Breathing new live into my 2000 Dutch Star

[DHudson]

Whoa! That looks nice!

Thank you.

 

[DHudson]

Anybody a fan of the carbon fiber look?
I'm doing al the wood on my day in carbon fiber wrap.
This is the storage draw at the bottom of the dash.

 

[Jim]

Anybody a fan of the carbon fiber look?
I'm doing al the wood on my day in carbon fiber wrap.
This is the storage draw at the bottom of the dash.

So you're going to have to pull all the dash components out and disconnect all the switches/knobs? That should look good, but man, that's an whole lot of work.

 

[RKins]

I would agree with Jim, things may never work again....

 

[DHudson]

So you're going to have to pull all the dash components out and disconnect all the switches/knobs? That should look good, but man, that's an whole lot of work.

I "love" pain! LOL

 

[DHudson]

If your planning on being near Corsicana Texas the next month, be prepared to encounter major floods.
I started tearing my roof off my coach today.

 

[DHudson]

Let me start by saying I HATE LAP SEALANT!
Got all the "appliances" off the roof today. Started taking the 1,000,000,000 screws out of the edge retainer strips. Oh did I mention, I HATE LAP SEALANT!.
There is a screw every 2". My coach is 38ft long. There is a 1/2" of lap sealant everywhere.. I HATE LAP SEALANT! I got close to 1/2 of those screws out.
Wore my 1/4 socket out, had to go get another one. Bought a 40 foot tarp while I was out.
Also, managed to put a blister on the palm of my hand about the size of a quarter from pushing on a scraper.

I HATE LAP SEALANT!!!!

 

[RKins]

Been there done that. I removed all the dicor, using a small floor scraper and dug it out of the gap between the side and flat portion of the roof (fiberglass roof). I then added a screw between all of those screws and filled the gap with new caulking. Then I topped it off with eternabond tape. So glad it's done, lots of work - took me about a week.

 

[Jim]

Wore my 1/4 socket out, had to go get another one.

I hope you were using a power drill with the 1/4 socket?

BTW, how do you feel about all that lap sealant?

 

[DHudson]

I hope you were using a power drill with the 1/4 socket?

BTW, how do you feel about all that lap sealant?

If it worked as good as it is hard to remove, it would be one of the best products ever invented.

 

[DHudson]

So the material I am removing, (according to my build sheet it is rubber) is thick and in very good shape. Where I see the failure of the roof, NEWMAR did not place additional bracing along the outer edges of the AC units. Because of this, there was not a firm seal along the edges and eventually allowed water to get in.
I will be adding bracing between the roof frame work that will support the ACs one all 4 sides. There will be no antennas, horns and for now solar panels on the roof. I removed the luggage rack as well.
If I add a antenna, it will either be attached to a mirror frame or to the side of the coach.
My coach has aluminum sides that curve over the top and meets the roofing material on top. It appears that Newmar butted these to together and held them in place with a retaining strip with sealant and thousands of screws. I know I am not a engineer, put I see damage along this rail. I am going to sandwich the filon under the aluminum with sealant between them and under the retaining strip, then cover with more sealant and maybe tape. I am using a sturdier rail that I got from one of my customers that builds enclosed trailers. Like the factory piece, it is a [ shape. Newmar installed it flat side down. I am thinking ( since it is more robust) installing it flat side up, to give it more clamping force.
I may tape off the retaining rails and apply a 4" to 6" wide liquid rubber roof coating material to that area.
I also want to build some dams around the AC unit to divert water away. Probably do that out of 1" aluminum L angle metal. And just glue it down. Seal the top against the AC unit.

But 1st I need the clouds to go away so I can remove the trap and get back to work.

I STILL hate lap sealant..
Have only about 500,000 more screws to remove.

 

[RKins]

So you're pulling the rubber off? What is under it?

 

[DHudson]

So you're pulling the rubber off? What is under it?

plywood

 

[DHudson]

Glad I own a parts store. Went to start the coach the other day.. CLICK
12.9 volts on batteries.. Put the battery charger on it.124 amp boost.
Still CLICK.
Ordered new starter, came in yesterday. Installed it today, Starts better than it ever has.

 

[DHudson]

Replacing all the wood on my roof.Long hard job.