2014 178 Collapsing Floor

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Hello! I’ve had my 178 HRE since new and have done 150+ days and 25k+ miles with no major issues. However, I think that may have changed....
I noticed the forward corners “sagging” last year, but it didn’t seem to have much overall implications, and there isn’t much you can do about it. Around the same time, I thought I had a bent axle, but after more investigation, it appeared the side under the slide started sagging, pushing out the wheel fender, appearing to make the axle look bent.

Now, after investigating how the floors were made before 2016, it appears that they were foam core laminated in wood veneer without the aluminum frame they advertise now. I climbed under the slide inside today and the floor at the outer wall has collapsed by almost a half inch, which is why my slide and wall are slanted!!! 

I’m still not worried about the corners, as a full frame off restoration is not in my future, but I have to get the floor supporting my slide reinforced! Has anyone seen this? Anybody had these issues before? I tried searching to no avail, but I can’t be the only one with these issues? Only thing I can imagine doing is pulling slide off, cutting out floor, putting in some sort of aluminum or steel support and the reinstalling the slide.

Thanks! Bobby
https://photos.app.goo.gl/CeYZkTQJ1DicH68H7
Pics here https://photos.app.goo.gl/CeYZkTQJ1DicH68H7
I can’t get them to embed

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bcskimiller Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 14 Mar 2014 Location: Hollywood, FL Online Status: Offline Posts: 20	Topic: 2014 178 Collapsing Floor Posted: 03 Mar 2019 at 10:19am
	Hello! I’ve had my 178 HRE since new and have done 150+ days and 25k+ miles with no major issues. However, I think that may have changed.... I noticed the forward corners “sagging” last year, but it didn’t seem to have much overall implications, and there isn’t much you can do about it. Around the same time, I thought I had a bent axle, but after more investigation, it appeared the side under the slide started sagging, pushing out the wheel fender, appearing to make the axle look bent. Now, after investigating how the floors were made before 2016, it appears that they were foam core laminated in wood veneer without the aluminum frame they advertise now. I climbed under the slide inside today and the floor at the outer wall has collapsed by almost a half inch, which is why my slide and wall are slanted!!! I’m still not worried about the corners, as a full frame off restoration is not in my future, but I have to get the floor supporting my slide reinforced! Has anyone seen this? Anybody had these issues before? I tried searching to no avail, but I can’t be the only one with these issues? Only thing I can imagine doing is pulling slide off, cutting out floor, putting in some sort of aluminum or steel support and the reinstalling the slide. Thanks! Bobby https://photos.app.goo.gl/CeYZkTQJ1DicH68H7 Pics here https://photos.app.goo.gl/CeYZkTQJ1DicH68H7 I can’t get them to embed
	Me, the Wife, 3 Kids 5 and under...its Crowded! 2014 RP-178 HRE 2017 Expedition EL 4WD

crw8sr Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 12 Oct 2017 Location: Omaha Nebraska Online Status: Offline Posts: 328	Posted: 03 Mar 2019 at 11:22am
	WOW, that's scary.
	Chuck & Lyn Izzy, Morkie. RIP Zoe Joy & Gracie, Yorkie 2018 R Pod 190 2019 Traverse In moments of adversity;when life's a total wreck, I think of those worse off than me and really feel like heck.

offgrid Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290	Posted: 03 Mar 2019 at 11:54am
	Yeah, I'm sorry to see you're going through that. Is there rot in the floor? Has water gotten in there?
	1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold

bcskimiller Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 14 Mar 2014 Location: Hollywood, FL Online Status: Offline Posts: 20	Posted: 03 Mar 2019 at 12:13pm
	I would guess there is some rot, it is a well loved trailer that has been all over and lived outside since 2014. But if there had been an aluminum frame like the 2016+, this would not be an issue is my guess. Looking back now, I realize the drooping slide has been visible since before the corners had issues, which makes since considering how much weight is right there...sitting on top of foam....
	Me, the Wife, 3 Kids 5 and under...its Crowded! 2014 RP-178 HRE 2017 Expedition EL 4WD

DavidW Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 13 Jun 2013 Location: Ottawa, Canada Online Status: Offline Posts: 129	Posted: 03 Mar 2019 at 3:49pm
	We have the same year and model and had the same issue just over a year ago. Probably caused by wear and tear and the ice and snow that affects us in Ontario. I know that you said that you were "still not worried about the corners" but you should be. We started with a sag in one front corner and it spread to the other front corner and the whole front end. We took out all of the stored items in the PT storage to minimize the load on the front. Because our local and excellent dealer in Ottawa, ON could not figure out how to lift the floor of the trailer at the front end to effect repairs, they pulled some major strings with FR. We drove the trailer back to Goshen IN and they fixed it in the morning. (I think that use larger screws to pull everything together.) There is a post on either this site or on the Facebook site where someone did the same thing. Good luck, David
	David & Liz 2014 R-Pod 178 2019 Chevy Traverse And Lily (our 8 yr old Golden)

mcarter Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 07 Apr 2016 Location: Greenbrier, TN Online Status: Offline Posts: 3419	Posted: 03 Mar 2019 at 4:22pm
	The slide issue is new to me. The front sag issues are not, I have assisted several 178 owners with sag particularly on the front right. There was no indication of a leak effecting the inside of the trailer, a droop to the floor from the outside Bracing and longer screws seems to have corrected the issue, I have gone 2 years with no more issues. I haven't seen any issues with the left side. That sag you are seeing at front has to be fixed. Otherwise you will have moisture deteriorating the floor material. The floor can't be exposed to the elements from a unprotected side. Once moisture gets into the lamented material it starts to separate. Your photos resemble my issues except my flooring material dropped below the bracketing.
	Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."

bcskimiller Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 14 Mar 2014 Location: Hollywood, FL Online Status: Offline Posts: 20	Posted: 04 Mar 2019 at 7:40pm
	Mike and David, Thanks for the info, and roger on sealing. That makes sense, what I’m afraid of is what all I’m going to do for the slide, I was just going to spray foam the front corners I was able to find some info about using longer screws, but not much more exact then that. If you have any links, pics or keywords to search for let me know. Thanks! Bobby
	Me, the Wife, 3 Kids 5 and under...its Crowded! 2014 RP-178 HRE 2017 Expedition EL 4WD

mcarter Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 07 Apr 2016 Location: Greenbrier, TN Online Status: Offline Posts: 3419	Posted: 04 Mar 2019 at 9:56pm
	My sag and water damage was to the right side front. I used a strip of aluminum, inserted it between floor and front plastic corrugated guard at the bottom. Used longer screws and sealed the whole repair. That seemed to fix front issue. I noticed last year, while installing reverse lights, the last 4-5 inches om my floor was wet at rear of trailer. I put trailer away in building and it is dry now, so once temps warm I will try and find what issue is there. I have no earthly idea why these issues seems to be centered on 178s. On another forum there are two owners both with 178s going thru some significant water damage issues. I know of at least 3 owners I have assisted with front floor dropping (sag) out of the corrugated plastic at front. I have yet to find any leaks. For me, primary issue is a wet floor, from the bottom. Once that water gets into floor material it wicks into other areas. Standing by to assist if I can.
	Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."

bcskimiller Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 14 Mar 2014 Location: Hollywood, FL Online Status: Offline Posts: 20	Posted: 05 Mar 2019 at 5:10am
	Thanks Mike, one of my issues at least in the back is that the vapor barrier (that thin piece of trash bag...) came loose, so that probably didn’t help. At one point, my filler tube for the potable water broke off the INSIDE of the fitting. It was good at that point that the vapor barrier had failed back there because that’s where it was draining out...
	Me, the Wife, 3 Kids 5 and under...its Crowded! 2014 RP-178 HRE 2017 Expedition EL 4WD