Leak Repair March 27, 2018, 02:36:44 pm My1987 has had some serious leaking going on from previous owner. I found lots of rotted wood under the overhead bed. I can rebuild the frame around the window, etc., but need a source for the finishing paneling which has a vinyl cloth stuck to thin wood and is flexible. I found nothing similar at Home Depot or other local stores. Has anyone found such paneling or a substitute? I am in So Cal but quite far from the hdqrs.
Re: Leak Repair Reply #1 – March 27, 2018, 02:53:04 pm Matching 30 year old paneling is next to impossible.You might consider using any available 1/8" paneling and then painting it.Almost every pre-90 LD I have inspected has rot in the front overhead, caused by a leaking front window and/or the multi-piece front cap. Even later models can have serious leaks.Cabover leaks and rot | FlickrPressure testing has been the only way I have found to locate all the leaks.Leak detection | FlickrSome RV shops and body repair shops are equipped to do this type of testing.Larry 1 Likes
Re: Leak Repair Reply #2 – March 27, 2018, 05:16:08 pm Hi John. I don't know what the 1987 paneling looks like, but I have used high pressure laminate, Wilsonart sheets. What used to be called Formica, but they are out of business. I've ordered it at Home Depot, and it comes rolled up. When released it turns into a 4 x 8 foot sheet. I wouldn't want to try to re-roll it. It comes in many patterns, and I found one that matches my 1999 interior wood paneling. Sorry I don't know that color, or even if it is still available. A very durable surface, not too heavy, but hard to work with. It is about 1/16" thick, so you would want to glue it to something like floor underlayment. (thin plywood about 3/16" thick). The area in my TK near the TV shelf is done in white. You can also glue vinyl wall paper material over plywood. HTH RonB