Basement Floor Rotted including metal supports

[BRB Hand]

The metal supports that hold up the basement floor under my fresh water tank are rusted out and failing. I am hoping to fabricate a new support structure but I thought it prudent to ask if anyone new of a source for the metal . I am checking with a couple of local welding shops to see about the feasibility of having them made. I also need the outer brace where the compartment latch is located.

Once the metal is replaced I will need new insulation, plywood, and carpet. Big winter job but could be worse......

Any advice is appreciated

2000 Dutchstar 38'

[JNSNWT]

If the original rusted out maybe the replacement should be aluminum.

[Dutch Star Don]

I have a metal sales facility near by that I buy large pieces of metal from. For more day-to-day stuff, Home Depot and Lowes have a decent metal supply, including tubing and angle iron. Some may laugh, but often when I need shorter pieces of metal (square tubing and angle), I'll go to Harbor Freight and look at things like a hitch mounted lumber support. I can buy the entire item and get all the metal I need for a project and spend substantially less than if I bought the metal in lengths from a supply shop.

Unless you can do your own welding, you may want to try and remove the damaged metal in large pieces so it can be duplicated by a fab shop. If you can plan it out, you may be able to remove the metal, have it copied and then have them add some additional plate (tabs) that will allow you to bolt it back into sections of good steel.

Once the metal is all back in place, paint it with rubberized undercoating or a similar product to make it waterproof.

Lastly, you can the Styrofoam type sheet insulation in various thicknesses at HD or Lowes. Figure out the thickness you need and buy that or use something half as thick and double it up.

[PanJH]

I generally buy metal from a commercial supply house, but I need to by full sticks ... if you need less, there are stores like Metal Depot and Metal Supermarket that will sell you cut to length pieces
Have you determined the reason that area rusted out ? Leakage in the tanks/fitting ?

[Mkeith3852]

Do as Don said above and avoid welding if at all possible. I used Advantek plywood and did not replace carpet. I painted it white to be able to monitor for any possible future problems. When we get home next week, I will dig out photos of project and how I installed a better tank vent/overflow piping to prevent future problems and send to you in a PM.

[Rob_M]

Start off by letting a welding shop look at it first. They can get the metal cheaper than you, and may already have it on hand. Their mark up price will still be cheaper than a box store.
Home Depot or Lowes will be the most expensive place to buy metal, but will have smaller pieces if you need less than a full 20’ stick.
Most commercial metal suppliers will cut it up into smaller pieces for you and the price of a full stick from them will likely be cheaper than buying a shorter piece from a box store.

[Rob_M]

Originally Posted by JNSNWT

If the original rusted out maybe the replacement should be aluminum.

The original steel lasted 22 years. Will the MH be around another 22?

Though not a terrible idea… Aluminum is more expensive, will need to be thicker to have the same strength as steel, and can’t be welded to steel. Stainless is another way to go, can be welded to steel, but very very expensive.

[Rob_M]

Originally Posted by Dutch Star Don

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Unless you can do your own welding, you may want to try and remove the damaged metal in large pieces so it can be duplicated by a fab shop. If you can plan it out, you may be able to remove the metal, have it copied and then have them add some additional plate (tabs) that will allow you to bolt it back into sections of good steel.



Once the metal is all back in place, paint it with rubberized undercoating or a similar product to make it waterproof. …..
up.

Great ideas.

[150man]

Don’t forget to follow precautions before you start welding like disconnecting batteries and unplugging modules

[BRB Hand]

I hope to get some pictures soon. I think the rot is a result of a few things: Age, the fact that in its former life my coach was either on salty roads in Michigan OR near salt water in Florida OR both. The OSB Floor was moldy wet and disintegrating. Just in front of the drive wheels seems to be the biggest intrusion of water into the area. Once wet there is not much of a chance to dry out.

Ive got about 70% of the bad metal out. I will need pieces of 3 different configurations. The verticals that make up the side of the compartment opening are shaped like a hat channel, the crossmembers that hold the floor are very similar but with one different dimension, then the rail that make up the bottom of the compartment opening has 4 bends in it. All are relatively light steel (1/16th" whatever that translates to in Gauge).
Im still hopeful I can have each piece fabricated.

Thank you all for your advice and Ill keep you posted.

[BRB Hand]

/Users/johnkay/Desktop/69316780363__4FF0A8FE-4F0C-4877-87B1-6B4538533359.JPG.jpeg

This is a side view cut out of the rail I'm replacing. This is proving to be the difficult one to find or fabricate. Im still working on some options.....