fixing the roof

[fowlmen-too]

i have a 1983venture starcraft popup and the wood in the roof is rotted it dont leak but it needs to be fixed ,does anyone know how it done is it hard to do


                      thanks ,need help now

[austinado16]

Your roof is aluminum skin glued to rigid styrofoam panels with a 1" stringer down the middle, along the top side edges, and across the front and rear top edge.  The sides, front, and rear sections are plywood.....actually, probably oriented strand board (OSB).

Very common for the caulking to fail along the bottom trim piecs that the OSB sits on, and then the OSB starts wicking water.  Soon after, the OSB turns into muck.

Had to do this repair to my own '87 Starcraft.  The front piece of OSB was completely rotted to muck, as was the first 18" or so of the front sides.  

Here's the thread I made when I rebuilt the structure of mine in '07.  

http://www.arveeclub.com/showthread.php?t=62226&highlight=starcraft+roof

Here's the thread where I redid the ceiling:
http://www.arveeclub.com/showthread.php?t=63128&highlight=starcraft+ceiling

[fowlmen-too]

well thank you very much Austinado i didnt know what to expect but your pic sure helped out...so i guess i have to just jump right in then...thanks again you were a big help if i have to contact you again it will be on here :U

[austinado16]

You're welcome.

Depending on your amount of damage, you might think about taking the roof off, turning it upside down, and putting it on saw horses or something.  It just sits on the telescoping supports w/ 2 screws at each support.  You have to take the canvas down from the ceiling and disconnect the electrical wires that run up through the canvas to the ceiling.

I left mine on because the damage was sort of minimal and I thought I could repair it easier without taking it off.

[ScouterMom]

I'm sorry - I'm in one of those weird moods tonite -

Your question "does anyone know how it's done?" really struck me as funny... after reading this board for 2 or three years, you start to realize that almost EVERYONE with a camper over 10 or 15 yrs old has had to rebuild at least part of a roof.....or the whole thing.....

yeah - you'll find ALOT of us who have torn into roofs here, and LOTS of photos and help.

Good luck, and welcome to the board!

Laura

[austinado16]

It's kind of funny to me too.  I've looked at a handful of PUPs since finishing mine, thinking I'd like to upgrade to a bit newer, or a bit bigger, or more ameneties, etc.  First thing I do is walk up and push/pull on the roof ends and sides and see if the aluminum skin is "soft" because the wood is rotted behind it.  So far, every single one has had a bad roof.....and I've walked away.