Sagging Overheads on Vintage RVs, Slide-ins, etc.

[josephusminimus]

When I saw the results of the past water damage in the overhead I looked more carefully for signs the overhead might be sagging.&nbsp; A telltale crack appeared in the front plexiglass window shortly thereafter and I looked more closely, yet.&nbsp; The two-track leading down here is as bad as a road can get and still call it a road, so it's providing structural tests all over the coach.<br /><br />Because of my own situation, I also began perusing other vintage coaches with overheads, and found a lot of them are showing symptoms, same as mine.... a bit of rippling of the body metal observed standing in front and looking down the sides, doors to the cab slightly out of alignment when closed, signs of caulking and screws breaking out and rearing their heads.<br /><br />For the old Toyota I've decided the best solution will be to install large turnbuckles under a piece of channel running across under the overhead, the other end attached to the body where the frame member comes up to meet the back of the firewall, just ahead of the mirrors.&nbsp; <br /><br />I'll bolt through what's left of the coach structure front from the channel piece in a few places across, then jack up the whole shebang using the turnbuckles.<br /><br />I'd be interested in knowing whether others have encountered this problem and how you're dealing with it.&nbsp; It's going to be a while before I get around to installing the turnbuckles/channel, and if there are better solutions I might change my mind.

 

[Willy]

&nbsp;I've had a number of slid-in campers that were starting to go in the front due, for the most part, to rot. My solution was to peel away the sheet metal, pull out the rot, re-beam and re-insulate using rigid foam. A couple of times the sag was due to stuff like windows &amp;fridge vents cutting through the main supports (what idjits!) and I'd prop the front up til it was where I wanted it. Then I'd peel the metal and put the rigid foam in, put it back together, then double the wall on the inside with some thin plywood. Everything would be glued and, often enough, I'd also use that spray-in polyurethane foam. have to be careful with that stuff cuz it will bulge the walls out.. unless a chunk of ply is clamped against it. ..Willy. &nbsp; &nbsp;

 

[josephusminimus]

Thanks Willie.&nbsp; If I'm on the same page with you I'd guess you're referring to Great Stuff foam?&nbsp; I love the stuff.&nbsp; Sometimes I think it's the onliest thing holding the coach part of the old Toyota together.<br /><br />Gracias,

 

[Willy]

&nbsp;Yup, that stuff is like the 'Duct tape' of foam.