Soft spot on floor

[madfinnhockey]

This weekend I discovered a very soft spot on my camper floor (I've got an 03 KZ Coyote hybrid). I had noticed a few weeks back that area seemed soft, but its really spongy now.

So, I really don't know how campers are constructed, and I know I need to cut it out and repair it (and also find the source of the water leak).

The soft spot is about about 2 feet in from the side of the camper, and between the bathroom wall and a storage cabinet. Looking under the trailer, theres some sort of film there that appears to protect the bottom of the flooring from the elements, so prevents me from seeing the bottom of the actual flooring. My big question is, on a camper floor, are there any sort of floor joists like in a house? And if there are, are they wood or metal? I need to know if I can just cut out the soft spot back to some joists, and put in a new piece of flooring. Also, how much room is between the bottom of the flooring (I'm guessing its some sort of plywood) and that film on the bottom of the camper, cause I wouldn't want to cut through the flooring and the film.

Anyway, am I even close to how these things are constructed and how it must be repaired, or am I way off base? Open to ideas and suggestions.

Thanks

[Fundytrail]

The video in the link below will show how the floor was constructed, but not how to fix it.
2x2 16" on center and cove with plywood. This then bolted to the metal frame. There is a lot of detail midway through the video.

http://www.kz-rv.com/video.html

[madfinnhockey]

Fundy, excellent, thanks for finding that, that tells me exactly what I needed to know! Looks like I'll be able to take care of that problem with out a lot of expense (or better knows as having to send it to the dealer). Now I just need to find the leak that caused it, fix the leak and the floor, and I'm all set.

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[JUNIORFAN88]

I owe you a great American beer when you come down to the Sept. race.[/QUOTE]

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BUDWEISER

[madfinnhockey]

thinking about the repair I'd like to make, I'm thinking that it would be best if I could get underneath the floor (look at it from the ground side up) and look at the joist to see if someone jumping from the bunk could have cracked it (its only a 2 x 2). But, crawling under the camper, theres that film that covers the bottom of the floor and runs the entire length of the camper. Has anyone ever cut that film to make a repair, and if so, how did you re-attach it or repair it so it keeps the underside dry?

Thx

[Bignascarfan]

I just repaired my "Soft spot" (No not the kind for Viagra) I thought it was going to be a small job, but it got pretty big pretty quick. Between the flooring and the film is insulation. My thought is, the film if it is intacted is protecting the insulation and wood from the outside elments. I went after mine from the top. I peald back the vianl to find that the softpot was only a small portion of the overall wet spot. Basicaly I ended up replacing the flooe for the entire width of the camper and about 5 foot back from the front walls. I will need to do another section, but I will wait until after the glen.

I just simply fount a joist, and set my Cric saw to the depts of the presboard and cut down the middle of the joist line. puled up the wet, swelled board. Then I put a fan on the insulation and let it run for a couple of days to dry it out. Luckly i had no visible mold. Then I replace the presboard, primed it, and used peel and stick vinal. I will get some pictures up once I have finished the couch/bed.

Any part of the board that was wet, I replaced, because I figured that it was just a matter of time befor it got soft too.

Just what I ran into, and how I handled it.

[Nascarcamping]

That stuff on the bottom, is the black stuff?

Darko I think?

Its either the water repellent stuff or the sound insulation stuff one of those.

[madfinnhockey]

yup, its the black stuff I'm talking about. I'm still thinking that I have a broken 2x2 joist, and that if I could get to it from underneath, I could repair it, eliminating the need to rip up the floor from above.

[Bignascarfan]

I would think that it might take alot to break one of those 2x2s. I would think you should be able to get a "patch Kit" for the barrier. I believe it serves both purposees, sound and weather, road. If you do cut it, I would get some really really good tape.

[MASTERTECH]

the black underbelly sheet is patchable dealers sell it on a roll and is self adhering if the plywood is still good the best way and easiest would be to repair it from underneath but if its to far gone then you`ll need to open it up and replace and reframe all the old wood

[Bignascarfan]

Hey Master tech,
What is the best wood to use for replaceing the floor? Becuase the pressboard swells, it is heard to tell what the correct thickness is. Can plywood be a good substitute? I am going to do the rest of my floor and will probobly just gut the traier and re do the whole thing.
Thanks

[Buddlite]

You might want to look at a "marine grade"plywood if you go that route. Also look at a Georgia Pacific product called Plytanium DryPly. Just a thought

[Bignascarfan]

You might want to look at a "marine grade"plywood if you go that route. Also look at a Georgia Pacific product called Plytanium DryPly. Just a thought
I have heard of that DryPly, what is the deal with that?

[Buddlite]

Supposed to me faily resistant to moisture. Some builder friends I know down here have used it. Others I know use anopther product called Advanteck and like that better so who knows
Here's a couple of links for you
Advanteck
http://huberwood.com/main.aspx?pagename=advantechflooring
Dry Ply
http://www.gp.com/build/product.aspx?pid=4882

General Marine Plywood info
http://www.glen-l.com/wood-plywood/wp-index.html

I have been using marine grade plywood for the hurriacane seasons down here for boarding up windows for years. Is a bit more expensive than regualr ply, but it doesn't seem to warp and swell like regualr ply. Have been using the same pieces for many years. They are stored in an outside shed when not in use and belive me it gets very humid here, the old regualr ply was lucky to last 2 seasons, have had these for 5

I would think anything marine grade so hold up well for a floor.

[Nascarcamping]

You would think anything Marine grade would be the best to use since all the exposure to water and all.

This would be good to know for the rest of us!!!

[Buddlite]

Lord, the older I get the worse I spell!!!!!!!:p