Aero Cub Floor Repair - What the heck is under there!?

[Campmichy]

HI All! We have a 2002 Aerolite Cub Travel Trailer. We had a water leak from the slide out which we think we have fixed but the entire floor is rotted and spongy with mildew under the linoleum. Our question is what type of framing is under the floor? Does anyone have a skematic or pictures of the frame? We just want to see what we are dealing with before pulling up the floor. Can we just cut the floor out from around the cabinets and put new plywood down? Are there joists there to support it? Any pics/ideas if you have done this would be great! Thank you!

[Superslif]

We had a 2005 Aerolite and now have a 2013 Aerolite. I know on the 2005, the floor is like a sandwich. 1/4" plywood - 2" strafoam - 1/4" plywood. By themselves, there is no strength, but sandwiched together they are ridged. On the 05' the underside of the trailer was exposed. The floor studs were spaced out more than a homes floor would be 18" on center.

I friend of ours had a 99' Aerolite that he bought where most of the floor had to be replaced. He made spacers on top of the studs and then used 5/8' plywood as the new floor instead of he sandwich...Personally I would add
floor studs between each other to give more support as you walk across the floor. Our 05' we had a little flex as a person walked over the floor. The 13' it seems much more solid, with out as much floor flex.

[Campmichy]

Thanks so much for replying! We've torn out the linoleum and are letting the floor dry out, but its pretty bad. I think this is going to turn into a mess! I'll take pictures though, maybe it will help out the next unfortunate cub owner

[Hitchpin]

What's under there? Not much!

[Superslif]

See if this link helps...Dutchman "parts manuals, archived literature, service videos"

It has PDF files of models going back to the 80's.

[scoutman55]

Hi Campmichy, I just bought a 1999 Cub F19, the floor was rotten when I bought it but got it at a good price. The first thing I did was take the floor out all the way down to the rubber membrane. There is no cross support on these trailers just the frame that runs the length of it. I put in 3/4 inch plywood as my base then 3/4 inch foam insulation then 1/4 plywood. Then I went under the bottom and put in 3 cross supports made out of 2x6's. Now I am putting in new linoleum. My floor is strong enough to park a truck on now. The leak was coming from under the trailer where the rubber membrane had come loose from the frame,I haven't figured out how to seal it back up but thinking about using butyl tape and sealing it up. I haven't taken pics yet but will when I finish the job.

Originally Posted by Campmichy

HI All! We have a 2002 Aerolite Cub Travel Trailer. We had a water leak from the slide out which we think we have fixed but the entire floor is rotted and spongy with mildew under the linoleum. Our question is what type of framing is under the floor? Does anyone have a skematic or pictures of the frame? We just want to see what we are dealing with before pulling up the floor. Can we just cut the floor out from around the cabinets and put new plywood down? Are there joists there to support it? Any pics/ideas if you have done this would be great! Thank you!

[March]

Look forward to your photos. I have a 2002 Aero Cub and have to replace the floor near the toilet. I also have to figure out why there is a leak under the toilet that is wetting the subfloor but on top of the floor. Any ideas?
My fresh water tank is cracked and I need to replace. Is it true the only replacement parts are from a Dutchmen dealer?

[LarsQ]

Hello folks.

I am new around here and will certainly scooter over to the proper category to introduce myself but since I came across this thread while browsing, I might as well get my question out there, to begin with.

I would be very happy to hear more about the floor renewals mentioned in this thread as I will be doing the same thing when the spring is back.

On a day where I clearly wasn't thinking straight, I went wild and bought a 16 feet Cub where most of the floor, if not all, have to be replaced.

Any information on this topic and pictures as well will be highly appreciated.

I am above average skilled in carpentry and that kind of work (according to myself ) but getting some insight from experienced people is always good.

Thanks
Lars

[senaidat]

Thanks for responding a lot! Wherefore so are letting its, although a floor dry outside and've torn out the linoleum. I believe that this will develop into a wreck! Though maybe it can help out the club proprietor, I will take images like kraftyowl.com =))))))

[campin4life]

Just found my vinyl tile peeling up by the entry door and after 2 days of pulling up the damaged floor, foam, and rotten underlay now am trying to figure out how to replace the floor and where to attach it. There are a couple of of 2x4 pieces over the steel joist which are not closely spaced with elevator bolts. Not sure how I am going to secure the floor to the edges of the rig. The plastic covering under the camper seems to be secures with a screwed in strip along the bottom edge. Ugh!! any suggestions would be welcome. Will take some pics tomorrow. Also, re caulked everything and think the issue came from the lower seam on the slide out wall. Supposed to rain tomorrow so will see what happens

[Superslif]

On that year Aerolite Cub, did they use the light weight euro-frame, or did it have the "I" beam type frame?

Our 2005 Aerolite Cub had the euro type frame (Stamped steel with oval holes every few feet)

Our 2013 Aerolite hybrid had the traditional "I" beam frame.

With the the euro-frame type, an area of concern is how the steps are attached thru the foam floor. And not to the frame. The bolts that attach the steps to the trailer start to pull themselves thru the floor. I ended up making up a special bracket to transfer the weight to the frame. Our 2013, the step were attached to the frame from the start. No issues..