roof problems

[4Sharps2Camp]

I have recently purchased a used ('81 Coleman Sequoia). The box is in good shape, wheels good, etc. Only problem that I have is the bracket that holds the door up. The wood is soft and the screws are working their way out. Any suggestions? How hard is it to replace the wood. Should I drill through the roof and bolt the bracket in and seal it?

[tlhdoc]

I am not sure what bracket mean?

[4Sharps2Camp]

One side of the door is held up by straps. The other side sits on a peg that is a part of a bracket that is screwed into the side of the roof.

[topcat7736]

4Sharps2Camp,
 
I can't tell you how to fix it, but I can offer you our dealers phone number. He's been a Coleman popup only dealer for well over 30 years, has a wealth of information and is always willing to help. (Bill always gets my vote for dealer of the year).
 
Fairmount Recreation
Bill Youakim
201-489-9340

[tlhdoc]

I had a 1986 Coleman PU, but my door attached differently.  I don't know what to tell you as far as fixing it, sorry.

[rccs]

Are you talking about when the door is stored from the ceiling to close up or when the camper is open and the door is in position ?  My Avalon has two straps to secure one end of the door to the ceiling and an angle piece above the door opening with a peg on it to put the bottom end of the door on for storage. Is that the piece you are refering to?

[4Sharps2Camp]

Are you talking about when the door is stored from the ceiling to close up or when the camper is open and the door is in position ?  My Avalon has two straps to secure one end of the door to the ceiling and an angle piece above the door opening with a peg on it to put the bottom end of the door on for storage. Is that the piece you are refering to?

Yes this is the part I am talking about.

[tlhdoc]

I know what you mean now.  

If the wood is soft that means that it is rotting/bad.  The best thing to do is to replace the wood that is bad with new wood.  I haven't done a job like that, but someone else here should be able to help you.  Good Luck.

[Gone-Camping]

Perhaps the first thing you'll need to do, is figure out why that wood is rotting? There must be some kind of leak where water is getting in (or has got in some time previously). Once that problem is addressed, then you go look into the fixing the wood, or an alternative fix. If you fix the wood without locating and repairing the leak, you'll be replacing the wood again in very short order! From the sounds of things, it seems like the roof edge may need recaulking or something along those lines.
 
If replacing the wood is not an option, or you're looking for perhaps a quick fix, one thing I did with my old Starcraft was to place a small piece of angle aluminum (Lowes/Home Depot) and attaching that to a places where the wood is not soft or rotted, and then mount the bracket to the aluminum piece. Doing a similar repair on my old trailer got me two years out of it before having to takle the wood repair!

[MtnCamper]

Is the wood actually rotten, or has the screw loosened and been retightened a number of times? If that is the case, (which I suspect) fill the holes with a good quality wood glue, let it harden, the replace the screws. It is probably chipboard type material, and has fell apart around the screws.

[4Sharps2Camp]

Thanks for all the suggestions. Hopefully I will be able to attack this problem soon.

[tlhdoc]

Good luck on the roof and let us know how you make out.

[4Sharps2Camp]

The wood is fine. The screws had worked there way out. On to the next problem. I went out to fix it the other day, and could not find the bracket. Who knows, it might show up. Does anyone have an idea of an alternative way of hanging the door?

[Gone-Camping]

If it uses those little twisty things, they sell them at most RV stores for a buck or two...

Newer Coleman/Fleetwood's use a strap with a snap on it, you can buy a snap kit at any hardware store...

[tlhdoc]

You can get the bracket at a Fleetwood dealer.  They have used the same bracket for years.  Glad it worked out for you.