Rotten Rear Panel May 09, 2022, 10:02:29 pm Today we checked out an 01 rear bath 26.5 footer. It was pretty sweet. 65K miles and well maintained with records, 675 watts of solar and so on. Anyhow, as I crawled around underneath I was feeling pretty good. Clean, couple of new items (step mechanism, generator muffler). Everything looked good ... until I got to the very back. I need to get more familiar with the underlying structure but it looked like there is a piece of 3/4" or so plywood up the back of the rig. It was solid in the middle but both corners were very rotten. I stuck a screwdriver in there and easily removed rot. I pushed on the back wall from the outside and it gave a little. I'm just not familiar enough with the LDs to know if this is they way normally feel. Anyhow, can I ask you guys to take a look at these photos and give me your opinion. The perspective is taking the photo while laying on my back and looking up. The first one shows the length of that plywood; the second shows the driver's side with the rot extending six or eight inches toward the center; the third shows the pax side with the rot extending maybe four inches or so.I decided to pass on this rig as I was afraid that this rot extended beyond what I had identified. I should add that there was no evidence of past water leaks anywhere. With the exception of this rot, the rig would have worked for us. Thanks.jor
Re: Rotten Rear Panel Reply #1 – May 09, 2022, 10:11:22 pm This is a fairly common thing to see in rigs of that age. You can read more about it in this post, and those above/below it:Fixing minor rear end wood damage in 2001 MBRich
Re: Rotten Rear Panel Reply #2 – May 09, 2022, 11:39:39 pm At some point the factory slathered a black rubbery substance on the wood shown in your picture. My 2003 has it. Good for road spray but a leaky window or corner can still wet the wood from the inside.
Re: Rotten Rear Panel Reply #3 – May 11, 2022, 10:58:23 am extremely common issue. wood on the outside rots with time specially if it's low enough to get splashed with puddles.However common, it's fairly easier to fix than most other issues. Also for that section, it could go unfixed for a very long while as most do.The main structural issue that I know of is that the bumper is attached there, and some have the hitch attached to the bumper. So if you plan on towing, at least beef up the hitch and get it on its own extended frame. A good amount of epoxy there could get it to be semi ok for even longer 1 Likes
Re: Rotten Rear Panel Reply #4 – May 11, 2022, 11:39:19 am Rotted rear walls at the corners and along the walls bottom piece are common, due to leaks around the rear window and the end caps. The bottom piece is coated with waterproofing, it allows any water entering the wall to stand, instead of draining.The bottom piece can be cut out and replaced without extreme effort, rotted corners are a much more complicated repair.Keep checking these areas when looking as well as around the window corners and rot in the front corners in the bunk area.Larry 2 Likes
Re: Rotten Rear Panel Reply #5 – May 11, 2022, 03:35:10 pm QuoteKeep checking these areas when looking as well as around the window corners and rot in the front corners in the bunk area.Will do. Thanks for the tip.jor
Re: Rotten Rear Panel Reply #6 – May 12, 2022, 05:01:14 pm Quote from: jor - May 11, 2022, 03:35:10 pmWill do. Thanks for the tip.jorKeep in mind that any LD that is 10-15 years old will have leaks if the roof, end caps, and window seals are not maintained.Rigs stored inside resist decay longer, but not forever.Larry 1 Likes
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Topic: Rotten Rear Panel (Read 314 times)
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