damage was done.

I agree with the post above that says he has not seen damage that looks like this before. It's odd.

[Bucky1320]

Oh, there is no appearant inside damage. Stuff looks original and damage free.

[cb1000rider]

Originally Posted by jesilvas

Looks like metal siding to me, and kind of like galvanic action is "rusting" the sidewall.

I agree, that doesn't look like any delamination that I've seen. It looks like a reaction or other internal damage.

[HoneyBadger]

The first picture of the slide looks like something has been attached inside just above the window as well as lower down and the screws/bolts or whatever have gone all the way through and are pushing against the fiberglass.

The second picture looks like significant corrosion of metal frame just under the fiberglass, but I've never seen anything like it. No matter what, there should be a layer of luan between the fiberglass and the frame- its mysterious.

[Bucky1320]

After going in and out looking, I can't rule out completely something to do with the bottom of the kitchen cabinets attaching to the frame being an issue. Too long of fasteners? A reaction? It's just strange that it is only there. I can't get to the fasteners without some disassembly due to the electrical run under the cabinets. Not sure how to easily disassemble that.
Looking forward, the spots need to be fixed. They can allow water in now, and will only get worse. I am considering using a knife to cut the damaged outer skin area away so see what the condition is of what is under it. Perhaps remove some of that, fill with a resin in stages to level, then fiberglass over and blend. I know that doesn't address what caused this, but that is a bit up in the air for now.

[Bucky1320]

Anyone ever run across procedures for spot fixing areas like this?

[FormerBoater]

Looks like "electrolysis" i.e. galvanic reaction between the aluminum strips and some steel somewhere in the structure.

Big issue in boats with aluminum stern drives that have steel gears and pinions within.

Are you sure that the skin is fiberglass? On my old Eagle I have some electrolysis that presents on the aluminum cargo door right below the drivers window.

Wish I could be more help!

[Bucky1320]

The more I check it out, the more convinced that you guys are right....it's aluminum skin. And the corrosion theory is pretty plausible for sure.
So are there spot fix methods for this? If not, how do you adhere the new sheet to the old sub?

[jesilvas]

There's basically two options in my opinion: patch it and hope it works and settle for the way it will look, or, remove it all and replace it all in a seamless sheet to make it as factory as possible.

[Bucky1320]

Originally Posted by jesilvas

There's basically two options in my opinion: patch it and hope it works and settle for the way it will look, or, remove it all and replace it all in a seamless sheet to make it as factory as possible.

That I get for sure. I need more information on either method.