Repairing floor in 5er with alumicage construction

[mrebele]

We have a 2006 Coachman Chapparel 282 and the floor is getting spongy. We've never done that type of repair and are trying to decide if it's a project we can undertake. We're not sure what we'll find when we peel back the floor. My question is: This 5er has alumicage construction. Does that mean the floor or just the walls and/or roof are aluminum? If it includes the floor, I was thinking that it might mean the repair will be easier. We would not have to replace rotten floor joists, just put down a new floor. My DH is handy but his concern is having the time to do this project. Our other option is to sell it as is and take a hit but get something new. Depending on what we learn, we'll decide what to do.

[Bamaman]

Until you take up the flooring, you really won't know what's needed to make the repair. But first, you need to address what caused the floor to get spongy--i.e. leak.

On my old travel trailer, I had a couple of leaky corners, and learned how to properly seal them. And I replaced the old chip board sub floor with plywood. The floor was the easy part of the job vs. finding and fixing the leak.

Let me just say I'm no fan of aluminum sided travel trailers. It's more an issue of When they're going to leak vs. If they're going to leak. And black streaks are something I've never been able to get off--despite every chemical product in the industry being used.

[mrebele]

Thanks Banaman. I think we know where the leak is and that is our first job. Then - the dreaded floor. I wasn't sure what alumicage meant. I didn't know if it meant the floor joists were aluminum (and not rotted) or if it is just the walls that are aluminum.. It could make a difference in how much work we have to do. We're really leaning toward trading it in toward a new 5er. It will be obvious to the dealer that work needs to be done on this unit so I know we'll take a hit financially but our time is also worth something. I don't know how much we'll gain in a trade by fixing it first. Decisions! Decisions!