RPod Sidewall Leak and Repair

Message Share Topic Printable Version Google Delicious Digg StumbleUpon Windows Live Yahoo Bookmarks reddit Facebook MySpace Newsvine Furl Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic

   I have a 2010 176T which I bought used in early 2012.  I noticed some 'rippling' of the vinyl wallpaper over my left side window.  I didn't think much about it until the spring of 2013 (I had the factory recall for lights late in 2012).  I began to see more rippling and some small bubbles appearing in vinyl covering above and below window.  I called Forest River and verified they could send me some new, matched sticky vinyl, then boldly began to cut vinyl to expose the damage. It was pretty bad and I cut and exposed every thing that was wet a mushy!  I also cut out layers of the plywood (1/16") that had come away from the existing wall.  After it was all exposed I went outside, and caulked all the rear and corner seams.  I then decided to leave the inside open to dry ... and to verify it would stay dry.  I camped all summer 2013 and kept checking that it stayed dry.
Last week,  I decided to begin the repair.  I experimented with wood glue and 1/16" bass wood sections I purchased at Hobby Lobby. Wood Glue curled the bass wood and fell off.  I decided to use Contact Cement which worked great!  Since the vinyl had come off with a thin (1/64"?) layer of plywood, I decided to use BONDO (called by other names) to feather the repaired edges.  I REALLY got bold and decide to actually create a tin layer of Bondo across the entire patch job.  Caution: I have worked with this material in MANY home fixes and it is extremely hard to use as it literally begins to cure in TWO minutes.  If you try to use this, please experiment first and get used to working with it.

I went with probably 5 layers (with minimal to no sanding) before I was happy.  There was some "red bleeding" onto adjacent vinyl which I covered with new vinyl.  I will add several pictures and comments in a single post in a few minutes.  I welcome all comments or other experiences.