Mpeters
Illinois
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Joined: 10/26/2009
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Recently acquired a 83 Coachmen TT needed some repair. Alot of water damage from leaking vent. Eagerly I began to tear it apart to get to the source of the leak. Only to realize that from years of neglect the leak from the roof completely rotted the floor all the way through what looked like a galvanized type of underbelly. I am literally standing on the ground in my trailer. I pushed my sleeves up with determination to restore this camper. Since I have gone this far to take it apart I might as well continue... has anyone ever taken on such a job. Any suggestions of what material to use to replace this metal sheeting.... I will gladly posts pictures if anyone wants the visual...Any words of wisdom would be appreciated...
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tonyandkaren
pennsylvania
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Joined: 05/15/2005
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I don't want to discourage you but take a look at this post - http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/21535671.cfm
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BobsYourUncle
Surrey, BC Canada
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Joined: 12/12/2003
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I have taken on such a job myself with a 81 Citation 25' TT.
I documented the whole process with photos and descriptions. I put up a website with the entire rebuild there to help others who want to do the same.
Unfortunately, a couple months back my webserver computer committed suicide and my website is down until I get around to building a new one. Just haven't had time . . . . I suppose I should grab a few parts and toss something together but I think the biggest issue I'll have is using he same hard drive without redoing the entire thing.
Anyhow, a few comments about repairing the old TT:
It was rotten. . . . I mean it was really rotten. I replaced nearly the entire floor framework. All that remains of the original floor is a few joists. Thats it. All the plywood was replaced.
I gutted the entire trailer - took every single last piece of everything out until it was a bare shell.
I replaced every single last piece of wood in the walls. In other words I build all new ones. With that I replaced all the paneling too.
Then I rebuilt all the inside walls and partitions and furniture, cabinets - everything.
Then I redesigned and built an entire new roof. I rewired the whole trailer, using some of the original wiring but replacing much of it.
Anyhow, I think you get the picture.
It was a lot of work. . . I mean it was really a lot of work. I have over 800 hours into it, maybe more and it is not finished yet. It sits in my driveway unfinished with no windows in it.
Was it worth it? No, it certainly was not.
Was it a nice challenge and an interesting project? Heck yes - I loved that aspect of it.
But the fact remains that when I'm done, it is still a 1981 Citation, even though I have replaced virtually the entire thing. I have basically built an entire new trailer from the frame up.
With the time and effort I have put into this thing I could have bought a new super deluxe TT with all the bells and whistles.
I suggest you evaluate the purpose behind rebuilding the whole thing. Don't do it to save money on a newer one. Guarantee you that will not happen. Don't do it because its cheaper than a newer one. It is not.
This info is based on personal experience.
However, if you choose to proceed, stay in touch with me and I'll help you  And if I ever get my website back up, you can see it for yourself.
2007 GMC 3500 dually ext. cab 4X4 LBZ
Duramax / Allison
Fire Red
95 Sportsmen 25.5' TT
81 Citation 25' "Tail dragger" "Under construction"
"Workin' man's rig"
Bob's Trucks
Check Out My Rebuild Project *** Website Finally Back Up Nov. 6/09 ***
Project Feedback
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Mpeters
Illinois
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Thanks for the response. I was able to gain some incite to the challenges we may face as we continue to strip it apart. The interior came apart relatively easily. With minor damage due the frustration of striped out Square D screws. What looked discouraging was the need to replace of the back half of the floor. But thanks previous post it does not look as disheartening as it did the night we pulled it apart. It is unfortunate we are heading into winter season. The rot we have encountered so far is limited to just the bottom footing and the floor. But you never know what you'll find the deeper you dig. We realize it will it never be a new unit. But once you have camped deep in the woods in a tent with blacks bears on the prowl I am looking forward to completing this project and getting a better night sleep. 
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chrisser
Cleveland OH
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Joined: 05/05/2009
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I'm finishing up a similar project on a '78 Coachmen. Some pics are available on a blog that's in my profile.
Pretty much the same thing you described.
I ended up taking off the lower section of aluminum around the entire bottom, then I screwed 2x4s and 2x6s and used them to jack the body off what was left of the floor, then screwed new, longer 2x4s and 2x6s to be used as stilts to hold it up. Only needed maybe 4" clearance. That let me remove the whole floor, replace it, fix the lower sections of the walls, then set it all back down.
As far as the belly pan, the original appeared to be seamed from sections and flanged around the perimeter. So much had rusted away that it wasn't worth saving.
I replaced it with FRP panels from Home Depot on the flat part. Around the perimeter, I bought the widest aluminum flashing HD carried, and bent it so it extended on the bottom under the FRP to the frame and the remainder up the side about 6".
The floor I rebuilt with poplar 2x2s from HD with pink foam insulation between the joists topped in 3/4 plywood. HD carries stainless exterior wood screws with square drives. I went through so many boxes I can't remember. I coated the poplar with spar varnish, ditto with the plywood floor and the lower sections of the frame before I reinstalled the aluminum sides.
At one point or another, I had just about every part of mine in pieces since May. It probably isn't much different than your '83, so give me a PM if you need anything. I replaced a lot and can probably dig up where I sourced most of the stuff, although ebay has been where I got most things.
I'm currently working on wrapping up the interior. Still hope to take it out before it snows.
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chrisser
Cleveland OH
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And post pics!
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BobsYourUncle
Surrey, BC Canada
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chrisser wrote:And post pics!
Yeah!!
How 'bout some pics?
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chrisser
Cleveland OH
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I will add one more thing echoing Bobs comment about it being worth it.
I've spent my whole summer on this thing. Every evening, every weekend, all my vacation for the year except what I've saved to (hopefully) take it out camping.
The cost of buying it was cheap, but I stopped counting the $$ months ago. It has taken up pretty much all my disposable income for six months.
I don't know that I could have bought a new trailer that will be as nice as what I will have when I'm done, but I do know that I could have built a new trailer from scratch faster and if not cheaper, for the same.
Of course, when I started, I had no idea what I was getting into, and by the time I did, I was too invested to back out.
There are plenty of plans on the web, and if your appliances work and the windows are good, well, you're well ahead on a lot of the expenses already.
I imagine, all things considered, that it would take about equal time to build from scratch to a set of plans as it would to rebuild and the cost would probably be a wash too. So consider that as an alternative.
I would probably not go through all this again. I'll reserve judgement until after I've spent a few nights in her somewhere scenic.
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RedNeckKing
Maine
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Joined: 04/21/2009
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My TT had a couple of POs who were less than vigilant about checking for and repairing leaks. I removed a ton of various compounds from the roof and corners and eterna-bonded everything in sight. Been leak free since but I know there is some rot. The TT seems solid and rides well but every now and then I get the urge to start ripping things apart to see what's there. Thankfully one of these threads comes along once in a while to remind me that this is a very slippery slope. I much prefer to spend my limited free time camping in my RV, not rebuilding it. If it was a classic that might be another story. It only travels about 70 miles over back roads in the spring to it's summer spot and then back to the driveway in the fall. If I was covering lots of miles every year I would be concerned but for now I spend my free time on trout streams, not fixing a 24 year old camper in the driveway.
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69cayo
new port richey,florida
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Joined: 10/24/2003
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This could be of some help to you.....................
http://www.snapdrive.net/files/500677/Projects/Komfort%20TT%20project.pdf
Dennis
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