Comean Mesa floor repair

[barker074]

In prepping for a trip this weekend I have found that a small portion of the floor in the storage area of my 2001 Coleman Mesa camper is rotten. It appears to be damaged mainly at the edge closest to the water heater. Two questions:
1. Anyone else with a similar problem that Coleman/Fleetwood or the dealer is willing to address. The floor is listed as a lifetime warranty. If they did address it what did you see as the costs?
2. If you couldn't get satisfaction out of the dealer or Coleman/Fleetwood, how did you fix it.

It is a small area but I am unsure of what I may get into in terms of the repair, voided warranties, etc.

Thanks for any assistance.

Keith

[Old Goat]

I had the same problem with our 01 Niagara in 2004. The floor in the storage trunk swelled up on the side edges causing the side panel of the trunk to warp. This would not allow the side access door gasket to seat properly and water would pour in while driving in a rain storm and soaking everything. Fleetwood replaced it with a whole new storage trunk,[to my surprise] complete with all hardware and running lites. I only had to pay the freight which was $143.00.. I installed it my self  while remodeling the interior of the trailer. I had removed all of the cabinets and paneling so it was an easy job to get to the side fastenings of the trunk. Dealer wanted $450.00 to do the replacement.....

If your storage trunk floor is not under warranty, it can be replaced with out much trouble by installing the new floor in three pieces......

[barker074]

Just a follow-up to my problem.

I called my dealer on Friday morning and was told floor water damage isn't covered under any warranty. I also called Fleetwood warranty department and emailed them about the problem. I was told by the rep I spoke to that wood rot isn't covered. The assumption is water entered from the top and must have I messed up and pinched the seal on the trunk when I closed it. I was told they would check into it further and call me back. To date I haven;t heard back from him. In terms of my email to Fleetwood I was told it wasn't covered. ?No explanation as to what is a valid warranty claim, only that my issue isn't covered. I asked for an explanation of what is covered and have not received a response yet.

The good news, I tore the front panel and floor out on Sunday with help from my dad and brother-in-law. We got the floor back in tonight and installed some framing in the front to beef it up. I anticipate installing the front panel in the next couple of days and then sealing it up very well. I am also anticipating installing a drain in the trunk in case I ever have a water heater leak. When I am done it will be much better than new.

Keith

[Old Goat]

Keith, It sounds like you are on the right track. You are lucky to have some good help. Be sure to give the bottom and edges of the new floor a coat or two of sealer.  Urethane varnish works great for this. I gave the edges and bottom of my new OSB floor two coats of urethane. I thinned the first coat so it would really soak in. I have not had any more problems........

[AustinBoston]

I am also anticipating installing a drain in the trunk in case I ever have a water heater leak. When I am done it will be much better than new.

I'd make sure this is installed in such a way that road spray can't get in; road spray on a rainy day is far more likely than a water heater leak (though the amount that would get in is much smaller than could get in with a HWH leak).

Austin

[Camping Coxes]

I am also anticipating installing a drain in the trunk in case I ever have a water heater leak. When I am done it will be much better than new.
 
Keith

We did the same thing.  My BIL actually suggested it because we had a water leak and didn't realize it, so of course by the time we found it everything was rusted and moldy.  We bought vents that are about the size of a half dollar and drilled holes in each corner and inserted the vents from underneath.  Therefore water can't really come in from underneath because of the angle of the fins, but it can drain out from inside the trunk.